"An Act relating to hunting on the same day airborne; and providing for an effective date."

House Bill 208 adds and deletes language from existing statute AS 16.05.783(a) to give both the Board of Game and the Commissioner of Fish and Game a valuable tool in maintaining game populations around the state.

Currently, after complying with strict prey population standards, an authorized department employee or person may use same day airborne hunting as part of the game management program. The first change in HB 208 will essentially allow for same day airborne or aerial shooting of predators as part of human consumptive game management.

Likewise, management of game is severely restricted in an either/or situation. As an example, if the minimum game population objective is met, but the harvest level is not, a management decision cannot be made, even if it is established that predators are limiting the game population. The second change to statute allows the Board to use both objectives when determining and making recommendations to the Department.

HB 208 makes changes that will allow both the Board and the Commissioner to better manage wildlife populations in the state by reviewing the facts and balancing populations. By adding this language to existing statute, a more consistent balance of both human consumptive game and predators will be obtained.

Last Updated: 03-27-03

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