Joint board votes down subsistence hunting proposal

WASILLA — The Alaska Joint Board of Fish and Game has rejected a proposal by the Matanuska Fish and Game Advisory Committee that would have removed portions of Game Unit 13 from the state’s Tier II subsistence hunting program.

Under state law, only hunters who qualify under Tier II requirements — a points-based system that takes into account economic and historical criteria — are granted permits to hunt the Nelchina caribou herd.

Had the proposal carried at Monday’s board meeting, it would have allowed the state to look into eliminating the Tier II hunt in an area bound by the Richardson, Glenn and Parks highways and instead open the area to a statewide permit hunt.

“It would have allowed us to ask the [Department of Fish and Game] staff to bring in data to see if there has been a significant difference since 1992, which was the last time this was looked at,” Cliff Judkins, board of game chair and Wasilla resident, said Tuesday.

The state Board of Game voted 4-2 in support of the proposal, but it failed by 4-3 vote of the state Board of Fisheries. A majority of both boards is required for a proposal to carry.

Judkins voted in support of the proposal, and said Tuesday he believes changes in the area over the past decade warrant a change in the rules.

“I felt because of that there were plenty of reasons to consider it,” he said.

Judkins pointed out that Glennallen, which lies inside the area being considered, has grown significantly in recent years.

“Everything there has changed,” he said.

Opposition to the proposal from residents of the area was much more vocal than those who supported the change, which Judkins said he believes swayed some of the board members.

“There were more that spoke against it,” he said.

Judkins also said opposition was so vocal he believes some board members were convinced the issue would eventually die regardless of the board’s actions.

“The only argument I heard was that it was causing such a turmoil against the people that they didn’t figure it would pass in the long run,” he said.

The joint meeting of both statewide boards was a rare opportunity for the subsistence issue to be heard. Judkins said the proposal’s failure likely means anyone hoping to change the Tier II requirements in the area will have to take their case elsewhere.

“I just don’t expect it to come back up,” he said. “It’s possible some of the people might bring it to the Legislature.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com or 352-2265.