Alaska's Proposed New Sport: Snowmachine-Based Wolf Hunts - ADN

[hatrack]

The Board of Game may expand predator control, giving snowmachiners the chance to pursue and shoot wolves just a quick drive from Wasilla or Big Lake. Fresh off an Alaska Supreme Court victory in the continuing fight over wolf control, the board will look at several proposals to expand aerial wolf kills, liberalize the sale of bear hides and allow snowmachiners to hunt wolves in new areas.

The 10-day meeting begins today in Fairbanks. The wolf proposals are designed to produce more moose for hunters, as is one to bring predator control to Anchorage and Mat-Su's backyard. It would open 3,950 square miles on both sides of the Parks Highway, around Kashwitna and Talkeetna, to land-and-shoot wolf kills and snowmachine wolf hunts.

Right now, hunters on snowmachines can pursue wolves in only a few areas of the state. The areas north of Big Lake and Wasilla, like most of the state, are now governed by laws that forbid the use of motorized vehicles to pursue game. If the proposal passes, hunters would be allowed to use a snowmachine to track, pursue and kill wolves in the area, as long as they're not on the highway or shooting across it, said Cathie Harms, a Department of Fish and Game spokeswoman in Fairbanks.

They would also have to stop the snowmachine before shooting. They would not have to step off the snowmachine.

Emphasis added.

EDIT

Ooh! Rugged! Manly! Just like something out of a Jack London story!



http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7518171p-7430177c....

[NanceGreggs]

1. If they'll just agree to raise the wolves in captivity ...

... break their legs when they reach maturity (so they can't run away), and then let them loose out of cages when the 'hunters' get there, this will be Dick Cheney's MOST FAVOURITE SPORT OF ALL TIME!

[AnnieBW]

2. Who's Afraid?

Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Those a**holes on snowmobiles!

[FloridaPat]

3. Pround to be an american. What a country. Why not just herd the

wolves, put them in pens and charge rich hunters like Cheney to come in and shoot them.

[datadiva]

4. Sick Bastards n/t

[Mikimouse]

5. I'll just keep praying for multiple patches of really thin ice...n/t

[bemildred]

6. I think I'm going to puke.

[roguevalley]

7. we voted this shit down twice. the pugs aren't happy until everything

is dead. fuck them all.

[xxqqqzme]

8. these people enrage me!

What the hell is wrong w/ these people that killing is soo f*cking important?

[Beaverhausen]

9. Oh great- shoot Wolves so there are more Moose to shoot

jesus christ...hunters should just shoot each other. It's a win-win all around!

[blindpig]

10. Great, drive-by shooting.

The refinements of civilization reach the savage north!

Let me join you all in a

[Massacure]

11. Wouldn't snowmobiles scare any game away?

[JohnWxy]

12. So how much longer are they gonna have snow up there. They had to move

Ididerod (sp?) so they would have a route with enough snow!

[wordpix2]

13. gee, what a fun sport

[Nihil]

14. Ah well ...

The day will come when the "brave hunter" runs out of fuel.
At that point, the true hunter steps into place ... and feeds ...

[drm604]

15. Snowmachines?

Do they mean snowmobiles? When I hear "snowmachine" I think of one of those things ski resorts use to make snow, like this: http://www.tjb-inc.com/landscaping_snowmaking_products....

[JohnWxy]

16. That's what they will need. The snow will all be melted away in a

couple more decades!

[Dead_Parrot]

17. LOL.