04/23/1998 02:30 PM House RES

CSSB 262(RES) - MANAGEMENT OF HUNTING                                          
                                                                               
CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN announced the next order of business was CS for SB
(RES), "An Act relating to regulation of hunting and trapping,              
to the definition of 'sustained yield,' and to controlled use                  
areas."                                                                        
                                                                               
Number 474                                                                     
                                                                               
CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN explained there was discussion at the last meeting            
about means of access that couldn't be restricted until there was              
already damage.  The changes are noted on page 2, lines 23 - 24.               
It now reads as follows:                                                       
                                                                               
     "Sec. 16.05.799.  Regulation of hunting.  (a)  The Board                  
     of Game and the department may not restrict the use of a                  
     means of access for hunting game if that means of access                  
     is a traditional means of access for hunting game for                     
     consumptive use."                                                         
                                                                               
CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN further explained the word "has resulted" has been            
changed to "could result" on page 2, line 28.  The word "would                 
likely" has been changed to "would be unlikely" on page 2, line 30.            
The changes make the language more proactive instead of waiting for            
the game to be in bad shape.                                                   
                                                                               
CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN further explained the language has been changed on            
page 3, lines 1 - 2, to read as follows:                                       
                                                                               
     "(2) has implemented active management measures that are                  
     necessary to aid in the recovery of depressed game                        
     populations in the area."                                                 
                                                                               
CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN further explained the Department of Fish and Game             
testified about the language being too restrictive that it couldn't            
restrict a method or means to take game.  The language has been                
clarified on page 2, lines 3 - 5, to read as follows:                          
                                                                               
     "(b) The Board of Game or the department may not restrict                 
     the use of a traditional means of access for hunting game                 
     for the purpose of preferring or affecting the quality of                 
     the outdoor experience of a person or group."                             
                                                                               
Number 512                                                                     
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BARNES made a motion and asked unanimous consent to             
adopt the proposed committee substitute for SB 262, version 0-                 
LS1379\H, Utermohle, 4/23/98, for consideration.  There being no               
objection, it was so adopted.                                                  
                                                                               
Number 525                                                                     
                                                                               
BRUCE BAKER testified in Juneau.  There are six reasons why the                
bill is not in the public's interest.  It flies in the face of a               
hundred years of progress and development of a conservation ethic              
in this country by eliminating reference to the very word                      
"conservation" from two places in the current law.  The insertion              
of the word "biological management" in Section 1 raises questions              
of its definition and the appropriate division of authority between            
the Department of Fish and Game and the Board of Game.  The wording            
"has implemented" doesn't fit with the recent changes of "could                
result" and "would be unlikely."  The bill ignores the importance              
of the quality of an outdoor experience disenfranchising Alaskans              
and visitors who spend hundreds of millions of dollars to have a               
quality outdoor experience.  Section 3 makes this another "freeze-             
the-moose" bill by suggesting that consumptive meat deserves to be             
managed on a sustained yield basis when there are hundreds of                  
millions of dollars being spent on Alaska to experience the                    
mystique of the wilderness including the existence of wolves and               
bears.  He suggested modifying the bill to reflect the state                   
constitution that calls for a sustained yield for all resources.               
                                                                               
Number 571                                                                     
                                                                               
DICK BISHOP, Vice President, Alaska Outdoor Council (AOC),                     
testified in Juneau.  The AOC appreciates the intent of the bill by            
providing specific protections for harvest opportunities in                    
traditional accesses.  The changes are appropriate.  Biological                
management is difficult to understand how it would be interpreted.             
The regulation of hunting on page 2, lines 22 - 24 is overly                   
restrictive by saying "the department may not restrict."  He                   
suggested including the language "the department may not prohibit."            
The changes to the definition of sustained yield are appropriate.              
It may help clarify the importance of higher levels of prey.  The              
discussion at the constitutional convention indicated that the                 
language "subject to preference among beneficial uses" derives from            
a discussion on managing the enhancement of prey populations in                
recognizing their importance.