Alaska Wolf Control and Hunting

From the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, I got information that stated wolves and bears are very effective and efficient predators on caribou, moose, deer and other wildlife.  In most of Alaska, humans also rely on the same species for food.  In Alaska's interior, predators kill more than 80 percent of the moose and caribou that die during an average year, while humans kill less than 10%.  The wolf control programs that are currently underway comprise about 9.4% of Alaska's land area. 

From Slate.com - Aerial Wolf Gunning 101 - Aerial hunting "yields better results than traditional hunting, since it allows the hunter to cover a lot of ground quickly and track target animals from a clear vantage point.  Historically, hunters also used planes to drive animals - polar bears in Alaska and elk in Montana, among others, toward gunmen waiting on the ground.  But many hunters found the practice unsportsmanlike, since it violates the "fair chase" ethic, and animal rights activists call it inhumane, since airborne gunmen rarely get a clean (i.e., relatively painless) kill."  This brought about the Federal Airborne Hunting Act of 1972, which prohibits any person who, while airborne in an aircraft shoots or attempts to shoot for the purpose of capturing or killing any bird, fish, or other animal; or uses an aircraft to harass any bird, fish, or other animal; or knowingly participates in using an aircraft for any purpose referred to in the above two policies.  But the law does have a loophole which allows state employees or licensed individuals to shoot "from an aircraft for the sake of protecting "land, water, wildlife, livestock, domesticated animals, human life, or crops."

Since 2003, Slate states that "Alaska has issued aerial wolf-hunting permits in select areas where moose and caribou populations are particularly endangered.  The idea is that by killing the predators, the airborne gunmen can ramp up the number of moose and caribou that human hunters can take home for supper."  This is supported by subsistence-food gathers particularly in parts of rural Alaska.

In March 2007, the Anchorage Daily News posted these numbers:

98: Number of wolves taken so far this season
664: Top limit state wants killed this season
7,000-11,000: Estimated number in Alaska
$150: New incentive for proof of a kill
1972: Last year state offered a bounty

Worldwide methods of hunting wolves involves not just airplanes and helicopters, but also dog hunts, falcon and eagles, bait stations and blinds, trapping pits, and wolf calls (ok, ok, I can hear ya out there whistling!).  "The Native Americans used two kinds of knife trap. One method was to encase a sharp blade in fat and frozen upright on a block of ice. The wolf would cut itself while licking the blade and bleed to death", and flagging - "In modern European Russia, a traditional wolf hunting method involves encircling the located wolf pack with a 3-5 kilometer (2-3 mile) long tether, having small swatches of fabric stitched to it every few feet. The fabric is usually red in order to be easier spotted over the background of snow by the guides. Since it retains a human scent for several days, wolves tend to stay within the encircled area. When the hunters arrive, the pack of wolves is already "flagged".^{" [quoted material was gleaned from Gather's all time favorite - Wikipedia]}

For those who eat moose and caribou, the meat is very high protein while very low fat.  I've not had moose, nor caribou, but I have had elk and bison several times.  Both are very good, elk with more flavor.

So why have I posted this article?  I have found so little reliable information available on this issue on Sarah Palin and wanted to learn more about it and where I stood on the issue itself.  I know there are people in very rural areas who depend on hunting to survive.  I didn't know the number of wolves we were talking about, nor that the area where hunting wolves is permitted and I was surprised that there were estimated numbers in Alaska of up to 11,000.  Additionally that the number of wolves permitted to be taken account for 6% of the total population of wolves.  The actual land area of Alaska contains 570,374 square miles and the area permitting the hunting of wolves is roughly 53,600 square miles, which is slightly less than the land area of the state of Michigan.  Kind of puts into perspective how big Alaska is, doesn't it?

I also know there are very responsible hunters who strive for humane kills and slob hunters who destroy the sport of hunting for all those who partake.  I'm not either of those.  I can handle a rifle, a shotgun, a handgun and do quite well with a recurve bow but I only shoot nonliving targets.  I have no need, nor desire to hunt living animals and am adamant on observing laws for migratory song birds.

I would like to throw this issue out to Gather to see what other valid information has been found.  How much money does hunting bring to states?  What is the funding used for?  How much does it bring to Alaska?  How many of you out there actually hunt?  How do you feel about trophy hunting verses hunting for sustenance, and can it be both?  How do you feel about the culling of wolves, as predators, in increasing the elk, caribou and moose population?  How about the protection of domestic animals, as I know this is a big issue in western states.  And considering the other tactics for hunting wolves, how do you now view the aerial hunting with small aircraft AND helicopters?

I do NOT want political attacks or partisan comments either for or against a particular candidate, nor do I want foul language.  Please keep comments specifically to this subject as there are enough other articles within Gather to comment and/or bash on your political views.  As author of this article I reserve the right to delete anybody's comments that violate this policy, and I intend to hold firm on this issue.