Board gathers input on sheep numbers

WASILLA — Declining Dall sheep populations across the state drew more than 160 people to participate in a work session Friday on the opening day of the Central/Southwest Region Board of Game’s meeting.

All seven board members attended and listened as people testified about what the state can do to reverse declining sheep numbers during the evening work session at the Best Western Lake Lucille Inn.

“The BOG has acted on 121 sheep hunting proposals over the last 10 years but only passed a handful. We want to hear from you about how you think the BOG should proceed in addressing this issue,” Board of Game chairman Ted Spraker said at the beginning of the session.

He said the board wanted feedback on two specific regulatory ideas: 1) should the board work with Alaska Department of Fish and Game to rewrite and update the old sheep management plans the department and the board developed more than 20 years ago; or 2) should a sheep hunt working group be established to identify and address sheep hunting issues in Alaska?

Approximately 20 people spoke on their preference for either or both of these options. Several speakers supported the idea of updating the sheep management plans, which could be done fairly quickly, according to Spraker.

The working group concept also drew support from the audience. But some people also voiced concerns about the amount of time needed to develop and implement actions coming out of the work group recommendations. People also had questions about who would serve on the work group and exactly what work it would be tasked to accomplish.

Rather than addressing just the two options Spraker outlined, another 30 speakers at the meeting shared a variety of ideas on what some of the sheep hunting problems are and how to best solve them. Several speakers voiced the need for “more sheep on the mountain.” All in attendance seemed to feel that action must be taken sooner rather than later.

Several folks said the first concern should the protection of the sheep resource, even if that involved instituting predator control in specific areas to reduce sheep mortality. One person stated that a total shutdown of sheep hunting should be an option if that’s what was needed to protect specific populations. A large number of speakers said there is a need to control the number of guides and hunters, specifically, nonresidents. A couple of folks said they felt nothing needed to be done because the declining sheep populations would eventually rebound on their own.

Other options voiced included tighter regulations on human activities, like mining that required helicopter support, because the flying and noise had a detrimental effect on sheep populations. A couple of folks also suggested that resurrecting the guide concession program currently on hold in the Department of Natural Resources would do much toward addressing the declining sheep numbers.

Spraker wrapped up the meeting after about two hours of public testimony and thanked participants for their time and making the effort to share their ideas with the board.

The board began its meeting earlier in the day with introductions of members and fish and game staff. After ethics disclosures and other routine business, the board took action on accepting and moving two board generated proposals forward for action at the March meeting in Anchorage. Time constrains to get the proposals properly noticed for public comment required immediate action. The rush to get the two proposals into play resulted from two court findings invalidating previous board actions concerning black bear hunting in GMU 6 and wandering bison on Kodiak Island.

The board’s first proposal addressed its agenda change request process. The second proposal addresses the definition of “feral” bison and proving ownership of domesticated big game.

The Board Support Section also held an advisory committee training session Friday afternoon on how to be effective in developing and submitting proposals and how to present effective testimony at Board of Game meetings.

The board meeting continues through Feb. 20 at the Lake Lucille Inn and begins at 8:30 a.m. each morning.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Leave him a message by emailing sports@frontiersman.com.