National Park Services proposes revision to hunting regulations, Alaska House disapproves

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The Alaska House of Representatives recently passed a resolution to protect the state’s right to manage wildlife populations.

The resolution declares the National Park Services (NPS) is overstepping its boundary and putting Alaska’s rights at risk by wanting to change hunting and trapping regulations in National Wildlife Preserves.

NPS seeks to prohibit and restrict certain non-subsistence hunting and trapping methods and classify them as predatory game management or “non-hunting” methods.

Changing the classifications would allow the NPS to proclaim those practices as unauthorized in national wildlife preserves.

The Alaska House Bill HJR 10 disapproves the proposed bill revision. The house believes these actions violate the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) because it takes away the state’s right to manage wildlife populations.

Representative Mike Cronk stated in part, “Limiting the state’s ability to manage its wildlife population and ensure food security, particularly for rural Alaskans is very concerning.”

According to the Alaska House of Representatives, “the NPS’s proposed rule change could upset the delicate balance between predator and prey populations, putting the sustainability of our wildlife population at risk and the ability of many Alaskans to sustain their way of life.”

The resolution passed on Monday, March 20.

The Alaska House Majority urge NPS to withdraw the proposed rule without adoption.

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