Proposal 90, which would remove sheep and goats from the "clean list", received a
"take no action", recommendation. This recommendation is due to the board not having the authority to regulate domestic animals. The full recommendation can be viewed
here.
Proposal 91 would include "cow" in the definition of feral game. The department is neutral on this proposal. Comments can be viewed
here.
It is still recommended to submit comments, and the Board of Game may take discussion on proposal 90, even though they will take no action.
Comments for both proposals can be submitted
here.
PROPOSAL 90 - 5 AAC 92.029. Permit for possessing live game. Eliminate domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra hircus) from the "Clean List" and require a permit for possession with stipulations if located within 15 air miles of all sheep habitat as follows:
(b) Domestic sheep and goats will be removed from the "Clean List" regulation.
Any person in possession of domestic sheep (ovis) or goats (capra) must obtain a permit from the department within one year of implementation of this section. Animals located within 15 air miles of Dall sheep habitat must be contained within a Department approved facility (double fence, etc.) and certified disease free when testing becomes available. Animals located more than 15 miles from Dall sheep habitat will be issued a permit without stipulation online.
What is the issue you would like the board to address and why?
Domestic sheep and goats have been proven to carry diseases that are devastating to wild sheep populations. This proposal will be a good start to prevent the spread of disease into wild sheep populations. Hobby farming is growing rapidly in Alaska including areas that would be considered Dall sheep habitat. Entire populations of bighorn sheep are presently being eradicated due to these unintentional disease transmissions.
Justification:
#1 We have a constitutional mandate to manage for sustained yield, this includes doing what we can to maintain healthy native wildlife populations.
#2 Online permitting has become mainstream and is simple.
PROPOSED BY: Alaska Wild Sheep Foundation (HQ-C15-128)
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PROPOSAL 91 - 5 AAC 92.029(d)(2). Permit for possessing live game. Include cow in the definition of feral game as follows:
92.029(d) Under this section, and in accordance with the definition of "game" in AS 16.05.940 (which includes feral domestic animals), a
...
(2) musk oxen, bison,
cow, or reindeer that is lawfully owned, or an elk held under a valid game mammal farming license, that is not confined or is not confined under positive control is feral unless the animal is a free-ranging animal on a state or federal grazing lease; however,
...
(C) any free-ranging musk oxen, bison, cow, reindeer, or elk for which ownership cannot be demonstrates is presumed to be game;
What is the issue you would like the board to address and why? Year-round open hunt to eradicate the non-indigenous species on our lands. I would like the Board of Game to adopt regulations to allow hunting of feral cows, such as those on Baldy Mountain Unit 14A. I also would like the board to consider adding a regulation for feral cow statewide.
PROPOSED BY: Sean Lund (EG-C15-039)