No bear hunting in WA???

[rocknK]

I've been hearing rumblimgs that due to the unfortunate incident this last fall that WA is considering cancelling bear season. For those of you outside WA a hiker was shot by a young hunter who thought he was shooting a bear. A real tragedy for all involved.

[WashingtonBay]

I don't think it's possible that's true. The last several years at our local forest, they've not only had bear hunts, they had spring and summer special hunts because hunters weren't getting the quota. Bear are very damaging to young timber.

I haven't heard anything of the sort.

[Kaitlyn]

That's so common though, a hunter hitting something other than what the target was supposed to be,

I guess, I don't understand, how can you mistake a person for a bear? (IF there wasn't any alcohol involved...)

[westmanfarrier]

Bear hunting is on. http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=jan2009a

The incident happened near me. Was a dumb kid of about 16. No apparent direct adult supervision. Any hunter, regardless of age, should know what the heck they are shooting at but that doesn't take into account a lack of brainpower I guess.

There was a kid this year shooting swans locally (we have a large migration that stops at my front and back door) thinking they were geese. Idiots. He got caught and hopefully huge fines, as swans are protected. For those that don't know: Snow geese = about 29 inches and 6-8 lbs. Trumpeter Swans=59 inches and 28 lbs.

[rocknK]

The story I heard was that the State was trying to get hikers to wear blaze orange during bear season to avoid another tragedy. Fish & Game said they have no power over hikers only hunters. So the solution was to close the bear season. Good that everthing got straightened out.

[WashingtonBay]

They've always had signs out at every trailhead advising blaze orange during any hunting season.

[Ranger44]

That's so common though, a hunter hitting something other than what the target was supposed to be,

I guess, I don't understand, how can you mistake a person for a bear? (IF there wasn't any alcohol involved...)

Yes, this type of thing is preventable tragedy but the above statement is an uneducated one. I don't want to sound harsh, heartless or mean but this is not a common occurrence. The reality is that if it happens it will be tops in the news(probably rightly so).

Hunting accidents happen but they usually could have been prevented mostly by education or common sense. If you look at overall statistics there are many many more activities that result in more injuries and this more inherently dangerous. That being said having almost 29 years of experience dealing with "hunters" some would be better off described as poachers or criminals and hot hunters at all. All hunters/sportsmen or women would not call a person that could mistake a human for game a hunter but by some other name.

As you can tell this topic is rather near to my heart. I have had to deal with accidents (because of my job as peace officer)through the years and it is never easy and it always tugs at my heart strings. I am happy to say that I have never had to deal with a situation where a person was shot by a hunter and know of only two such incidents within at least 100 miles in my career. One was questioned whether or not it was an accident!!!!!

[rocknK]

My favorite "hunter" story.
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2009/01/14/bnews/br53.txt

[mtnmollie]

he he he he

Llama burger! Yum. :p

They shoot horses too- for elk. City people. :eek: