Bear in Montana with hounds????

[sheimer]

Guys- I'm fairly new to the world of hounds but I would like to expand it a little here in Montana. Do you all think that there is enough of us here on this forum along with our friends to try and persuade the FWP to instate a "chase season" for bear? I don't know all the hoops that must be jumped through, though I'm sure there are a lot of them. This is mostly food for thought, but I would be willing to put some effort into making it a reality.

Let me know what you think or if this has been persued in the past.

thanks,

scott

[catdogs]

If we didn't have Grizzlies here it might be a possibility but since we do, I don't think it'll ever happen. JMO

[larry]

I do know that the stockgrowers asso. can get alot done with fwp. Would be the first place i would go to get attention. Let em know that we can keep the bears out of their sheep and they'll be on board.

[sheimer]

As I think more about this, a couple things come to mind....

Are there any other states that just adoped a policy to run bear with hounds? If so, how did they accomplish it?

Would anyone have the statistics on how many trouble bear calls the state FWP has comparing states that allow dogs compared to those that don't?

I don't fully understand the Grizzly issue. Is it because we may harass the grizz or because they may harass us?

scott

[catdogs]

We may inadvertently harass them. Heaven forbid one of Montanas prized G bears gets a little harassement from some hound doggies.

[Doogie]

the north half and eastern edge of ID have grizzlys too, so that cant be the main reason.

[sheimer]

Doogie- good point that you bring up.

I sent an e-mail to the 5 FWP comissioners. We'll see what we get in return.

scott

[Dennis Fisher]

I think if you get this going, which I definitely wish you the best on, your biggest battle will be with your Outfitters. Montana has never had a bear season for dogs, that I can remember, every since the Black Bear first became a Big Game Animal. The Grizzlies were very rare back then. But dogs can cause conflict with those that make money bring in Big Bear for their clients. Or anyways, so some may say. When some have a monopoly on a way or type of hunting, it maybe very hard to convince them to "share" a resource that belong to the whole State and the different user groups of it. But that's JMO!!!

[Black&TanMan1]

Doogie if you look in Idaho's regulations most of the areas with Grizzly populations are closed to hounds and bait. There are a few areas allowed to run dogs but for a very short time. I wish you the best of luck on getting something going for Montana. Hell if you could run bear in Montana I will me moving out there in a heart beat.
Dennis I havent scene you around for quit awhile. You still running them plott dogs?

[Doogie]

I count 8 bear hunting districts, and parts of 4 that the MT Fish Wildlife and Parks say that grizzlys dont live in, something is better than nothing right?

[sheimer]

I would think that the outfitters would be all over this as a supporter. If I had a choice of a guided hunter shooting a a bear at a couple hundred yards or at 10 yards, I know which one I would chose.

I also agree that even running dogs for a short time during the season or in only selected areas would be better than not at all.

scott

[Dennis Fisher]

Black&TanMan1, May I remind you that most of Northern Idaho, except Unit 1 I believe, is a draw area. If your lucky enough to draw you can run up there. And yep, had those "race'n strips" for over 30 years now. Been hunting mostly North and sometimes West of where you hunt. But I still go over there on the weekdays every now and again though. But I bet we run into each other again soon though. The wolves are slowly pushing us all into the same hunting spots.

Baiting bear is much more profitable that running them with dogs for Guides and Outfitter alike. With dogs you can only handle 1 to 3 clients a week. With baits your only limited by the amount of baits you can keep up and going. And to most people that want a nice bear on the wall, it doesn't matter if your shooting up at a bear, or down at one.

But I still wish you guys the best of luck with this. After all the years since Montana Bear have legally seen a dog, they definately need too.

[sheimer]

Mr. Fisher - We can't bait either. In the draw only areas in Idaho can anyone chase but not harvest or can only the people with tags chase?

thanks,

scott

[whoflungdung]

The only reason Montana hounds men cant run bears is because we cant get along. They had it rite there ready to pass then a bunch of hounds men backed out. They told the ones that wanted a hound season that all the out of state hounds men would come in and hunt. I know this first hand from an old timer that was pushing hard for a bear season. This old fart was one of the mane guys to stir the pot to get FWP working on it. He still gets all fired up when we get him talking about it. Some of the hounds men told him; We all do it already so why make so that out of state hunters can come in and hunt?

We better learn how to pack-up just so we can keep what we have.

[Dennis Fisher]

Sheimer, In a draw area in Idaho, a tag has to be in the party that's hunting and the tag holder MUST control dogs. They frown on a bunch hunting off one tag, but there's no law against it has long has the tag holder has dogs and is controlling them. The laws doesn't say all the dogs, so has long has the tag holder is handling dogs, the laws pretty well covered. But never forget the Hound Pursuit Permit in Idaho. Anybody that handles a dog or takes a animal over dogs in Idaho has to have one. I believe the law states hunting or handling, and many fish cops say that transporting is hunting. It all depends on where you would run into one. That one wouldn't have a chance in Court if you were on a Highway or Interstate. But it would still be a hassle fighting it.