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The State Does It, Too
Posted by Mark on Jan 11 2006
"....if I drew a bear or elk tag over there, I'd pay the hiking/camping fee because until I shoot something, I'm just hiking with a rifle (or bow in my case)...."
Last August I was running back into the Oshetna country, tag in pocket, looking for a caribou bull. The gravel pit at Mile 132 was packed. Between the Little Nelchina and Tyone Crk I saw three guys standing on the trail, so when I got up to them I stopped. Turned out to be a young Trooper checking licenses. He asked me to wait until he finished with the other two guys. So I waited, and was treated to quite an education.
Turns out these two young fellas were hunting on proxy permits. When the trooper asked them where the permit owners were, one young man said that he was "80 years old, and in a home".
Then it was my turn. I've been around the block. I was polite.
I asked why my license and tag were being checked, because I hadn't shot anything. The young Trooper respectfully told me that they take as many names as possible in the area, so that if something does happen, they have a list of names they can call to see if anybody saw anything to help them build a case.
Sounded like a good enough answer to me, but I also know how harassment works. Been harassed before, too. Always in the same place (Koyokuk River area. It worked; I don't go there anymore.)
This trooper was polite and respectful, and I returned the honor. But it has already gotten to the point where you must be licensed and permitted to even be out in the woods.
Private land ownership just adds another possibly arbitrary party to the mix.
Thank God this place ain't like Amerika.
Previous: Let only the rich hunt! akflyfisher Jan 12 2006
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