|
[ Return to Contents
| Post a Reply
| Post a new message
]
my .02 as well
Posted by bushrat on Dec 21 2005
"Is it any wonder that the subsistance hunting issue will never be resolved, given that it carries such an extensive history of abuse and absolute disregard for the resources?"
AKres, no disrespect intended, but just what extensive history of abuse and absolute disregard for the resource are you speaking of? Native human populations in North America prior to the white man's arrival certainly didn't "disregard" the resource. Neither did they disrespect it at all from what I've learned. If you're going to start with a premise, at least let's start with an educated premise. As Homerdave said, word is not conclusive on what extirpated the mammoth and other megafauna from Beringia during the last ice age. Scientists disagree on this, but I buy the opinion that climate change had a large part to do with it, as well as some human hunting. But the other species---it was mostly the white man that did that, market shooting, sport shooting, unregulated beaver trapping, not subsistence hunting.
As far as "current" subsistence hunting by AK Natives, many of the regs and laws truly lack good management sense, as you say. And they do (by today's criteria and human populations) show a disregard for wildlife populations and promote division among differing classes of hunters. When an Athapaskan in Dot Lake can take over 100 ducks in one day, in spring, legally, simply because he is Native, this (to my mind) is not a good thing and does not set a good example. This is the present, and therefore some things have to change. Some aspects of what is considered "subsistence" hunting must change. I don't disagree with you at all on that score.
The management regime in Alaska will never be perfect. Nothing is. But it's a very good question to ask how we can come together on this to make it work.
While talking with a longtime bush-pilot friend last summer, who runs a large operation out of Fbks, he relayed that these days it was only the wealthy trophy hunters who mostly could afford his services. It costs around $4K or more to fly in and out of the bush in a super cub, including the meat pickups. He was seeing too much waste, not enough ethics, and generally was not liking his clientele. (I'm hearing the same general thing from some guides.) So he cut back on the hunting fly-ins over the years. Anyway, we're talking about this and he asks, "What if we could pair the trophy moose hunter and the meat hunter? What if one guy can afford the hunt, while the other can't, but the trophy hunter covered most of the air fare while the meat hunter from Alaska shared the burden of butchering and packing and caring for the meat? A win-win for both!" We bantered this idea back and forth and of course came up with some downfalls (like the trophy hunter may think he's paid for a "slave" and makes the meat hunter do all the cooking, packing etc). But on the surface, I really like this idea because it has the capability to bridge the gap between meat and trophy hunting. It cuts way down on any wanton waste. Many meat hunters don't really care about keeping the antlers, having a trophy. And many I know don't really mind if they are the one doing the shooting or not...they are in it for meat in the freezer. For the time in the field as well.
I think if Native villagers in particular got to be a part of the "trophy" hunts that go on near them (be in on the butchering and meat care, and KEEPING the meat) we may solve some of the bad feelings. There aren't enough Native guides right now, and this wouldn't be guiding per se.... It would be a learning experience for all involved, meet new people, learn new customs and ways of living. I don't know. What I do know is that the "donated" meat hitting the villages now is often in very poor condition, not well taken care of, and not all there!
Just some thoughts, I know there are legal issues with the idea above. Many have told me, "Why don't you get those non-res float hunters (trophy hunters who would much prefer they DID NOT have to lug the meat out) to come to your place and you take them out and then keep the meat?" Well, I'm not a guide for one, and neither am I a transporter, so it's not legal. And I'm not about to lose my hunting privileges doing something illegal. Float hunters in the past have stopped and asked (some have begged) if they could leave the meat here, but since I wasn't part of the butchering and caring for the meat (and it has to be on the bone for us, to hang without a freezer) it's a no go. If we could pair a competent Alaskan meat hunter with a trophy hunter, it may benefit both. If the one wasn't technically "guiding" the other. And it may really cut down on wasted meat. Just a thought, no specifics on how to make it legal...I imagine guides would have a problem with this <grin>.
Mark
Previous: Doesn't matter w/o management Paul H Dec 21 2005
Next: great white hunter twodux Dec 22 2005
 Message Thread:
|
