Wild-Game Management: People vs. Wolves

The editorial does a good job of placing the blame for depletion of game on the hunter. But it fails to recognize that nearly all of the money that goes to wildlife management is derived from hunter's license fees. Nowhere was the fact mentioned that hunters usually harvest 2 percent to 3 percent of available big-game prey, while wolves and bears in Alaska harvest 20 percent to 30 percent. Why not mention that this plan encompasses only about 3 percent of Alaska's lands?

Alaska has recognized nonhunting values by placing 39 percent of the state off-limits to intensive management of predator-prey systems. Throw in areas ecologically unsuitable, and more than half of Alaska is unavailable for intensive management. If the moose and caribou populations are allowed to increase, they will support larger ravens, wolverines, marten, and mice.

As usual, hunters alone will pay the management costs through license fees. Phil Summers, Fairbanks, Alaska

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