Opinions Please

[Hornseeker]

There is only one way to know for sure... you'd have to call the local gamie... I cant hardly see HOW they could ticket you!

[Machias]

There is only one way to know for sure... you'd have to call the local gamie... I cant hardly see HOW they could ticket you!

I have a call in.....err e-mail in.   

[saylean]

Man, thats a tough one. I think 'intent' would be the biggest issue here. Whatever the activity, I would just do it all legal in the ONE state.

[bucklucky]

What would probably happen is you would get a ticket and have to fight it in court. The bear was baited so yes it would be illegal no matter if the bait was in Idaho or washington. Just wait till he crosses into Idaho and there is nothing illegal.  Well as long as the Idaho tag is put on the bear.

[woodswalker]

While you may be able to skin through a loophole...its not an ethical thing to do... 

[Machias]

Well I would have to disagree with the ethical part, but we'll agree to disagree on that one.   
 
I have two conflicting answers from the WDFW, one that said no it's not illegal because the RCW covers the placement of bait and the RCW only covers land within the borders of WA and one who said it was illegal because it's still bear hunting over/near bait.  I have a minor problem with the one who said it was illegal being she is the same lady who gave out all the bad advice/information last year on the night hunting coyote issues.  BUT she may be right in this particular instance.  I'm wondering how they would legally collect evidence and proceed in court.  Can a WA Game Warden cross into another jurisdiction?  I imagine that they can, but I wonder what the process is like.  I thought it was an interesting topic, one that I was contemplating while sitting on my bear bait in ID.   

[Colville]

Playing with fire.
 
Personally, I don't think the location of the bait is what makes for "illegal baiting". The use of bait, regardless of where you place that bait, to attract and kill a bear is the crime. You've committed all of the elements of the crime in WA. You placed the bait, you hunted the bear, and killed the bear approaching the bait.  Putting the bait in ID doesn't change the facts. You killed a bear that you baited and did it in WA.
 
It's not an ethics issue because baiting is neither ethical or unethical. It's regulated in some places and not others. Idahoans aren't unethical because they allow baiting. We aren't "ethical" because we disallow it. However, it is illegal and I don't think you'll have much chance winning in court. You placed the bait, attracted the bear, killed the bear. Pretty sure you're gonna be DTR.
 
Lastly, if you don't get the rule admoninition in writing, it's not worth the time you spent on the phone. Jane said..... is worth far less than a cup a coffee at court.
 
The RCW: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.245
 
 

[Machias]

Playing with fire.
 
Lastly, if you don't get the rule admoninition in writing, it's not worth the time you spent on the phone. Jane said..... is worth far less than a cup a coffee at court.
 
The RCW: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.245
 
 

Agreed, I'm not advocating or saying I would do it.  Just thought it was an interesting conversation!  I would not risk my hunting privleges here in WA, It was something I was curious about and wanted everyone elses opinion....like the Title stated.   

[Colville]

Oh I know better Machias. Determined rule breakers don't go fishing around the net, publicly asking if they're going about it the right way!  Worse than the bottom line of legal/illegal is ever knowing what'll be enforced. One gamey gives an $80 ticket and a thanks for being honest and another gives a guy a date in court, couple thoussand in fees and lost hunting license.  I'm not big on crap shoots.   

[uplandhunter870]

i can see where you might be able to play the "i didnt know it was there" card if you only had a WA tag and killed the bear on WA property. but if you held WA and ID tags and whatever ID requires to run a bait pile then you could potentially be in hot water and as said above it depends on which gamie you get and what kind of day he/she is having.

ive ran into a gamie on one day and all that transpired was "you got your paperwork?" "yessir" "have a good day" and then run into the same gamie two days later and he obviously had an appendage slammed in a door and thought i was going to get a cavity search all so he could make sure i was legal.

its a crap shoot, if you like playing dice go for it. i for one suck at dice games so no thanks 

[Machias]

Thanks guys to adding to the conversation.  Couple of folks that I e-mailed said, hmm hadn't had that one asked before.   

[demontang]

For me there is no way I would take a chance with it. I would bet that you might get run though a ringer over something like that.

[Rhinoron247]

Not sure there is a bear big enough to warrent the risk, stress and hassle.  Seems if there are bear in the area they could be had without the potential drama.

 

[Curly]

Not sure there is a bear big enough to warrent the risk, stress and hassle.  Seems if there are bear in the area they could be had without the potential drama.

I don't know.......that was a very large bear that Machias posted up on trail cam pic a while back.

It is a very interesting topic for sure.  Personally, I think it should be legal since you are not baiting in WA.......but I can see a warden writing a ticket and seeing what a judge's opinion is on the matter.  I suppose the best person to ask would be the warden for the area and see what he would do if he checked you...........  

[bucklucky]

This is a interesting thread  I bet if they had to collect evidence possibly the Idaho Fish and game would then be involved.

Now throw  this in , what if that said bear ended up being shot  in washington and then ran over the border and died , now what? I bet that would further complicate things, I could see a big $hit storm happening then.