The state of Alaska is giving away our renewable resources at the loss of every resident of Alaska. We are failing to acknowledge the value we have in our wild game populations and the number of nonresident and alien national guests that purchase our Alaska hunting tags. Last year, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website, we sold over 14,000 nonresident hunting tags. With our state in limbo as to which statewide programs to cut and how to raise revenue to pay for these services, I suggest raising nonresident hunting tags more than ten-fold, from a paltry $85 to $1,000. This act alone would give our state $14 million in revenue. This would also bolster the funding for the Pittman-Robertson federal wildlife restoration act of 1937 (1951, 2000) that helps our wild game populations here in Alaska. This Pittman-Robertson funding has a 3-to-1 ratio. The federal government gives $3 to every dollar the State of Alaska raises to bolster our game populations.
I love to hunt like many Alaskans. We are selling ourselves short by not charging enough to nonresident hunters. Why give away more of our resources? We can definitely utilize the revenue generated to enhance our wild game populations for every Alaskan and to preserve our biological gold for future generations that would love to go out and hunt or take scenic pictures of wild game in our great state. A Dall sheep nonresident hunting tag sells for $425, and that same guided hunt goes for $15,000-$20,000. Moose tags for nonresidents are $400, and a guided hunt is worth over $10,000 on average. Goat, grizzly, caribou, and black bear could likewise harness substantial revenue.
With dwindling resources of wild game populations that have value in the millions, we continue as a state to lose out on revenue that can fund many programs. The Western Arctic caribou herd has lost 27 percent of its population in the last few years, from 330,000 to 235,000. This is alarming! The Gates of The Arctic National Park and Preserve has lost 60 percent of its Dall sheep population in the last three years.
With a July aerial survey coming up, we will really know how the Brooks Range Dall sheep population is faring. Last September, the state closed the Brooks Range moose hunt to nonresidents because the moose population went from 1280 to about 300. Two other caribou herds, the Teshekpuk and Central Arctic, are likewise facing declines in population. Regardless of the reason that wild game populations are in decline, we should not put all the burden on state residents. We are subsistence hunters who all are trying to fill our freezers for an Alaska winter; we shouldn't have to pay higher hunting license fees.
The same applies to fishing. Last summer over 230,000 nonresident fishing license fees were sold, with Alaska breaking a record for tourists to our state of 2 million total. If we raise the fees for sportfishing, this would bolster the Dingell-Johnson Federal Sport Fish Restoration Act for Alaska. This extra funding would assist in restoring sportfish populations, research, or fund innovative ways to boost salmon numbers. An example is the moist air incubator that can be implemented within small streams to enhance salmon egg survivability, which is part of the smoltification process for salmon fry. With the demise of chinook salmon in Alaska, I think now is the time to raise our rates to catch our salmon, and I would say that those who fish for the chinook or halibut would agree that we all must pay to keep fish populations up for future generations.
Recently, $8.8 million was cut from education for the Fairbanks schools. Rural schools were also hit hard with cuts in education. Education is key to a better life. I hope that the state legislators and the governor take note and push to raise rates for our nonresident guests that we see every hunting and fishing season.
The choice is ours as Alaskans. We can do nothing and say, "this was a decent commentary," or we can do something meaningful that would bring revenue into our great state of Alaska and protect and preserve our renewable resources for future generations.
P.J. Simon serves on the Doyon, Ltd., board of directors and as Tanana Chiefs Conference secretary/treasurer. He lives in Allakaket, where he serves as second chief and is an avid hunter and trapper.
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