2023 spring bear comment period

[Torrent50]

With respect to damage from the timber owner perspective, boot hunting has a near zero effect on reducing damage. 

Furthermore, while the effect may be small, to say it is near zero is speculation.  And it's exactly the attitude that we do not need.  We need to be shouting that we can be part of the solution.  Even if it's a small part.  There is NO WAY you or anyone else can say for certain that the bear I shot last spring had not damaged any timber.  I CAN however say with 100% certainty that the bear I shot last spring did NOT damage any timber this year.  Thus, part of the solution.

[Alan K]

I'm not suggesting baiting hounds etc. back as a recreation hunt, but as a solution to damage via depredation removals.  Recreationally those options are likely gone, but for stopping rampant damage maybe it'd have a chance.

A landowner would have to forego actual meaningful depredation options or feeding in order to have a boot hunt and I just don't see that happening since they're so much more effective at mitigating damage.  Ask WDFW how many boot hunt depredation permits were applied for the last couple years and of those how many were successful compared to years past when actual tools (hounds etc.) were available...

I understand dressing the spring hunt up like it's a damage solution, but it's disingenuous. If that's the excuse you feel needs pushed to get something back, fine, but I'd rather have a frank and honest conversation about it and let the science do the talking. At some point the science has to rise to the top.

[Torrent50]

I'm not suggesting baiting hounds etc. back as a recreation hunt, but as a solution to damage via depredation removals.  Recreationally those options are likely gone, but for stopping rampant damage maybe it'd have a chance.

A landowner would have to forego actual meaningful depredation options or feeding in order to have a boot hunt and I just don't see that happening since they're so much more effective at mitigating damage.  Ask WDFW how many boot hunt depredation permits were applied for the last couple years and of those how many were successful compared to years past when actual tools (hounds etc.) were available...

I understand dressing the spring hunt up like it's a damage solution, but it's disingenuous. If that's the excuse you feel needs pushed to get something back, fine, but I'd rather have a frank and honest conversation about it and let the science do the talking. At some point the science has to rise to the top.

Unfortunately several of the commissioners have demonstrated that they don't care about the science, so discussion means nothing.  When a no vote tells me a route to potentially get them to change their vote to yes, then I take that seriously.  As for timber companies not being in favor of the "boot hunt" to assist with damage control, I would point out that several major private timber companies allowed access to their managed property in the area that I hunted and my bear was taken on private timber land.  To name a few, Hancock and all the land that they manage, Stimson, and Inland Empire (with purchase of a permit).  There were even emails back and forth to permit holders where timber company reps were encouraging permit holders to kill bears on their property.  That was in 2021, so one can assume that the same would hold true in 2023.  It's in no way disingenuous to call it a damage hunt if has even a slight impact on damage. 

Ultimately, you do you, and I will do me.  I am going to continue my research and activities to try to get the spring bear hunt back to being classified as a damage hunt in the hopes that it continues.  Tilting at the windmill of science in conflict with public opinion has proven futile and I am not going to waste my resources and time doing so. 

[Alan K]

Ultimately, you do you, and I will do me.

 

[duckmen1]

Made a positive comment toward spring bear. Hopefully if we keep trying we will see a positive outcome at one point.

[RB]

Done! One more positive comment for having a spring bear permit season!

[actionshooter]

 I made my comment... it might not do anything, but then again, you never know.... all it takes is a little effort.

  If anything, it is fun to call the commission out   

[hawks33]

Have faith and keep pushing, silence on our part will change nothing.  Thanks for posting.

[Elkaholic daWg]

Done

[Utah]

You guys better get your crap together and start lighting up phone lines, sending emails and filling comment boxes or you're screwed.   Makes me sick, the lack of effort...   Disgusting

[X-Force]

It appears there is still only one comment against the proposal.

Keep commenting.

[saylean]

Bump. Comment comment comment.

[hunter399]

Bump. Comment comment comment.

Just commented.

[Rainier10]

2023 spring bear comment period is up.

https://publicinput.com/H3628

Here is the link again.

[Timberstalker]

Added a comment.  I think it's important for us to submit clear and dare I say professional comments.  Some of them are a bit rough.  Image is everything with these topics.  Just my two cents.