Alaskans, What gives with the wolf hunting by copter?

[mitchtv]

As a tree huggin Calif. liberal wolf lover, I am very soory to hear this. The very successful boycott of the early nineties is getting off to a slow start. Is there any local opposition?

[Bandit]

1. The predator control policy is very controversial here

Mostly by outside interests but a few local groups have spoken up. Wolves have been declared a menace to the moose and caribou populations and therefor a menace to local native villages that depend on the caribou and moose for their sustinance. I have mixed emotions over this issue. Wolves are over-populated in certain areas of the state and need some managemant. It has been proved that airborne management is more effective and humane as way fewer animals are wounded and allowed to escape. Eskimos are for predator control and they are the ones that depend upon nature the most for their survival. It isn't just a mass slaughter program. They have specific numbers they use. Remember there has been a bounty on wolves in Alaska for decades. In the past many have been wounded and allowed to escape to a slow painful death.

[Curious Dave]

2. Eskimos?

Thanks for presenting a balanced description of the wolf management issue. I do have to take exception with your used of the term "Eskimo". Most (but not all) of my Inupiat and Yupik friends consider the term to be the equivalent of the "N-word".

yours in sensitivity

[cleofus1]

3. some are offended....others aren't

If you listen to Jeanie Greenes (she's an Eskimo too) TV show about native issues part of the lyrics in her them song refers to the Eskimo. "The Aleut the Indian and the Eskimoooooooooooooo!"
Personally I have some very good friends that have been very active in politics that are offended by being called certain names, but the rank and file will still respond to Indian and Eskimo.
As to wolf management...they (those darn wolves!)are eating up the food source to the locals (moose)...so they must be "managed".

[Bandit]

4. I live in Southeast so I am not really familiar with whatr you are saying

I did not mean to offend anyone. We don't have any "Eskimo" communities around here either Inupiat or Yupik or ??. I have always considered it a sort of generic term like "Indian" or "Native" and never considered it an insult. Learn something every day I guess. Sorry if I offended you.

[newyawker99]

5. Hi Curious Dave!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[roguevalley]

6. murtaxski stuffed the board with hunters and guides. no matter how

many times we vote some things out, some dimwit will put
them back in. murkowski never met an animal he didn't want
dead. or barbecued.

[northofdenali]

7. Don't forget "kill 'em all and lot God sort 'em out" Ralphie

Seekins, who now wants to start the same type of "control" on bears....yeah, bears.........

What's next, wolverines? Why not eliminate the trophy hunters and other type predators, let those of us who actually hunt to EAT have that chance?

And, Bandit, I agree that it's probably the most "humane" way to control predators, but with our thoroughly neocon governor and legislature, it's bound to get out of hand. There are not any true controls on Fish and Game - they're mostly, every one of them, sport and/or trophy hunters, especially Pete Buist. I've know him for years and the only animal he likes is the ones hanging on his walls.

[northofdenali]

8. This just in from today's Anchorage Daily News:

http://www.adn.com/alaska_ap/story/5017985p-4946479c.html

<snip>
Senate passes bear control bill

The Associated Press

FAIRBANKS (April 29, 4:18 pm ADT) - The state Senate passed a bill that would allow bear control permits to be issued in areas where the game board has determined that bears are causing declines in game animals.
Senate Bill 297, introduced by Sen. Ralph Seekins, R-Fairbanks, would have the state issue permits for brown or black bears in areas where the Board of Game has established an intensive management program and identified bear predation as a cause of declining numbers or productivity of game, such as moose and caribou.

more......................

[cleofus1]

9. some strange bedfellows...

Pertaining to predator control; Native hunters and Game Board hunters are both on the same page on this one. This is very unusual considering the wars that have been fought regarding subsistence rights. In this case both want to control predation of moose and caribou. The great white hunters for both trophy and game, the native hunters for subsistence. I know it's not the most popular stance on this board to support hunting. As a Native American myself I will always support subsistence rights and local control of predators.

[northofdenali]

10. Agreed, cleofus - "LOCAL" control is the operative word.

But the Game Board should be balanced enough to realize that, say, the Tanana Flats differ somewhat from Ketchican and Barrow. To them, it's all hunt (and these dudes are not subsistence hunters). I fully support Native subsistence rights; followed by those of us who hunt to eat. The Natives should have first shot. My sister-in-law's mom almost died in the hospital because her diet was just not right. We finally managed to get her some caribou and moose served, and she perked right up. She's Athabascan from Ft. Yukon and grew up in a subsistence lifestyle. Those who don't support subsistence should visit some of the hospital wards and TALK to the folks whose diets are so different from those of us who can (but don't like to) buy their salmon at Fred Myer.

PS - WalMart finally stuck one in Fairbanks.

[Boreas]

11. Gordy Haber

You guys ever hear of Gordy Haber? His favorite thing is studying wolves and their prey. He's been doing it in Alaska for a long time and is worth listening to.

http://www.wolfhaven.org/akcontrol.htm