CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 144(FIN)                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to hunting permits and tag fees for                                                                       
     musk oxen."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:18:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TIM BENINTENDI,  STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSEN,  explained that                                                                    
the bill  would authorize a  second permit for  resident and                                                                    
subsistent  hunters to  take musk  oxen. He  added that  the                                                                    
bill  would double  the  chances of  getting  an animal  but                                                                    
would  not change  the current  bag limit  of one  per year,                                                                    
either a  cow or a  bull. The  second permit applies  when a                                                                    
hunter is  unable to get a  musk ox under the  first permit.                                                                    
He  stressed  that  non-resident   hunters  could  not  take                                                                    
advantage of the second permit.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Benintendi informed  the committee  that musk  oxen are                                                                    
the  only  game animal  left  in  Alaska with  a  one-permit                                                                    
restriction.  He reviewed  the  four  game management  areas                                                                    
musk  oxen  are  located  in  and  noted  that  the  current                                                                    
estimation  of  the size  of  the  herd is  4,400;  annually                                                                    
between  325 and  350 are  available for  harvest. He  noted                                                                    
that  wildlife biologist  regulators  in  the Department  of                                                                    
Fish and  Game have determined  that the size and  health of                                                                    
the  herd   would  allow  for  expansion   of  hunting.  The                                                                    
department estimates  that the minimum number  of additional                                                                    
permits would be 50 to  60 and that approximately 25 animals                                                                    
would be harvested per year under SB 144.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Benintendi  remarked that the  Board of Game  would have                                                                    
authority under the bill to  reduce or eliminate subsistence                                                                    
tag and  fee requirements.  The bill  would also  change the                                                                    
calendar year to a regulatory  year, which would accommodate                                                                    
August to March hunts and allow  hunters to pay once for the                                                                    
season. The  legislation would take effect  August 2010. The                                                                    
fiscal  note  is zero.  The  bill  has  the support  of  the                                                                    
department and several hunting groups.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Thomas acknowledged the  Tenakee Springs group in                                                                    
the audience.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:22:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stoltze stated  that  he  supported the  residence                                                                    
preference provision in SB 144.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative Fairclough  questioned whether  the provision                                                                    
meets   constitutionality  since   a   recent  ruling.   Mr.                                                                    
Benintendi  replied that  out-of-state residents  could take                                                                    
part in  drawing hunts (as  opposed to permit hunts)  and so                                                                    
are accommodated.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze  asked whether  there could be  a situation                                                                    
in which non-resident hunters  would feel disadvantaged. Mr.                                                                    
Benintendi answered  that the provision would  not take away                                                                    
existing rights  but only adds to  opportunities for Alaskan                                                                    
resident hunters; other hunts would not be impacted.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stoltze referred  to challenges  from non-resident                                                                    
fishermen.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Fairclough stated that  she preferred to have                                                                    
Alaskan preference.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze closed public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:25:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Thomas  MOVED to report  SB 144 out  of Committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
note.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SB  144 was  REPORTED  out  of Committee  with  a "do  pass"                                                                    
recommendation  and with  previously published  fiscal note:                                                                    
FN1 (DFG).