04/25/1995 09:25 AM Senate FIN

                                                                               
       SENATE BILL NO. 81                                                      
       "An  Act  classifying  the  wolf   as  a  predator  and                 
  providing for  a bounty on wolf."                                            
                                                                               
  Senator Sharp testified the bill declassifies the wolf as  a                 
  big game animal and places it in classified status.  It also                 
  leaves it as a fur  bearer.  It allows the Board of Game the                 
  flexibility  to  set  up   areas  designated  for  intensive                 
  predator control by offering harvest incentives if the Board                 
  of Game authorizes.  It designates  the department to set up                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  areas where trappers  or members  of the public,  to take  a                 
  wolf,  can  present  the  skin  as  defined on  page  2  for                 
  identification   and   verification   to  the   department's                 
  satisfaction.  If the animal is taken in an area designated,                 
  then the department  is responsible  for paying the  harvest                 
  incentive.                                                                   
                                                                               
  End    Tape #42, Side 2                                                      
  Begin  Tape #44, Side 1                                                      
                                                                               
  Senator Sharp  referred to his  large chart produced  by the                 
  Division of  Game.   It graphically  indicated the  wildlife                 
  harvest data.   He  indicated that  the Resources  Committee                 
  substantially changed the bill.  The bounty was reduced from                 
  $400 to $200.  All provisions were changed which referred to                 
  the wolf as a "vermin to be killed in any way."  It has been                 
  changed to reflect that  the wolf is an unclassified  or fur                 
  bearer and is subject  to all the protection and  the normal                 
  procedures  that  apply  to   unclassified  animals  or  fur                 
  bearers.  It further states,  that the harvest incentive for                 
  a bounty can only be applied  in areas decided by the  Board                 
  of Game.   He  reiterated, the  state is  in turmoil  over a                 
  subsistence question that basically deals with a total of 4%                 
  of the harvest.                                                              
                                                                               
  Senator Donley  supports maintaining  the existing  controls                 
  for non-residents and aliens, and applying the new standards                 
  to  Alaskan  residents.    Co-chair   Halford  responded  an                 
  inconsistency in that there is  no other unclassified or fur                 
  bearer that has  a non-resident tag.   He noted the  need to                 
  create a non-resident tag for an unclassified animal.   This                 
  is inconsistent with the current management scheme.                          
                                                                               
  Senator Phillips asked if there were  any limits to the type                 
  of wolf taken.   Co-chair Halford  responded that it is  the                 
  same  as  other  like  fur  bearing  animals.    It  is  not                 
  restricted  by  age   or  size,  primarily  because   it  is                 
  impossible for someone in the field  to know if a wolf is  a                 
  male  or  female  or if  it  is  6 months  or  6  years old.                 
  Trapping is  whatever gets  in the  trap.   He reminded  the                 
  committee that there are 1100 wolves taken a year.                           
                                                                               
  Senator Donley offered a  conceptual amendment limiting  the                 
  harvesting of the wolf to Alaskans. No objection being heard                 
  the amendment was ADOPTED.                                                   
                                                                               
  Senator Phillips inquired  as to why the  right foreleg must                 
  be taken  to the  department for  identification.   Co-chair                 
  Halford  responded  that the  characteristics  of  that bone                 
  distinguishes a wolf from a dog.                                             
                                                                               
  Senator  Sharp  MOVED    to  adopt  a  conceptual  amendment                 
  changing the language from retain to remove on page 2, lines                 
  4 and 6.  No objection being heard, it was ADOPTED.                          
                                                                               
                                                                               
  Co-chair Frank MOVED to adopt CSSB  81 (FIN) as amended with                 
  a fiscal  note from the Dept of Fish  and Game of $85.0 with                 
  individual recommendations.  No objection being heard,  CSSB
 (FIN) was REPORTED  OUT of committee.  Co-chairs  Halford                 
  and Frank along  with Senator  Sharp recommended "do  pass",                 
  Senators  Phillips,  Donley,  and   Rieger  recommended  "no                 
  recommendation". Co-chair Halford requested a current fiscal                 
  note to reflect the  actual cost from Dept of  Fish and Game                 
  of $85.0.                                                                    
                                                                               
  ADJOURNMENT                                                                  
                                                                               
  The meeting adjourned at approximately 3:00 p.m.