Game Board Meeting Startes Today

[Sourdough]

Just realized that the Game Board Meeting does not mean much to you guys.  You don't have a clue what the Game Board is or does.  In your state you have a bunch of state, or governor appointed Bureaucrats that set state hunting and fishing regulations.  Or it's a function of your State Department of Fish and Game or comperable state office.  You as a citizen have no or very little input.  Some state agencies have good biologist that gives the agency good information, and rules and regulations are set accordingly.  Others seem to have biologist that do not have a clue as to what is going on in their state.

Alaska is different.  We have a Game Board made up of State Citizens who apply to the Governor's Office to be on the Game Board.  These people are selected from recommendations by the State Dept Of Fish And Game, Governor's staff, who do a background research on that person, and recommendations from the Game Board Advisory Committees, and State Citizens.  Then these people have to be confirmed by the State Legislature.  Once all that is done they are now the members of the State Game Board, with three year appointments.  The Game Board is made up of retired State Biologist from the Dept Of Fish and Game, Hunting Guides, and concerned citizens.  All are well versed in the current situations of game populations through out the state, and the different dependencies of different areas of the state on the game for food.  Local Game Board Advisory Committees made up of local citizens help them keep abreast of the current situations through out the state.  The State Dept Of F&G gives them the science and game population numbers so they can make reasonable decisions on Bag Limits, Season Dates, and Methods and Means of taking Game.

Proposale:  The citizens of the state get to make proposals to the game board.  These proposals are things the citizenry wants to change.  Example:  One person thinks there are too many Moose in an area and wants the numbers cut down, by having a more liberal season and bag limit.  A second person thinks there are too few Moose and wants hunting restricted.  A third person may be a person that does not agree with hunting and wants all hunting in that area curtailed.  The Game Board looks at each and every proposal, and makes a decission on that proposal.  I have 9 proposals in this year.  Things like changing the boundries of a no hunting area, to allowing Bears to be snared.  One proposal is to allow the use of scent lures for Bear hunting.  I also am asking to have Crossbows made legal for hunting during the Archery season.  And since Coyotes have been found to be the main preditor on Dall Sheep lambs, a "No Closed Season, No Limit On Coyotes".  Being on and off the Advisory Committee for the last 10 years I make a lot of proposals, because I see the science the Dept of F&G Biologist report to the Advisory Committees.  I like large numbers of ungulates with low numbers of predators.  That means more Moose and Caribou for human consumption.  Less we have to buy at the Grocery Store.  But then again we have to mamage the number to not have too many ungulates, since the area will only support so many.   

The Board has already held meetings in Juneau, and Anchorage.  Now it's time for their last meeting here in Fairbanks.  They will be meeting for 10 days, taking public testimony and commit, for or against the proposals.  So to those of us living in the Interior of Alaska, this is a very important meeting.  I will be going to the meeting all day today, Saturday, and Sunday.  I am going to try and attend the rest of the meetings as well.  Going to be a busy week.  Rog

[Sourdough]

Just got home from the second day of testimony at the Game Board meeting.  Can tell already my Cross Bow proposal has bombed.  The Anchorage Archery Clubs put up too many objections. 

Looks good for opening up a non-motorized area that has been closed to motorized vehicles for fifty years.  this area was created in an underhanded move by a member of the State Legislature and a big hunting guide and Lodge owner.  The Lodge owner got his wife on the Game Board back then, and between the three of them this big area was created so their clients had no competition.  Now fifty years later their kids are still taking hunters out from that big Lodge with horses.  They only use about 10% of this huge area about the size Rhode Island.  The game board seemed very positive after the meeting today.

My proposal on Coyotes "No Closed Season, No Limit" has been mentioned by almost everyone said they over whelming support it, and that it is a good idea.

Bear Snaring, was looking good, then a retired State Governor came up and testified he was against it.  That kind of slowed the momentum on the proposal.  Then we were able to show the Game Board, examples of the snares to be used.  To disprove some of the negative hype about it breaking bones and ripping paws off, my friend Al set one on the table while he was giving testimony.  Al reached over and reached inside and tripped the trigger, snaring his own arm.  No damage, no broken skin, no bruises, just a steel cable around his wrist.  The Game Board was looking very positive again.  then this guy walked in to give testimony who claimed to be a Bear Research Scientist.  After his testimony I feel this one is going to bomb as well.  We are surprised none of the environmental groups showed.  First time I have never seen them show up.  Now I'm thinking the Bear Scientist may have been a plant.   

[-Shaggy-]

Anything being discussed relating to your woods bison reintroduction project?

[Sourdough]

The Game Board has nothing to do with this program till after the Bison are released.

The Alaska Dept Of Fish and Game are in talks with US Fish and Wildlife Service about the terms of release.  I did not talk about Bison with David James or Randy Rogers yesterday, we were too interested in other issues.  Wife is sick so I don't think I'll get to the meeting today.  I will be back later in the week, and I will find out the latest from one of them.  I've heard rumblings that F&G is preparing for a release in April, but have not confirmed that.  I am a little unhappy with the release site.  They have chosen the Inoko Flats, way down the Yukon River.  A very inaccessible area.  But they are holding back 40 animals for a captive breeding heard for future releases.  I am pushing hard for a release in the Tanana Flats across the river from Fairbanks.  Also for removal of the Delta Bison herd since they are Planes Bison and are not indigenous to the area. 

The Federal Government released Plains Bison on the Delta river in 1928.  This was a historic range for the Woods Bison, but the US did not have an Woods Bison to release.  Woods Bison had been killed off by locals, not knowing they were feeding their families the last of the species in Alaska.  Wood Bison did survive in Canada.  The Canadian Government and the local native people started a captive breeding program.  Today they have established large herds through out the Yukon and Northwest Territories.  We got the Woods Bison for our program from Canada.  The US Government gave us fits over the import, due to a restriction on ungulates from Canada over Mad Cow Disease.  Stupid government one size fits all laws.  Wood Bison had never been exposed to Dairy Cows, they are at opposite ends of the country, but you know how the government works.  Nothing but Monkey Wrenches everywhere.

Anyway back to the Delta Bison.  With the Delta Bison Herd growing and doing well, Someone in the Alaska Dept of Agriculture came up with the not so bright idea of putting Barley Farms in the Delta area.  Large flat areas that would be great for growing grain crops.  Everyone jumped on board with this project.  The Federal Government and the State of Alaska subsidized farmers to clear and bring hundreds of acres of land under cultivation.  Mostly in Barley, but some Hay as well for sale to the local dairy farms, also subsidized by the Feds and State.  Did not take long for the Delta Bison to discover the near by Barley fields.  It's been a conflict ever since.  Bison destroying crops.  Farmers shooting Bison, and themselves.  Farmers prosecuted for killing Bison, law suites against the State over Bison destruction of crops and property.  Fences put up by farmers, fences torn down by Bison.  This herd needs to be replaced or relocated.  It's easier to start a herd of Woods Bison that would be accessible from the road system, and remove the Delta Bison.

[Dand]

Thanks for the updates Rog. I think the anti snare folks may have exhausted themselves in Anchorage. Buy the news outlets down there are still raging over the issue.  Remember the board is likely taking the Anch & Fairbanks testimony into consideration.  I'm not clear on the whole snare thing but hope the board goes carefully.  After sitting thru our local predator control plan, my regard for the ADFG biologists has gone up.  In our case they are going to stay very focused on a specific area  and time- not some wide ranging scorched earth program. 


On those bison:  I hope something happens and those bison can be released for eventual opportunities for ALL stripes of hunters.  I had hoped the Feds would waive the "endangered" status for an artificially propagated group but I guess they  won't.  I was about to look into getting the local Advisory Committee to make a bid to have them released out our way - if all these other places have hang-ups I'm ready.  We are running out of the meat from the Delta animal I got last year.  This week my wife has said about 5 times she wishes I could go get another buffalo - MAN it has been the BEST meat we ever ate, bar none!!!  I wish I could get another too. Now if Publisher's Clearinghouse would just come thru for me     I'd go up to one of those Delta farms w my son and get 2.  Might not be the same as the wild ones but what the heck.


Yeah it is surely a shame and a prime example of muddled government to put that barley project right on top of that bison herd.  And now the farmers can barely make ends meet but they sure don't like the bison trashing their crops and want the bison reduced.


Keep us posted Rog.  I'm eager to know how Prop 157 goes - we supported it out here.  Hope your wife bounces back quick there are some nasty bugs going 'round.