Alaska Chapter Leads The Re-establishment of Wood Bison Herds

The most important aspect of being a hunter-conservationist revolves around our love of the outdoors and the wild creatures that inhabit our favorite places.  It is that enduring relationship to nature and our willingness to expend time and money to insure the future of wild places and wildlife that sets us apart from other conservation groups.

Conservation and the enhancement of our continent’s natural environment originated with hunters.  It was hunters who first initiated conservation measures such as seasons and bag limits, setting aside habitat so that wildlife had some refuge from the onslaught of civilization, and it was hunters and anglers who not only agreed to be taxed to pay for it all, but insisted on paying through the passing of laws requiring licenses, tags and excise taxes on the equipment used to get out there.

Although SCI Alaska Chapter has played a leadership role in maintaining our freedom to hunt here in Alaska, it is our commitment to wildlife that we are most proud of.  In that role, we are pleased to be a significant part of the effort to re-establish wood bison herds here in Alaska. This summer a herd of wood bison arrived in Alaska and are being housed at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

There are still issues to work through with State and Federal Agencies; however, we should soon see these magnificent creatures roaming freely on ranges they once inhabited not so long ago.  If all goes well, limited hunting opportunities may be forthcoming.