Proxy hunting narrowed down

Alaska state game regulations allow the taking of game on behalf of another, if the other person has physical limitations that make that difficult or impossible. The regulation was enacted as a way of allowing the sharing of wild food that is traditional, especially among Alaska Natives. And that has led to protest by some rural native communities.

At its recent meeting, however, the Alaska Board of Game restricted the practice because some hunters in urban areas are abusing the program, the Anchorage Daily News quoted Alaska Department of Fish and Game spokesman Bruce Bartley as saying.

"People are going into pioneer homes and getting people to sign up," he said. ADN reported that "The move is drawing protests from some Native Alaskan communities, who argue that proxy hunts are necessary for elders who are physically unable to hunt for themselves."