Requiring Tier 1 Unit 13 caribou hunters to only hunt moose in 13 was a step in the right direction. The previous system rewarded the oldest and best liars for creatively crafting prevarications asserting lifelong dependence on the areas resources in order to survive the cruel Alaska winters. As Craig Medred pointed out in countless columns, each fall a legion of urban residents towed their 10K ATVs on their 5K trailers with their 100K RVs up the Denali Highway in a desperate attempt to avoid starvation. The only new entrants were their children.

Many former Tier 1 permit holders refused to limit their moose hunting to unit 13; it would have ended their trips all over the state for other game animals. This allowed new entrants to the hunt, like me, to participate.

There's plenty of room for improvement - the community hunts are too prone to abuse; refine the requirements or lose them. But the next solution shouldn't repeat the problems of the past.

Labels: moderation: safe