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Standards?
Posted by Tony Dingess on Oct 21 2005
Personally I think this is one of the most critical issues facing sheep hunters in the entire state, and I do believe the whole system is going to have to be overhauled. I really don't have the answer. On one hand I think a strict full curl law would cause statewide averages on age and horn length to increase to a certain degree, but I also realize it would mean a good number of 12 year old rams would die of old age without ever making the cut, and I don't think this is the right route to follow. For outfitters like myself, I somewhat lean toward an allotted number of tags for a given number of outfits in a given guide use area, with some access restrictions limiting where one can land. Perhaps even a dropping the full curl requirement down to 3/4 for those allotted rams, and yes I know that is a radical thought. The incredibly ridiculous inability to define a full curl, and then have qualified personnel judge this when rams are coming in to be sealed is simply a joke. As I mentioned, my Cub pilot has probably seen more rams come out of the field than any biologist or Trooper in the state, and when I mentioned that the one 38" ram got a warning he simply couldn't believe it. The sad thing is it doesn't surprise me at all. I personally would not be surprised to see a legitimate B&C ram get sent to the Troopers. That 38" ram scores over 160 green. The idea that this ram should be subjected to some loosely interpreted standard as being less than acceptable is comical. If such a ram falls through the cracks, then we really need to re-evaluate the standard.
I don't like the idea of a draw for obvious reasons from an outfitter's position, but quality rams should be the goal of everyone involved in management of the species, and unlimited competition, no regulation on air taxis, and no quotas simply spell trouble in the long run. I don't like the idea of quotas or draws, but it looks like things are headed that way to me.
The one big thing I see when it comes to a standard is this; it cannot be subjective. When the tape is pulled across a set of moose horns, it simply tells the tale, objectively. Not so with this full curl deal, as it is quite obvious that many of the folks sealing have different ideas of what is or isn't full curl, or annuli. It is totally subjective, and how far am I going to get arguing with the officials over the number of annuli present. They can't even agree on this. Who is going to be the final judge when some hunter says he isn't going to pay a fine until a higher authority rules on the legality of his ram?
Sincerely,
Tony Dingess
Revelation Mountain Outfitters
220 Fowler Branch
Harts, WV 25524
304-855-9301
www.alaskahunts.net
www.dall-sheep-hunts.com
www.brown-bear-hunts.com
Alaska Registered Guide #1043
e-mail, tony@alaskahunts.net
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