2000 Alaska Statutes
Title 16 FISH AND GAME
Chapter 16.05. FISH AND GAME CODE
Sec. 16.05.783. Same day airborne hunting.

(a) A person may not shoot or assist in shooting a free-ranging wolf, wolverine, fox, or lynx the same day that a person has been airborne. However, the Board of Game may authorize a predator control program involving shooting from the air if

(1) the commissioner of fish and game acting under a request from the Board of Game makes written findings based on prey population objectives set by the board under AS 16.05.255 (g) that

(A) predation is an important factor contributing to a low or declining prey population that is inconsistent with a game management program authorized by the Board of Game, and that a reduction of predation can reasonably be expected to result in aiding an increase in the prey population or in arresting the decline of the prey population; or

(B) a disease or parasite of a predator population

(i) is threatening the normal biological condition of the predator population; or

(ii) if left untreated, would spread to other populations; and

(2) the commissioner determines that airborne or same day airborne shooting is necessary to accomplish a game management program authorized by the Board of Game.

(b) This section does not apply to

(1) a person who was airborne the same day if that person was airborne only on a regularly scheduled commercial flight; or

(2) an employee of the department who, as part of a game management program, is authorized to shoot or to assist in shooting wolf, wolverine, fox, or lynx on the same day that the employee has been airborne.

(c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both. In addition, the court may order the aircraft and equipment used in or in aid of a violation of this section to be forfeited to the state.

(d) In this section,

(1) "free-ranging" means that the animal is wild and not caught in a trap or snare; and

(2) "game management program" means a program authorized by the Board of Game or the commissioner to achieve identified game management objectives in a designated geographic area.