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Hunting Alaska Newsletter
December 2004

Current month's Alaska hunting news | News | Index of past months

This month’s edition is a few days late. Sorry about the delay.

The state of Alaska is now involved in the most ambitious predator management program in many years. The potential exists that this could have substantial decades-long benefits for wildlife and hunters in those parts of the state where they are ongoing. It is, as always in the last nearly 40 years, quite a struggle to get a program like this going. This is because the wolf is such an icon of wilderness in the minds of many, especially in the populous areas of America. Even Alaska’s successful wolf management programs, which have resulted in more prey (moose, caribou, etc) AND more wolves, do not deter the vociferous arguments against. I appreciate the resolve of the ADF&G administration and the governor in making this possible. I know the pressure has been intense.

On to more peaceful topics: we have quite a few books and videotapes that could be of interest to some on your Christmas list. If you order soon, it should be possible to get these to you on time. For a list of products, look here: http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/products/index.htm

Merry Christmas and good hunting……

David M Johnson
Publisher/OutdoorsDirectory.com

--- NEWS & UPDATES ------------------------------------------------

The winter permit application period is now closed. ADF&G reports, “The Winter Draw Application period is now closed. The next application period will be May 1 thru May 31, 2005 for Draw and Tier II. Results for Non-resident bear hunts will be available on or before Dec. 31, 2004. Results for Mt Goat, Sheep and Winter draw moose hunts will be available on or before Jan. 31, 2005.” http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/permits/index.cfm 

The Alaska Outdoor Council has scheduled its 2005 AOC Annual Meeting. They invited all AOC members. The meeting will be April 7-10 in Anchorage at the Hawthorne Suites
Alaska Airlines is offering a 10% discount for members traveling to Anchorage for the convention. See the website for more information: http://www.alaskaoutdoorcouncil.org/index.html 

Aerial wolf hunters claimed their first kills of the season recently near McGrath and in the Nelchina Basin as officials renewed wolf-control efforts in certain parts of the state to boost moose and caribou populations for hunters. Four wolves were killed --two in Game Management Unit 19D East near McGrath and two in Game Management Unit 13--as pilot-gunner teams took to the skies with permits supplied by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game last week. http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7244~2561985,00.html 

Tony Russ has announced several new books for 2005: "Winning the Iditarod; The GB Jones Story" Upland Hunting in Alaska; The Bird Hunter's Guide" and Stalking Dall Sheep; A Step-by-Step Guide" The books will be available early in the year. See his website for details: http://www.tonyruss.com/books.htm

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is proposing significant increases to fees for hunting and fishing licenses and tags. The proposal will be placed before the legislature for consideration. Resident hunting licenses would rise from $25 to $50. http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7244~2548132,00.html Official information from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game: http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/special/license/license.php 

Bear baiting bans on the ballot in Alaska and Maine were soundly defeated in both states. In Alaska http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7244~2510485,00.html  the vote was 59-41 against, and in Maine http://www.fosters.com/election_2004/110204/ap_me110204e.htm  53-47% against. BEAR BAITING BANS DEFEATED; RIGHT TO HUNT AMENDMENTS APPROVED. Bear baiting bans were defeated soundly in Alaska and Maine in the recent election, and two states approved right to hunt and fish amendments.

SHEEP DAYS 2005 will be on January 29th at the Downtown Anchorage Marriott Hotel. For more details see http://www.alaska.net/~fnawsak/ 

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is hosting a Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop February 11-13, 2005 at Solid Rock Bible Camp, Soldotna. For more information see the ADFG website http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/education/huntered/bow1.cfm  BOW is a great opportunity for men to introduce wives and girlfriends to outdoors activities, including hunting.

--- NEW on OUTDOORSDIRECTORY.COM --------------------------------------

DIRECTORY: 7 December 2004: Alaska's Bearclaw Lodge P O. Box 32, Aleknagik, AK 99555 Toll free 1-866-429-2327. Email: info@bearclawlodge.com Alaska's Bearclaw Lodge is located in the famous Bristol Bay, gateway to remote world class fishing -- all five species of Pacific salmon, rainbow trout, arctic char, grayling and pike. Our modern lodge with all amenities has a cozy atmosphere, outstanding views, great food and experienced, licensed fishing guides and friendly staff waiting to serve you. We are proud of our reputation for providing exceptional service at a great value. http://www.bearclawlodge.com/ 

MAGAZINE: 8 November 2004: Sealing the Deal by Marc Taylor. Hunting Hard in Alaska author Marc Taylor offers a philosophical look on a black bear hunt, excerpted from his second book in the Hunting Hard series. http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/magazine/sealing-the-deal.htm

DIRECTORY: 2 November 2004: Hitaluga Guide Service, Hiline Lake, Alaska. E-mail: guides@hitaluga.com; Tele: 907 733-BUSH (2874); 3705 Arctic Blvd. #2858, Anchorage, AK 99503 Hitaluga Guide Service is owned and operated by year round bush residents on HiLine Lake and offers 3 and 5 day float and base fishing trips on the nearby remote Talachulitna River. Fish for all 5 Pacific salmon species, rainbows, arctic grayling and dolly varden on this very productive wilderness river. All trips include RT air taxi, comfortable riverside camps, great meals and lots of fish, all at the best price on the river. You bring the enthusiasm and we'll bring the rest! Visit our web site at www.hitaluga.com/fishing.html for some great fishing photos and trip details. http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/cgi-bin/redir?http://www.hitaluga.com/fishing.html 

DIRECTORY: 2 November 2004: RdM Pilot/Guide, Ltd., 420 Front Street, Ketchikan, AK 99901, Tele. and Fax: 907) 225-1974, Toll free: (866) 858-BEAR, Email: bigbruin@rdmpilot.com Air Taxi, Transporter and Big Game Guide Service providing both outfitted and or guided hunts for Black Bear, Sitka Deer, and Wolf on Prince of Wales Island. Camp gear skiff/outboard rental. http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/cgi-bin/redir?http://www.rdmpilot.com/ 

--- ALASKA HUNTING FORUM THREADS --------------------------------------

Sparky opens the subject of Internet “hunting” where an entrepreneur thinks he can sell hunts to people who want to shoot animals via a gun and camera controlled by the internet: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/akhunting_message.php?id=30446 MartyV and others weigh in as well: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/akhunting_message.php?id=30054 

Alaska is proposing to increase fees for hunting and fishing licenses and tags. AKDSLDOG starts the ball rolling on an energetic discussion of this one: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/akhunting_message.php?id=30393 

What’s your favorite outdoors magazine? EatWild wonders, and forum members respond with a range of ideas: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/akhunting_message.php?id=30391 

Is a point system the way to go for permit selection? AKDSLDOG raises the question: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/akhunting_message.php?id=30170 

Are Alaskans willing to pay for big game tags? That’s the question AKHunter45 raises and a storm of answers ensue: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/akhunting_message.php?id=29891 

GOWGE wonders what is the perfect Alaska airplane: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/akhunting_message.php?id=29758 

There were many more, of course. These were just a few of the highlights. By the end of the month: 30,746 total messages on the forum. You can search the whole lot here: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/forum_search.php 

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David M Johnson
Publisher / OutdoorsDirectory.com
PO Box 609
Delta Junction, AK 99737
http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com