Legislature(1995 - 1996)
03/27/1995 03:40 PM Senate RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SRES - 3/27/95
SB 81 CLASSIFYING WOLF AS PREDATOR
CHAIRMAN LEMAN brought up SB 81 as the next order of business
before the Senate Resources Committee. The chairman asked for a
report from the subcommittee on SB 81.
SENATOR HALFORD stated that the subcommittee tried to formulate a
committee substitute which would satisfy the objections raised to
the original bill. The original premise was to specify a $400
state-wide bounty, and that a wolf could be taken anywhere, anyhow,
anyway. Under SB 81, wolves would be unclassified game, a
furbearer, and could be taken by any method or means approved for
taking unclassified game or furbearers. The bounty was reduced to
$200, and would only apply in areas designated by the board of
game. The wolf also must be presented for identification to an
office designated by the commissioner. The intent is that not
every office of the Department of Fish & Game be used for sealing
of wolves taken under the bounty. Senator Halford thinks those
points will satisfy some of the objections to SB 81, although he
realizes they will not satisfy the objections of those who are
universally opposed to any kind of incentive for predator harvest.
SENATOR TAYLOR expressed appreciation to Senator Halford for the
work done on SB 81. Senator Taylor supports a harvest incentive
program, and thinks $200 plus the value of the hide is a more
reasonable amount to pay for bounty than that which was originally
proposed in the bill. He asked Senator Halford to further define
the methods or means by which wolves could be taken.
SENATOR HALFORD responded that there is a prohibition on taking
furbearers with a shotgun, because of the damage done to the hide.
Furbearers can be taken with a rifle or with a trap.
SENATOR TAYLOR commented an effective way to control wolves is the
use of shotguns and aerial hunting.
SENATOR HALFORD replied that aerial hunting has always been done by
permit. SB 81 regards the general classification of wolves and
instituting a bounty system.
SENATOR TAYLOR noted SB 81 will still leave that up to the
discretion of the board. He does not know that public attitude has
a thing to do with good or bad game management. He thinks it has
a lot to do with public attitude.
SENATOR HALFORD responded he can't fix that; he was just working
with the bill Senator Taylor introduced.
[There is discussion that perhaps an "a" should be deleted from
page 1, line 3. Committee staff was instructed to correct the
inconsistency between drafts.]
Number 319
SENATOR HALFORD made a motion to adopt the committee substitute.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN, hearing no objection, stated the committee
substitute had been adopted.
SENATOR LINCOLN asked for clarification regarding the department's
position on the committee substitute. She also asked if the
committee substitute would have an impact on the fiscal note.
Number 325
CHAIRMAN LEMAN clarified that on page 1, line 3 the "a" just before
"wolf" will be deleted, so the title will read, "...incentive on
wolf taken in areas...." On page 2, line 3 after the word
"department" the language, "designated by the commissioner" will be
inserted.
Number 336
STEVE PETERSON, Acting Deputy Director, Division of Wildlife
Conservation, Department of Fish & Game, repeated some of the
testimony given by Mr. Regelin at an earlier date. The division's
position remains essentially the same as it was for the original
bill: the division is opposed to SB 81.
Number 365
SENATOR LINCOLN asked Mr. Peterson if the committee substitute
would affect the fiscal note from the division.
MR. PETERSON responded, as far as he knows, the committee
substitute will not affect the fiscal note.
SENATOR HALFORD commented that the bounty is cut in half.
MR. PETERSON said that is true, but he does not think that will
change the number of wolves taken.
SENATOR LINCOLN asked Mr. Peterson what the department is proposing
for wolf control, other than having a bounty. She has not heard
any other alternatives offered by the department.
Number 386
MR. PETERSON thinks the department could work with the Board of
Game, if the board set up some intensive management areas. Mr.
Peterson thinks it would be good for the department to be given
clear statutory authority that specifies if the board sets up
intensive management areas, the department could permit for those
areas.
SENATOR HALFORD expressed concern that SB 81 might pass with a
$20,000 fiscal note, or it might pass without a fiscal note. He
thinks the committee substitute would add to the board's ability,
without mandating anything.
MR. PETERSON replied he just can't anticipate how the board will
react to SB 81.
SENATOR HALFORD stated that forcing the board to use a tool is like
pushing on a rope, but giving them the tool would at least give the
board the opportunity to consider intensive game management.
MR. PETERSON agreed with Senator Halford.
Number 428
SENATOR TAYLOR asked Mr. Peterson if he is wrong to conclude that
the board and the department have both abandoned any wolf or
predator control.
MR. PETERSON thinks the truth of that statement depends on how one
defines predator control: trappers can be very effective in certain
areas. But there is no doubt that the public is very concerned
about control programs.
SENATOR TAYLOR thinks the people of the state have a right to know
what the department intends to do. He asked Mr. Peterson to
confirm that the department's attitude is to not do anything,
unless the public approves.
MR. PETERSON responded that the commissioner has stated he wants a
program that is broadly accepted by the public.
SENATOR TAYLOR asked Mr. Peterson what the commissioner is
suggesting to the legislature. Senator Taylor asserted that the
department is not responding to the legislature's attempt to work
on the issue.
MR. PETERSON replied there are people on both sides of the fence,
and the department tries to balance that.
Number 435
MARK LUTTRELL, President, Eastern Kenai Peninsula Environmental
Action Alliance, testifying from Seward, does not think the changes
are substantial, and thinks changing "bounty" to "harvest
incentive" is insulting. Mr. Luttrell asked the committee to
consult more with the commissioner of the Department of Fish &
Game.
Number 457
MIKE TETREAU, testifying from Seward, thinks any type of a bounty
or harvest incentive would be medieval game management, at best.
Mr. Tetreau asserted that predator control is an outdated and
unscientific management technique that is doomed to fail, as has
been shown through past experience. He thinks SB 81 reflects a
very simplistic view of the natural environment.
Number 469
SENATOR TAYLOR asked Mr. Tetreau if he has any proposal for
management of predators.
MR. TETREAU responded that the whole idea of limiting the number of
predators, simply to increase the number of prey available to
hunters is debatable in and of itself. He suggested SB 81 may
simply be a ploy to take some of the heat off trappers. If
predators have to be managed, then a controlled method, such as a
trapping program would certainly be preferable to a wide-open
bounty.
SENATOR TAYLOR asked Mr. Tetreau if he would support a trapping
program, as opposed to SB 81.
MR. TETREAU replied he would support trapping over a bounty
program, but he does not feel that trapping is necessary either,
for this particular problem.
SENATOR TAYLOR asked Mr. Tetreau if he is an employee of the state
and would benefit through his wages from involvement in a trapping
program.
MR. TETREAU said he would not benefit from a trapping program. He
repeated that he does not see a need for wolf control, but that he
would support trapping over an open public bounty.
Number 490
SENATOR TAYLOR made a motion to discharge SB 81 from the Senate
Resources Committee with individual recommendations.
SENATOR HALFORD asked the department to submit a new fiscal note.
SENATOR TAYLOR added there should be mandatory sex education for
wolves. We would probably be as successful as we've been with
teenagers. He also suggested using parvo virus.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN, hearing no objection, stated SB 81 was discharged
from the Senate Resources Committee with individual
recommendations.
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