Current Issues

"Salmon: Public stocks that never lose their value to Alaskans"- Attached under Executive Director report Winter 2009.

While the value of salmon on commercial markets may fluctuate, the value of salmon as a wild food source to Alaskans - although unrecorded - continues to grow. In-season harvest of salmon by individuals is limited to a small fraction of the total statewide harvest by a multitude of regulations affecting various classifications of users - subsistence, sport, and personal use. These restrictions imposed by the Board of Fisheries and a general lack of access to salmon-bearing rivers gives a false value of what salmon is really worth to a majority of Alaskans.

Shelves and freezers stocked with last season's salmon are a comfort in today's volatile food markets. Access to salmon and other wildfoods is one of the special reasons to live in Alaska. Thanks to the framers of the State's Constitution the Common Use Clause (Article 8, Section 3) gives all Alaskans the right to harvest their own wild food.

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Black bear control in GMU 16B - The Board of Game (BOG) did their part, they liberalized bag limits and methods and means for reducing predation on moose calves. Now it’s up to hunters to do their part; go harvest as many black bear as you want out of the control area. There are a number of regulations that apply only to resident hunters who have a Control Area Permit. The permit allows you to hunt and access bait stations the same day you have flown, plus allows you to sell tanned bear hides. These and all the other liberalized conditions can only be found in the departments new Predator Control Supplement, they are not in the “handy, dandy” regulations booklet. You most go down to the local ADF&G to get your copy of the Predator Control Supplement and your Control Area Permit. If hunters don’t show up to do their part to reduce predation on moose by black bears the chances are good the BOG won’t go through the laborious public process of adopting liberalized regulations such as these again.

Predator Control Supplement-The 2007-2008 Alaska, Bear and Wolf Control Supplement is available at some ADF&G offices. In order to participate in wolf and bear predator programs currently underway in 5 areas of Alaska you most first obtain a Control Area Permit. Wolf control area permits are now being issued for all or parts of GMU’s 13A,13B, 13C, 13E, 16A, 16B, 19A, 19D, 12, 20D, 20B, 20E, 25C. Brown bear control area permits are now being issued for all or parts of GMU 19D and 20E. Black bear permits for all or part of GMU 16 and 19D. The boundaries and liberalized hunting conditions can only be found in the Predator Control Supplement, so go get one and do your part to help achieve abundant wildlife.

Tier II scoring for Nelchina caribou Permits - Ken Manning won the challenge to his victory at the Superior Court level. The alternative sources of game criterion being used by the BOG was unconstitutional. The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed the order of the superior court. The most important aspect of the case for all Alaskans was that the Alaska Supreme Court reaffirmed the 1989 McDowell decision that limiting subsistence fishing and hunting activities to rural residents violated the equal access clauses enshrined in the Alaska Constitution. Shortly after Manning won at the Alaska Supreme Court the Superior Court granted an injunction to Ahtna Tene Nene Subsistence Committee which again puts Tier II scoring for Nelchina caribou back in the courts. Ironically the Injunction filed by Ahtna would end up putting more permits in the hands of Anchorage residents making less available for residents of the Nelchina Basin. Who knows how Tier II scoring will eventually turn out if left to the courts? AOC is advocating for the adoption of Proposal #38 before the Joint Boards of Fisheries and Game that would turn State lands in the Nelchina Basin into a Nonsubsistence Area. This would completely do away with Tier II permits along the road system; between the Parks Hwy and Richardson Hwy, north of the Glenn Hwy.

GMU 13 Nonsubsistence Area -The Joint Boards of Fisheries and Game will take comments until September 21, 2007 on Proposal #38 (see proposal text and proposal map, both PDF) to create a new Nonsubsistence area that would connect the Fairbanks and Anchorage/Mat/Kenai Nonsubsistence Areas together. This new Nonsubsistence Area would include portions of GMUs 13, 14, and 20. The initial review will take your comments into consideration at the October 5th-8th Joint Boards meeting in Anchorage. If there isn’t strong public support for Proposal #38 the likelihood of it being adopted is slim and Nelchina caribou permits well remain under the Tier II scoring system. You can either mailed or fax your comments to:

ATTN: Joint Board Comments
ADF&G, Boards Section
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
FAX: (907) 465-6094

Alaska Supreme Court vacancy - Justice Alex Bryner is retiring from the Alaska Supreme Court. Two attorneys with very strong records of supporting States Rights and equality in access to public resources have applied to fill the vacancy; Joanne Grace, assistant attorney general in Anchorage and Wayne Anthony Ross, in private practice in Anchorage and past gubernatorial candidate. Governor Palin will appoint a new justice in October from a list of nominated finalists.
The Judicial Council invites public comment. Write to:
Judicial Council
1029 W. Third Ave.
Anchorage, Alaska 99501

The Federal Subsistence Board (FSB) agrees to reconsider C&T for Ninilchik on Kenai River - One small victory for Alaskans is the FSB’s willingness to admit they were out of order when they approved a C&T finding for residents of Ninilchik and Happy Valley for all fish in the Kenai River. While the State and Safari Club International (SCI) had both submitted a request for reconsideration (RFR) of the Boards actions they were granted only a point of order under Robert’s Rules of Order. The FSB took this action in a closed to the public meeting on July 13th. In Anchorage on September 13th the FSB will be given another chance to get it right. There will be an opportunity for discussion before their vote. Should they reverse their position and deny the priority, fine. Should they again approve a fisheries priority to some residents of the Kenai depending on what their Zip Code is a court challenge is the only step left in the process.


No Charter fleet representation on the NPFMC - Governor Palin and her administrative staff decided that one recreational representative on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) was enough. Apparently individual anglers and the halibut charter fleet should be satisfied with that. Sam Cotton, who is currently a fisheries consultant for the Aleutians East Borough, and Duncan Fields, a fish processor and fishermen as well as the chair of the Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board, were appointed to the two vacated seats. Alaskans will get their first opportunity to hear what these new members have to say regarding halibut charter issues such as Allocation/Compensation, Discard Mortality, Logbook Data, 3A GHL Measures when the NPFMC reviews these topics in Anchorage October the 1, 2007. Never before has representation from the charter fleet been more important on the NPFMC then in the next year when the Council takes action regarding the long-term viability of the halibut charter industry.

Long-time Alaska outdoor writer Les Palmer takes a hard look at subsistence on the Kenai Peninsula

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AOC recommends that the Board of Fisheries take no action to create a fish reserve area or refuge on state-owned waters in the Lower Talarik Creek, Upper Talarik Creek and Koktuli River drainages.
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Wildlife Management Under Tony Knowles
by AOC Staff
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AOC/PAC Endorses Palin for Governor of Alaska
By Palin for Governor Campaign
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2006 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
By Rod Arno
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AOC FLEXES POLITICAL MUSCLE
By Jeff Logan
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ED REPORT - NUISANCE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
By Rod Arno
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IT’S TIME TO BRING BACK THE DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE PROTECTION
By Patrick Valkenburg
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RURAL REVIEW OF COMMUNITIES ELIGIBLE FOR A PRIORITY FOR HUNTING & FISHING On FEDERAL PUBLIC LANDS IN ALASKA By The Federal Subsistence Board.
Federal law requires that rural residents be given a priority for hunting and fishing on all Federal public lands in Alaska.
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Find out about your local Advisory Committee to the ADF&G Boards of Fish and Game.

East Alaska Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. (EARMP/EIS)
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Halibut Charter IFQ- Les Palmer
(from the Penninsula Clarion, a Kenai daily newspaper on June 17, 2005)
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Charter Pacific Fishery Management Council
173rd Plenary Session October 5-11, 2005
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Multiple Groups Aim to “Restrict” a Half-Century Tradition of Motorized Access to the Knik River Drainage
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Subsistence—Lessons from Canada
By: Patrick Valkenburg
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Archived Issues

Read the AOC Summer 2008 Newsletter (PDF)

Habitat Permitting Function returned to ADF&G: Governor Palin has restored confidence in the Habitat permitting process and its products. Please take a moment to give her offi ce a call (465-3500), FAX (465-3532) or an email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and say “Thanks, Governor”. Following a 4 year experiment initiated by the previous administration, and a year’s review of its pros and cons, Governor Palin returned the Habitat permitting function to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. It was the right thing to do.

The Alaska Outdoor Council applauds the Governor on her decision, and her advisors who provided the review. Every trapper knows “there’s more than one way to skin a cat” (or a lynx, a marten, a fox). The job gets done either way, but the results may differ and so may the customer’s confidence in the process and product. From the framing of the Constitution through the 50 years of Statehood since, it’s been clear that Alaskans place special value on fish, wildlife, and habitats.

U.S. Supreme Court hears 2nd Amendment Case: There was a packed house at the U.S. Supreme Court for the oral arguments on the D.C. v Heller case. Excerpts below give you some idea of how it looks to one 2nd Amendment individual rights advocate who was there. AOC, Territorial Sportsmen Inc, Juneau Gun Club, Juneau Rifle and Pistol Club, and Sitka Sportsmen’s Association funded the printing costs of an amicus brief filed in support of the individual right to keep and bear arms. Attorney Jack McGee of Juneau generously prepared the brief free, and did a great job. With more lead time, we would have solicited more Alaskan clubs to be named on the brief. We hope the Justices read Jack’s brief! AOC has it in print and electronically. If you want to read it, send your email address and ask for it.

Heller Case Goes Better Than Expected by Alan Korwin, Co-Author, ”Supreme Court Gun Cases”
“The bottom line is, I think we’re going to be OK. When Justice Kennedy flat out said he believes in an individual right under the Second Amendment, their were no gasps in the hush of the High Court, but you could tell the greatest stellar array of gun-rights experts ever assembled, all there in that one room, breathed a sigh of relief – we had five votes to affirm the human and civil right to arms.”

Proposed federal law to ban aerial shooting: Despite a push by the Defenders of Wildlife, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee has no plans to schedule a hearing this year on legislation designed to ground Alaska’s predator control program. Governor Palin’s office actively opposes the proposal, HR 3663, by Rep. George Miller, D-Calif. However, the bill could pop up on a spending measure – as a “rider” on an appropriation bill. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., a co-sponsor, leads the subcommittee writing the Interior Department’s budget. The bill allows aerial control only by government employees and only to counter “irreversible,” predator-caused declines in prey numbers. The bill also would ban all hunting by individuals on days they’ve flown on private or chartered aircraft. (Waterfowl hunters take note.)

AOC Winter 2008 Newsletter (PDF 3.2 MB)

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin had some hard words for Congressman George Miller (D.-CA) about his "Protect America's Wildlife" legislation. Read more (PDF) »

Supreme Court Reviews 2nd Amendment - Individual Gun Rights. AOC participates in first serious interpretation in 70 years. (PDF) >>

Wolf Wars - Article by Les Palmer: Understanding predator control
Read the Article (PDF) >> APWM Website link

Governor Palin’s Fish & Game Transition Team Issues Report
Read the report (PDF) »