Looking ahead to the board of game meeting

We recently wrapped up the Upper Cook Inlet Board of Fisheries meeting and now it’s time to look forward to the Central and Southwest Region Board of Game meeting (which encompasses Game Management Units 9, 10, 11, 13, 14A, 14B, 16, and 17) in the 2020-2021 cycle. The BOG has issued a call for proposals for that meeting with a deadline of May 1, 2020 to have them submitted. The meeting is scheduled for January 22-29, 2021 in Wasilla.

If you’re interested in the status of our state’s wildlife, this is a good meeting to attend. ADF&G presents both written and oral reports at the beginning of the meeting about topics pertinent to the proposals and current situations with the animals.

A common topic at these meetings is a discussion of the antlerless moose hunts within the area the meeting is addressing. Before the BOG can reauthorize these antlerless hunts, the local Fish and Game Advisory Committees’ must have approved them.

I’ve been to BOG meetings where, for whatever reason, the local Fish and Game AC’s had failed to address this reauthorization. As a result, the board was not able to authorize the hunts and the local folks were denied this opportunity. I’ve also seen where the local AC’s didn’t approve the antlerless hunts, so the hunts didn’t occur that cycle.

If having a chance to draw an antlerless moose permit is important to you, start attending your local AC meetings to be sure the members discuss and, if appropriate, pass the reauthorization for this type hunt.

I plan to submit a proposal asking the BOG to allow muzzleloading long guns and blackpowder cartridge long guns as legal hunting tools during the winter “targeted moose hunts” in GMU 14A and 14B. Currently, a person participating in that hunt can only use a 10 or 12 gauge shotgun with rifled slugs, a bow and arrow, or a crossbow. The reason for these restrictions is safety when hunters are working within the 2-mile corridor along the respective highway section they have selected to hunt.

As most of you know from reading this column, I’m a muzzleloader and I enjoy shooting blackpowder cartridge rifles like the buffalo hunters of 150 years ago used. The ballistics and effective range of both the blackpowder firearms types is comparable to the shotguns already legal, so I’ll be asking that these types of firearms be allowed.

The requested blackpowder guns would need to follow the requirements in regulation for legal muzzleloaders for big game and legal blackpowder cartridge firearms for bison, as described in the regulations governing legal firearms for the Delta bison hunt.

I’ve spoken with ADF&G folks in the Palmer office about this and have been encouraged to submit the proposal. I was told the department would support this addition to the targeted hunt regulations.

A couple of things need a little explanation. First, I intentionally used the term “long guns” when describing both muzzleloaders and blackpowder cartridge guns. If the word “rifles” was used, that would prohibit all smoothbore blackpowder firearms. I have a “Brown Bess” flintlock, for example, which is a smoothbore, 75-caliber (10-gauge), shoulder mounted gun capable of killing a moose just like the modern 10-gauge shotgun currently legal.

The use of the term “long gun” also makes the use of a handgun illegal. It’s currently illegal to hunt for big game with a muzzleloading handgun, but there are some blackpowder cartridge handguns folks might be tempted to use. None of these commonly available cartridge handguns are adequate for humanely harvesting a moose.

As you already know, the results of the drawing permit hunts are available and, no, I didn’t draw a permit either. Since I have my PID card (senior license), I look at the drawing hunts as a way I can still contribute financially to the department’s wildlife work. How’s that for trying to put a positive spin on what usually ends up being an annual donation to the cause?

It’s not too early to start planning your fall hunts. If you need a Hunter Education card for the hunt you are planning, now is a good time to check with the Palmer office and get signed up for the course. Even if you don’t need a certification, taking the courses will show you the benefits of being an ethical and responsible hunter.

We’re coming into prime icefishing weather: warmer and longer days with good, solid ice. It’s also time to plan your spring bear baiting hunts. Get to work!