Aerial Shooting of Alaskan Wolves

Hunting in itself I find to be a horrible sport. I may be able to understand the strategic appeal to it, the "hunting" part of the hunt. But I always thought it was wrong. The aerial killing of wolves makes hunting seem old fashioned. This takes away almost everything "skill-involved" about hunting, leaving only the kill. Animals stand no chance when being pursued from above, as the hunters may cover more ground and it gives the wolves no chance to get out of sight. More than 400 wolves have been killed in previous seasons using this method, and hundreds more will die this season as the sport gets more popular. If this isn't enough, hunters will be allowed to kill 60 percent of grizzly bears in an area along the Canadian border using bait—a practice not formerly allowed for grizzlies. And, the Board of Game has authorized the possibility of using aerial land-and-shoot killing methods on grizzly bears. This makes a mockery of these once beast-like animals who were known for their strength. It takes next to no time to find the animal and shoot when coming in from the air. As well, the hunters almost never get a clean shot, since they are shooting from so far up, so the first shot usually injures the animal, and several other shots are required to kill him. This is not only going to severely impact the wolf and bear populations, but it is also extremely inhumane. 



"Alaska's populations of wolves and bears are an integral part of the few natural ecosystems that remain in America," says Karen Deatherage, Alaska representative for Defenders of Wildlife. "We need to protect these animals as part of our national heritage."

According to the state Board of Game, the goal of aerial gunning is to increase the population of moose and other big game for hunters. But in a letter to Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski (R) this past year, more than 100 scientists countered that the effort has no ecological justification, and is an artificial and arbitrary way to control the balance of nature. Under the aerial programs, hunters are allowed to shoot wolves from airplanes, or chase the animals with aircraft to the point of exhaustion, and then land and kill them on the ground. The permits cover millions of acres in central and southern Alaska. Alaskans have twice before, and by significant majorities, passed ballot measures to stop the practice. They have been thwarted by Gov. Murkowski and the state legislature, who in 2003 overturned the will of the state's citizens and resumed the aerial killing.



A local group of Alaskans is spearheading a new effort to pass another initiative to ban aerial gunning by the public. The group, Alaskans for Wildlife, at press time was gathering signatures to get the initiative on the state ballot next November. At least 31,000 signatures from state voters are necessary for ballot initiatives in Alaska.

"The voters of Alaska should not have to go through this again," says Joel Bennett of Alaskans for Wildlife. "But the state legislature has ignored the clear will of the people and is encouraging excessive wolf control using aircraft."



If people took a step back and really looked at what they are doing, they would see this act for what it really is. It is insulting to the animals and it is acts like these that define us as the monsters that we are. The fact that Alaskans have been trying to stop the aerial killing for more than 30 years is despicable, and the government should be ashamed for allowing such a slaughter to occur.