Palin and wolf shooting

How does everyone feel about Palin's sponsorship of aerial wolf shooting?

it's a brutal method of killing wolves done in Alaska. She actually piloted and supported laws to pay people $150 for each wolf foot they give to the Department of Wildlife.

Hoping to kill the predatory wolves and therefore boost the moose and caribou population, aerial wolf hunting is basically when hunters use very low-flying aircraft to come on top of the wolf, then spike it with a huge sharp pole, or shoot it with a gun. More often than not, they simple injure the wolf rather than actually killing it.

While Alaska's bounty laws were banned in 1984, Palin re-instated the bounty for each wolf (wolf cubs get less money).

There is a designated control area where people are to kill the wolves, but the bounty has motivated people to kill outside of this area, orphaning countless cubs and injuring countless adult wolves.

Personally, I think the method of killing them is barbaric. I understand the circle of life, protecting natural resources from predators, even thinning out the wolf population a bit, but offering a bounty for people to do it themselves? AND sanctioning this barbaric method of killing them?

I think it's outrageous. Pro-life, except when it's not human. What do you think?

phrannie I appreciate you researching the law, but I also did - before I wrote this question. The law doesn't specify that a gun must be used. Many use spears because the wolves bleed on their fur less, and their fur is valuable.

I also did read (and address in my question) that while certain areas are designated as hunting areas for the wolves, the bounty gives people the motivation to hunt them anywhere---and everywhere.

That's not even mentioning the fact that they're killing them from planes- that's a fair hunt.

Don't like her. Period.

think it's outrageous. Pro-life, except when it's not human

I agree.

I'm glad McCain picked her, now so many things are coming out and it's hurting the republicans. atleast McCain did one thing right.

I believe the law is "Land and Shoot"...not "Land and Spike"...tho the Eskimo's might be able to spear a kill (Natives in all states have special priveledges when it comes to hunting)...I decided to look up the "law" itself, rather than just read conservationist/Defenders of Wildlife propaganda...(the law,I might add, was WAY harder to find)...

There is a season, and they can only be hunted in certain areas...just like any other "game animal.

The only part that I can't justify, is that they aren't used as food, at least by the general public (tho the natives may very well eat them...)

phrannie

How dare she hunt an animal !!

In several other Western states, the federal government hires hunters to shoot wolves, mountain lions, coyotes, and other predators from helicopters. But in those cases, the predators are after heards of livestock, upon which ranchers depend for their livelihood. And in many of those states, spearing isn't allowed.

But I agree this law seems more like legalized poaching, and has no benefit. Boosting populations in ways like this can, and has, led to disease among herds. Look at what happened when they did this with white-tail deer.

        Simply a Rose to brighten your day,
        And maybe lessen the cares in your way;
        And also, too, to help you to know,
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2003 Alaska legislature reinstates airborne wolf control by private pilots and gunners by passing SB 155. Gov. Frank Murkowski signs the bill into law. Aerial wolf control is permitted in almost 2,000 square miles of interior Alaska. Land-and-shoot killing is approved in a huge area east of Anchorage where 80 percent of the wolves are targeted.

Editor, I don't know where you got your mis-information. Spears are not used or authorized in the aerial wolf control program. Also, Sarah Palin didn't become Governor until 2006. The aerial wolf control program became law in 2003. Also, there is no bounty on wolves.

Brief History of Wolf Control in Alaska

http://www.defenders...

Also, Governor Palin is simply in agreement with the will of the people of Alaska. They had an opportunity, in August 2008, to eliminate airborne wolf hunting by the general public and make it only available to Alaska's wildlife personnel AND only in times of emergency.

The public voted it down, leaving the past law in place.

Editor,
I received the update on this action 1 week before the nomination.
Just one, of many, flaws with Palin.
The info I received contained a video of one aerial hunt for wolves. I could not finish watching due to the brutality.

Ted, I'm sorry, but please read what I wrote carefully.

While the legislature first approved this in 2003, before Palin was Governor, the people of Alaska have voted to overturn this law twice - in 1996 and 2000. The legislature re-instated it in 2003. This wasn't Palin.

When Palin took office, it went on the ballot for removal again, and while people voted against it, she reinstated it. She is also the one to put the bounty on wolves feet - $150 each. Before she was governor, this wasn't even the case.

Where do you see that it says there is no bounty on wolves? That's misinformation at its best.

Quote from CNN: Voters in 1996 and in 2000 approved ballot initiatives banning aircraft-assisted wolf hunting, Joslin pointed out.

Alaska wolves are not classified as threatened or endangered, and hundreds are killed legally each year by trappers.

But wolf control -- killing wild wolves to boost game populations for hunters' benefit -- has long drawn heated opposition. The last aerial control program, conducted in the early 1990s, was halted by a threatened tourist boycott and other expressions of public disapproval.

Quote from KTUU channel 2 in Alaska:

Gov. Sarah Palin has approved an incentive of $150 for every wolf taken.

Alaska Wildlife Alliance Director John Toppenberg doesn't agree with the move.

"Incentive is just a fancy word for bounty and let's call it what it is, it's a bounty," Toppenberg said.

2 Non biased sources, here's the article explaining the bounty:
http://www.ktuu.com/...

This is a graphic and hard to watch video about aerial hunting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VyXV1wf26Q&feature=user

And Palin DID start a bounty.

 
        Simply a Rose to brighten your day,
        And maybe lessen the cares in your way;
        And also, too, to help you to know,
        That in knowing you, many others grow!
 
 
 
Editor and Utopia,

If you had gone down to the year 2007 in the link I posted above you would have read:

"March 2007 Alaska Department of Fish and Game decides to issue more aerial-gunning permits and offer a $150 incentive, or bounty, for killing wolves. The bounty is ultimately dropped in the face of a stiff legal challenge."

There is no bounty on wolves.

This is a very interesting debate. I think I will read up on it now that you all have laid the information on the table.

The UTube clip was paid for by Defenders of Wildlife ... because of credibility issues, I wonder how many clips they had to pay for, to finally get one that wasn't a clean kill. They're a propagandist bunch, no different than PETA.

Since the law is about "Land and shoot"...and that's what's legal...where did this film come from? And why is it being passed off as what's happening in Alaska now??

p

I would much rather be pro-life when it IS human than animal. What hypocrits! Oh, no! Don't kill a menancing wolf but let's kill our unborn children! Doesn't that make a lot of sense!

I say we throw spears at her see how she likes it. What a jerk

Yes, she did want authority to have wolves culled from the air, because they were taking too many moose and caribou. Which people hunt for food in the back country in Alaska. No, she isn’t shooting them herself. I mean, not that she couldn’t, but I’m sure she doesn’t have time.

you know, I still want to vote for her, but thats mean I mean, just because wolves arent endanger anymore doesnt mean that we shouldnt worry about them being endaNGER anymore I think its super wrong and I hope she sees this and im only 13!!! and I get that, why doesnt she?!

I can't understand how anyone agrees with Palin. She is sooo conservative, and just a heartless person. Killing innocent animals because they are trying to survive in a world that keeps getting smaller and smaller thanks to humans is wrong!! I would love to see this happen to people. Just imagine people in helicopters shooting down people. To me, it's exactly the same. What people like Palin don't seem to realize is that, just like humans, animals have feelings too. They feel the obvious physical pain, but also the mental anguish of loosing they're family members. It makes me sick to think that people are ok with this. She does not belong in office!

truth is Wolves only kill the weak, sick, and sometimes the young if they stray too far from the herd.
the entire policy is evil... it's just to give stupid humans some thrill of flying and killing at the same time.
I've lived in Alaska, I know the Native people and not one ever said they had problems with wolves. I've talked to seal hunters from the north, whale hunters, deer hunters, Moose hunters, Bear hunters, caribou hunters... why did I NEVER EVER hear even ONE complaint about wolves in 5 years? Because it's BS, that's why.
Does palin like fur?
I slept with a wolf fur for awhile because my girlfriend had one. Warm, soft, yes, but she got it from someone as a gift. It's no excuse. This policy of aerial killing of innocent animals is evil.

truth is Wolves only kill the weak, sick, and sometimes the young if they stray too far from the herd.
the entire policy is evil... it's just to give stupid humans some thrill of flying and killing at the same time.
I've lived in Alaska, I know the Native people and not one ever said they had problems with wolves. I've talked to seal hunters from the north, whale hunters, deer hunters, Moose hunters, Bear hunters, caribou hunters... why did I NEVER EVER hear even ONE complaint about wolves in 5 years? Because it's BS, that's why.
Does palin like fur?
I slept with a wolf fur for awhile because my girlfriend had one. Warm, soft, yes, but she got it from someone as a gift. It's no excuse. This policy of aerial killing of innocent animals is evil.