Aerial hunting of wolves is nothing new in Alaska

Daily News-Miner ^ | December 14, 2008 | Stephen Dennis

[jazusamo]

It seems Governor Sarah Palin is not the one that came up with shooting wolves from planes. :-)

[jazusamo]

Alaska aerial wolf hunting Ping!

[redhead]

Hmmm... Looks like he forgot to mention that only state-appointed predator-management hunters are allowed to shoot from the air. There is NO game hunt from the air. If a hunter "flies in" to his hunting area, he must wait on the ground 12-24 hours before taking his animal.

But, oh, well. It sounds so much better to make it sound like a senseless slaughter (even if for a legitimate reason) and plays so much better on the evening "news."

[jazusamo]

Thanks for posting that, redhead.

During the campaign when various groups were giving Sarah Palin such bad press for aerial hunting of wolves it was never mentioned, that I saw, that it was for predator-managemnent.

[Hi Heels]

The Alaskan Aerial Wolf Hunting Pinglist. Do you figure this to be a high volume list??

[jazusamo]

I would guess this is the first of one pings. :-)

[Hi Heels]

The press created two false visions in the public's mind here. One was that the act of shooting wolves from the copters was some sick act only Palin understood, and that Palin herself was dangling from a copter smoking wolves.

As with anything with liberals, the truth will have to bite them in the butt. Wolves, breeding unchecked, will out-eat the available game and go to the next best dish.....Urban Liberals and their pets. We already have that problem with big cats and coyotes around here.

[proud_yank]

You can shoot wolves, and in most game units bears, the same day you have been airborn with no time restriction. Just can’t shoot them while airborn.

You’d have to check to be certain, but for wolves there is a certain distance you have to land from them.

[redhead]

Thanks for clarifying, P_Y. You are the hunter, not me. Glad to hear from you. I admit it’s been a l-o-o-o-o-o-ong tie since I worked at ADF&G, and some of the minutiae has sifted out of my poor, porous skull. Thanks for the fact-check.

[redhead]

LOL! That “loooong tie” will trip me up, so I’ll trim it to size. It was a looooong TIME. heh...

[dalereed]

I don't know if they still do but in the 70s they used to have coyote eradication hunts every winter in Idaho from the air and killed thousands.

[Flycatcher]

I would guess this is the first of one pings. :-)

I'm thinking we also need a "When Cougars Attack" ping list. It hits close to home with me and I love those threads.

Thanks for the ping, Jazusamo!

[Hi Heels]

I love these threads, too. How often do you run into female hunters or fishing buddies?

[Flycatcher]

Yes, threads about wildlife can provide "lynx" to friendships.

Ouch! Should have done a Pun Alert. LOL!

[girlangler]

Thanks for the pings Flycatcher and Jaz.

Hi Heels is right about the media image and the PR blitz from the “environmentalist,” “animal rights” leaning organizations during the campaign. There are many with conservative political leanings that believed all this propaganda, including many here on FR.

I actually have an elderly aunt, who is usually pretty practical, argue with me during the campaign about how Palin was a wolf slaughterer (sp).

I tried to explain to her wolves have been hunted in Alaska (predator control) long before Palin was old enough to tie her own shoelaces. I was wasting my breath. Since most Americans live their lives on concrete, with no exposure to nature and wildlife, they are easily swayed.

While I have your attention, I hope my favorite freeper friends have a Merry Christmas and blessed New Year.

For several years I have enjoyed your friendship (some more recently) and I look forward to your pings and freepmail. You are all special and I have been enriched, learned a lot, from you all.

[proud_yank]

What are friends for;-)

Hope you have a merry non-denominational holiday and a happy solstice!

We’ll have to get together soon.

[proud_yank]

I’ve read that there are a number of states that still do that, CA used to be one of them. Unsure if they still are.

A good book is ‘Wolves of Alaska’ by Jim Rearden. Its a fictional plot built around the facts surrounding the wolf ‘debate’. Good book and an interesting read.

[dalereed]

I don't think they do any more but California used to have a $5 bounty on coyotes.

The sheep ranchers in Utah used to give you a dressed out lamb for a coyote. When I was a kid San Bernadino County had a 50.05 bounty on blue jays. I used to use them for target practice and the bounty paid for the amunition.

[redhead]

"We’ll have to get together soon.

Going Outside for Christmas?

[Big Horn]

They have been killing coyotes and foxes from airplanes for years.