I didnt take the time to read all 78 posts, so forgive me if this has been brought up. Alaska, in many parts is VERY overpopulated with wolves. Wolves (in many areas of the state) are decimating the populations of moose, and caribou. Wolves, unlike any other animal that I know of will kill, and leave the carcass, rather than eat it. I have seen this with my own eyes. Hunting is not always about food on the table, or a self gratifying trophy in the den, it is also a tool used to manage populations. The biologists who work for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game spend millions of dollars in research of populations, to make determinations of what is healthy for all species. Just like deer populations which need to be controlled back east, we have the same issue here.

 

Funny thing about that, those same people are the ones who created problem in the first place by deciding to let people kill all the predators.

Now we're supposed to believe they can fix the problem?

History says they can't.

 

OK, so he ain't really dead!



I'm still getting that motorcycle!

 

Kill wolf predators? What are those... other wolves?

 

You just don't understand...they're sooooooooooooooooooo cute

 

I was referring to the deer problem.

Every year they increase the quotas, extend the seasons, have special seasons, even run urban harvests and the deer population is still exploding.

Eventually they'll allow too many deer to be taken and then we'll see the other side, not enough deer.

Then we can hear everyone complain about the revenue lost because no one comes to the state to hunt.

Sometimes, just sometimes, it would be better for everyone to just keep their hands off things and let nature heal itself.

 

Well, they tried that here for 8 years under our last governor, and the moose and caribou nearly became extinct in about 5 different management units (about the size of a county... we dont have counties).

 

OK, but is the problem the wolves or over-hunting? I think there's a fundamental flaw in the management of natural resources in a manner that focuses on providing recreational opportunities for man first and foremost.

Man is wasteful and unappreciative of the gifts the earth provides.

I appreciate the native populations needs to sustain themselves, so perhaps the balance would be suspending recreational hunting for a time.

Without the intervention of man, the deer populations (or caribou etc) are maintained by availability of food and predators. That interaction creates a triangle that ultimately balances itself over time, with ripples in the cycle now and then. I think if you look at the examples we've set throughout history, once man starts to play too large a role, that balance then becomes more matter of extremes than ripples.

I'm in no way saying I would prohibit recreational hunting etc. That issue is strictly a matter of concscience. I would however say we need to focus more on removing the hand of man for a bit and give things a chance to smooth out. If that means someone can't hang a head on their wall now and then, well, life sucks, I can't fish sturgeon at Spirit lake anymore like my grandfather used because all the white folk took them out of the lake, destroying what used to be a creature of legend in the old days.

 

I completely understand what you are saying and dont necessarily disagree with it. However, Alaska is unique in that we are not overpopulated (although I still think we have too many people up here ) In the areas where the wolves have become a problem, the hunters are primarily subsistence hunters, including a few small native villages. Some people up here really do rely on hunting for their daily meals, as grocery stores can be hard to come by. I wouldnt personally speculate on why the wolves have grown in population so fast, other than the fact that they have been legally protected for so many years. In fact, if wolves only killed for the food that they need, it wouldnt be so much of a problem. However, like I posted earlier, wolves are just about the only animal that I know of that kill, but dont eat what they kill, just move on to other animals. The reason this has struck a nerve with me, is that since wolf hunting has become legal again in a few select areas, there have been dozens of groups from the lower 48 protesting, and publishing ads in the newspapers condemning us. It really makes me angry when people try to force their opinion on us, while not having a clue what they are talking about. I've said my peace.

 

Am I the only one that finds the irony in you killing a commie turtle with a Russian rifle?

And, kretinus you have moved so far past hugging trees that you are to the point of tossing tree salads. The guy legally killed an animal get off it. If you don't like it don't click on the thread.

By the way, nice wolf.

 

Wow, this thread really took off.

akheloce, I don't think folks from America can really understand what game populations and hunting really mean to Alaskans, and how our management practices actually help populations rather than hurt them. Granted, there are a few dipstick mistakes that government makes over management, but eventually we get out of a Knowles era, and move on to better management practices that work.

The thing about man intervening with wildlife is that it can be beneficial. We have studied these species for decades, and know what helps the health of the population and what hurts it. By using this knowledge, we can try to maintain a healthy population throughout the state by managing areas that need either predator control, reduced hunting, or more hunting to make sure that populations don't get out of control. Large declines in populations are due more to the uneducated and "politically correct" management that so many people support because they get their information from groups like the WLF or PETA. The goal of the states Fish and Game dept's is to help the populations of all wild animals, and to try to keep numbers in check to support all active users (wild and man) and keep from the big crashes from happening. If it wasn't for hunters, animals like the elk, deer and turkey would be significantly lower than where they are today. It is a proven fact that hunters are responsible for the comeback of many species throughout the country. Unfortunately, due to the ignorance of most, and the tear jerking stories that flood the airwaves, practices like banning hunting, deer birth control, and paid extermination become better possibilities than good old fashion hunting.

I will hunt anything in Alaska that my Fish and Game department deems there is a sustainable yeild to harvest. I don't eat everything I kill, but I do have a "to chew" list that I've been slowly chomping away at. The next critter I'd like to try is a lynx, so I've purchased some game calls and decoy's to try and get one in close enough to shoot.

 

" I dont think folks from America understand"..

Is Alaska now part of another country????? I believe you meant folks from the lower 48...

 

I'll keep all that in mind, how man is actually rescuing the planet the next time I see a notice about people not being able to drink the water coming out of their faucets.

 

+1 I personally didn't realize how many sit-down-to-pee fairies were in here

 

Marc i understand everybody has an opinion and i respect most of them. We did share some real real *****y things back in the day and i don't take to killing for just a sport. Hunting with my sons has taught my sons many things from respect to safety to bonding all the way to the kill and how to do it right.

I fought for many things in nam i believed in and one of them was hunting, fishing,freedom to do so, etc... I understand the gun as i understand the fishing pole (which also kills). I have had the best times of my life with my sons and friends while hunting and there is no way i ever going to give that up. not for no MAN.

Marc we eat about anything we kill but i have shot some yots around here not so much as a sport but it is allowed by law and my sons wanted to give it a go. No flame here my brother and i understand your stand and i respect it to the end but MATTY no F-in way he is a girl plain and simple...

Jim