An Act repealing the prohibition against the taking of antlerless moose.

Updated: March 25, 1999

HB 114 will remove the statutory stipulation requiring Advisory Committees to approve anterless hunts before the Board of Game can implement them. This will effectively reduce the time involved in implementing anterless hunts, as well as save approximately ten to twenty thousand dollars.

Since 1975 the State Board of Game has been required to obtain the approval of a majority of the local advisory committees in proximity to the game management unit for which the hunt is proposed. To date, this requirement has caused the Department and the Board a great deal of time and some expense to pursue anterless moose hunts. Originally this provision was instigated on behalf of Alaskans who felt cow moose hunts were wrong for a variety of reasons regardless of biological evidence. Since then the Department has managed to educate most Alaskans about the benefits of anterless hunts in relation to overall population dynamics and quality of habitat. Because of that effort anterless hunts are rarely opposed today.

Anterless moose hunts have rarely been opposed under the current system and Advisory Committees still have considerable clout within the Board of Game process. If a majority of the Advisory Committees wished to stop an anterless hunt, experience shows that the Board of Game will go along with them 99% of time.

HB 114 will benefit the State and the Board of Game by streamlining the regulatory process providing a cost savings to the state in time and money.