So its offical...

[radar]

The 09 California bear season is done

[Liz ODell]

Yep closed early again....guess we can thank all the "whack em' and stack em's" once again

[radar]

10-4. Up in the North there loaded.
By any chance are you Jim's wife???

[Liz ODell]

No, I don't know Jim. I know there are some other ODell's with hounds but as far as I know they are not related to my hubby.

[Mt Goat]

Liz

The fault for another early closer is the fault of the DFG. We have an estimated bear population of 35,000 plus bears here in California, and a season that is open during Deer season. By the time we can run our all our hounds the season number has been at around 1000 harvested leaving the remaining 700 tags and two months in the season.

The season harvest number needs to be increased or just not closed early. Harvest numbers should be at 8%-10% somewhere between 3000-3500. If the DFG passes the rule of not closing the season early idea that they wanted to last year and plan on reinterduce this year, all will be good. Whacking and stacking isn't the problem. Hunters pay for a tag and if they catch a bear they have a right to fill that tag and fill their freezer. The DFG need to be able to manage game without fear from the Antis taking it to court causing hunter to lose a season.

Larry Lowell

[radar]

I disagree to a certin point. When you get your tag pick up the mag that has the totals from all the counties and you'll see that the northern counties have a way better popultion than most others. I think they should zone it or make it no limit until the end of Dec. Then they'll see how many tags get filled and they would notice that theres agood population.

[fallriverwalker1]

the word zone , should never be brought up in this state ,the only reason to zone is to control hunters ,this was brought up in the 80,s because f ng said hounds men were to mobile and hard to manage thank the lord smarter minds prevailed ,just guit killing , yuo wont have to worry about it . then theyll hire govt hunters to do it ,you wont win this argument no matter how its play,d

[yeager]

Folks,
Don't forget there are the few that rather not fill a tag and just run their hounds...

I would like to see a poll on the subject:
How many rather fill tags VS how many would rather run their hounds...

[Mt Goat]

Ill also add that the weather would have stopped the season early this year anyway. Down South here the Forest Nazi's locked the gates on us because of alittle snow the first week of December. I had plans to head up north to close the season out hunting with a couple friend, and that big snow storm came in and pretty much closed the season down in most areas.

Harvesting Bears is the Tag Holders right. They pay for that right. What we need to have happen is a pursuit only season. With the ecomony being the way it is money might talk. I would pay $500 a year to get a pursuit permit, and I'd be willing to call in and leave a message on where I will be training my dogs on any day Im out running them too, so that the DFG could send someone out to watch me. Houndsmen have a bad rap because we did it to ourselfs. We need to change that reputation and work with the DFG. With trust comes freedom.

[Liz ODell]

Radar, I don't think we have more bears up here - except for on the coastal side (most years I've hunted down in your neck of the woods you have way more game in general - you have more feed and different kinds terrain/vegetation and more low elevation stuff) we just have more guides and hunters and therefore more killing. I surely hope they never go to zones but I have heard it mentioned by a few mucky mucks and the reason they talked about it is what I just told you.
Winter shut down the east side this year but most of the west side was still open, I wish they would just extend the season to the 'real' date of the 28th but I'm a little concerned about the amount of bears that might get killed in some areas...at least in the years those spots don't get snowed out. Maybe I'll just have to pray for snow.


Did you all see the HSUS just got the first animal rights caucus formed in our state legislature. If not go to the COHA website and check it out. We are going to be in for a wild ride.........hope all those out of staters will help us out before the fit actually hits the shan.