WASILLA -- Hundreds of people turned out Wednesday night to cast ballots in the Mat-Su Fish and Game Advisory Board's annual election at Wasilla High School.

Eight seats were open on the 17-member board, which sends recommendations for changes to hunting and fishing rules to state fish and game boards.

Denny Hamann, a former advisory board chaiman, said more than 500 people registered in the first hour of Wednesday's meeting and a steady stream of people continued pouring in the door. Board secretary Mark Chryson said it was the largest turnout he'd ever seen.

Hamann said he believes the turnout was a backlash against last week's Anchorage Fish and Game Advisory Board meeting at which groups promoting conservation and those promoting hunting and fishing rights both turned out in droves in an effort to get supporters elected to the board.

But Hamann said he believes the overwhelming majority of those who attended Wednesday's meeting, about 90 percent of them Valley residents, were there to support hunting and fishing rights.

Ten people were nominated to the board. Volunteers expected vote counting to continue late into the night.