I will be at the Nome for the BOG meeting in January (15-21), I would like to meet any trappers from that area. Would like to know if you have any issues that i can address. Have a Merry Christmas and a safe trapping season.

Would appreciate support on proposal 119

While we are on the subject of BOG proposals, has anyone ever suggested changing the prohibition on the use of artificial light?
Page 13, YOU MAY NOT: "take furbearers with the aid of a pit, fire, light....."
I'll bet this regulation gets violated all the time. Have you ever dispatched a trapped furbearer with a firearm while wearing a head lamp?
Also, it would be nice to be able to do some predator calling while it's dark. It's hard to believe that in California you can shoot a coyote at night with artificial light, but not in Alaska.
Just seems odd to me that the darkest State in the union is one of the few States that prohibits shooting predators at night with the aid of a light.

Merry Xmas waggler, Correct me if I’m wrong but after looking at the trapping regs, it appears you can use artificial light to take furbearers in GMUs 7 and 9-26 from the 1st of Nov - 31 March during an open season. The wording is not as clear as it could be, but I’m pretty sure that’s what it is saying. It’s on page 13 of the trapping regs, midway down. I’m assuming artificial light is not legal for the units that cover Kodiak, PWS, and Southeast because of potential issues with spotlighting deer?

^^^^^
If artificial light is allowed in the units you mentioned, then I suppose the reason you suggested (spot lighting) might be correct. However, I think the spotlighting is a non-issue anyway, probably made sense to someone at sometime.
I would think if it were an issue it would be very evident in the lower 48 where thousands of people call and shoot predators at night with artificial light.

Waggler, i don't have my reg book in front of me, but i do have a current codified. It states in 5 AAC 92.080(7)(C) Artificial light may be use ; (i) for the purpose of taking furbearers under a trapping license during an open season November 1-March 31 in units 7 and 9- 26.

Odd about units 1-6. not being able to take furbearers with artificial light in those units. must be about spot lighting deer. I will check on that.

Taking "fur animals" fall under a hunting license and hunting seasons and bag limit, commonly referred to predator calling or hunting. Under 5 AAC 92.090, the regulation dose not restrict a licensed hunter from using artificial light to take "fur animals" during an open season.

Fur animals are: beaver, coyote, arctic fox, red fox, lynx, flying squirrel, ground squirrel, or red squirrel. fur animal is a classification of animals subject to taking with a hunting license.

Hope the mud is clearer now.

Waggler, you asked the question; "I'll bet this regulation gets violated all the time. Have you ever dispatched a trapped furbearer with a firearm while wearing a head lamp?"

Do you believe you can not dispatch a furbearer caught in a trap with the aid of headlamp, in units 1-6 and unit 8?

To complicate certain non-sense further, here in southeast, we can use sport-caught pink and chum salmon for crab bait, but not for trapping bait, (other than head, tail, bones, and guts).
You can, however use subsistence-caught fish of any flavor, (unless you live in Juneau or Ketchikan, of course).

AK, why can't you use subsistence caught fish for trapping bait? what regulation exempts those who live in Juneau or Ketchinan?

Federal. We are "urban", rather than "rural".
Actually, I find the whole conversation of "use of legally harvested fish and game" somewhat silly. You punch your tag, or fill your creel, you own it, for better or worse. You can throw it in a dumpster, but not in a wolverine cubbie, for example.

That what i was thinking. But federal regulations only apply on federal land and if non-federally qualified person are restricted from participating in an opportunity. This means if you harvest your subsistence fish under a state or state/federal permit, and non-federally qualified are allowed to trap on federal land, state regulations allow those fish for bait. Also the state has jurisdiction to the normal high water mark.

I also agree with your wolverine example. We are over regulated in some of these cases.

You have your work cut out, my friend. I will see you in 2 years, for the southeast cycle.
Please give my best wishes to Ted.
I sure hope he writes a book, someday. A great person.

That would be my understanding; again,
"YOU MAY NOT: take furbearers with the aid of a pit, fire, light....."

Seems pretty clear to me; even if it's debatable, I sure as heck know how an over zealous enforcement agent is going to interpret it.

Seems like the notion such a ban in SE might be to stop deer spotlighting. If that's the case I suppose a rather bold shiner could say he was spotlighting for squirrels (a fur animal) and then he'd be in the clear.

There is such a hodgepodge of rules that have been enacted over time, some conflicting with each other, I imagine a cleaver attorney could get just about anyone off, maybe that's what it's all about. I think the regs need a complete house cleaning.

The issue that AKV brought up about when it's legal to use a humpy for bait and when not to is a good example of regs run amok. Of course, I sort of understand the intent, but practically speaking, how is anybody going to be able to tell how the humpy was harvested, and who really cares; it's a humpy!!

Well, then there is the law that, as long as it has been processed. Commercially, you can indeed use it for bait. No kidding. Bring your receipt.

^^^^^^^
I have a friend who does exactly that. Also, along with a gift receipt from a native for his stinky seal bait.

There was an enforcement agent a couple towns south of you just a few years ago who was a real nut case, he'd literally make it up as he went along. You had to cover every possible contingency with this guy.
Thankfully he moved along to a Federal enforcement agency; NOAA I think, good riddance.

That would be my understanding; again,
"YOU MAY NOT: take furbearers with the aid of a pit, fire, light....."

Might not mean dispatching a critter that is already "taken" in a trap. Much like the line that says you can't land and shoot a furbearer, unless you are landing and shooting one that is already in a trap.

[quote=smalltimetrapper]That would be my understanding; again,
"YOU MAY NOT: take furbearers with the aid of a pit, fire, light....."

Might not mean dispatching a critter that is already "taken" in a trap. Much like the line that says you can't land and shoot a furbearer, unless you are landing and shooting one that is already in a trap.[/q"uote]

And many of the problems with our laws and regs can be traced back to the all-encompassing statutory definition of the word "Take!"

It includes "taking, PURSUING, hunting, fishing, trapping of in any manner disturbing, capturing or killing or ATTEMPTING to take, pursue, hunt, fish, trap or by any manner capture or kill fish or game."

I recall making the following argument when I was on the BOG... You are required to punch your harvest ticket when you "take" a big game animal, and the word "take" is statutorily defined (among other things) as "pursuing" game. So technically when you step into the field with a rifle to PURSUE a moose, you should immediately punch your harvest ticket, right?

And the "wizards of smart" all said, "No, of course not....!" But that IS what it says! So they have the option of citing us at that point!


I hate that you have to have a lawyer with you while you are in the field....!

Pete

I would like to meet up with you and discuss proposals for unit 22 with you anytime.

Viking, all residents of Alaska are subsistence users under state Regs. If you harvest fish under subsistence means, it is subsistence caught fish. I would assume that there are state subsistence methods available in your area. Some parts of Alaska have designated rod and reel as a subsistence means of taking. Should be several subsistence means in the ocean around you.
mt