Came Across This Insightful Article....

gotta love the Alaska Dispatch, if you like fishing, and really want to get your blood psi up, read the many articals by Craig Medred and others in the Alaska Dispatch regarding the halibut fishing politics in AK.

here's a start
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/a ... management

If I recall, the guy on the Yukon got a little heat but the yahoo national park officers got a lot of heat
 
I have only had one run in with the "Feds" in AK--I had seen the black bears at Anan Creek, and the nice female summer ranger suggested that I go to Pack Creek to see the Grizzlies. She thought that most likely the ranger would let us land if there was no-one else there. Pack Creek is up Seymour Canal, so we went up there a few days later. We scouted the area the night we arrived, and then first thing in the AM, went to the beach. We were asked if we had a "permit"--no--"You need to go to Juneau and get one". Juneau is a fair distance in a 6.5 knot boat, and of course we didn't have the time to make a double trip. We asked if those who were scheduled didn't show up, (it was raining) if we could come ashore for a brief time, and stay near the ranger. "NO". By 6 PM no one had shown up (and we had bee shooed away from taking our dinghy several hundred yards from the creek's entrance to the bay, where we were taking photos with telephoto lenses.) We asked again--noting that it was unlikely that anyone would be coming this late. Response: "They have until 9 PM to get here". I asked if the ranger could radio headquarters and ask for permission "NO".

The next year, we went to Juneau first, entered the lottery (most permits are given by reservation--mostly to guides--and there is a lottery 72 hours before your visiting time to allow 4 people to go ashore.) Marie won the lottery, and took the 4 tickets. One gal had been there for 5 days trying to get a ticket--we asked if we could take her for half the day--I would stay on the boat--and she could go for that half day. Official position--"NO". You cannot switch people on a permit.

We did go back "legally". In a 6.5 knot boat it is a good 3 day trip from Auke Bay, but well worth it. The usual guide services charge from $450 to $700 a person for this trip in a float plane. Some of the small cruise vessels include this (I suspect it is an "add on"). But these local services have an advantage, and book blocks of time at the first of the year.
There is about one Grizley bear per square mile. We saw about 30 bears in the 12 hours we were ashore at Pack Creek. Generally the bears stay on the North side of the creek and the people always on the South side...the Rangers are there, but not always with the shore party. We carried our own bear repellant, and fire arms--with the ranger's permission.

We have the highest respect for anyone who lives in the bush, and tries to eek out a living there. If real laws had been broken--sure the rangers could politely enforce them. But over a boat registration? (Which is more of a state's issue anyway) I'll bet that half the boat in the outback are not registered.
 
The crux of the "enforcement" issue is ownership and/or control of the navigable waters in the State of Alaska. A lower court
judge, years ago, sided with the Feds. That decision was appealed and the higher court came down on the side of the State, so
it's clear that the State of Alaska controls and owns the navigable waters within. At least until a higher court overturns
that latest ruling.

The last time Jim Wilde's wife was held at gun point was in in WW11 by the Germans as an 8 year old girl. One difference
is that during this latest confrontation on the Yukon the NPS Rangers told her " get on the ground an spread 'em".

Some people lose their good judgement when given authority and a gun. This can be even more of a problem when placed in
an isolated place like the Yukon-Charlie River Preserve with minimal or no direct oversight. These particular "Rangers" were
way out of line in literally every respect. Wilde's incident with the NPS has been the most publicized one , but it is only one of many.

There is currently a bill in the house to fund the Dept of Interior for fiscal year 2012 which includes language forbidding the
NPS from enforcing regulations on Yukon-Charlie waterways.

Craig Medred is always a good read.

Tom, the trial was months ago (around March of 2010) after which it is was turned over to the judge for his decision. I know
that the wheels of justice turn slowly, but this is ridiculous..............his decision is still pending, as we speak.
 
I wonder why the locals knowing that some of the Park Rangers are absolute tools would not leave the door open so to speak by not abiding by the law like everyone else has to. Boat registration and life jackets isn't that big of deal. Out in the bush or not you have to cover your self to try and prevent things like this from happening the best you can. I however have no time for agents of the law who step over the line. It's my guess the park service needs some of their funding cut to get the picture that heavy handed tactics and bad press are bad for business even as a gumint enitity. Just like the EPA, The National Park Service needs a funding cut. it's only my opinion but some of these folks are in disguise as ECO Nazi control freaks that need some additional people skill training. Some care more about fish than they do people. You got to wonder in terms of resources what did this arrest actually cost? You know for what might net the officials a fine for no boat reggie? The disordererly conduct rap you could get for farting. :lol: Resisting arrest I think not. We will see how much justice Mr.Wilde can afford.
D.D.
 
Sure, that's the solution -cut finding to the park service. IMHO, the park service is already fairly under funded and has a hard time just maintaining what it has. I for one love our national parks and am quite proud of what America has done in this regard.

I personally, found this article to be written from a very biased perspective. None of us really know what went on that day but an equally probably explanation to the park rangers being overly aggressive "tools" is that Mr. Wilde perhaps was an ass himself. In my (fortunately limited) experience with LE, just being a nice and friendly guy usually keeps things calm and allows me to proceed quickly on my way. However, I have seen people who start out in their dealings with LE which such a negative and aggressive attitude that they then help to create their own problems that they later on blame and LE being "thugs" or "gestapo-like" people. As the writer correctly points out, many Alaskans are a slightly different and non-conformist breed so who knows what really took place?
 
Roger,
No one said they hated the national parks. No one attacked L.E. in general. The Park Service employs some younger part time folks who are not career park service employees. Some folks have found some of these folks to be a little off the deep end. Thanks for letting me push your buttons about cutting the funding it always works. :P
D.D.
 
Nope - no one attacked LE in general, but many have assumed that the problem is with the rangers and not the Mr. Wilde. I don't think we really know and I think it's also possible that Mr. Wilde was an ass. Regardless, there's hardly enough in this story IMHO to merit a funding cut to the NPS. :roll:
 
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/park-service-tries-tame-wilde-arrest-blowback

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/feds-defend-aiming-shotgun-elderly-alaskans-yukon-river

Yes, apparently Mr Wilde was a bit vocal to the "rangers" who tried to board his boat. But then the rangers escalated the situation by pulling a pistol and then a shot gun.

I have refused to allow LEO to board my boat when I considered it a dangerous situation. My resolution was to produce a video camera--and inform them that I was going to photograph the entire situation, and they would be responsible for any damage to my vessel. A video camera is something that would be very unlikely to have occurred in the Yukon wilderness.) But that changed the entire approach of LEO--and they eventually ended up having a beer on my boat in the marina where we were both headed.

I am not knocking the NPS or LEO, but sometimes part time, or poorly trained personal make bad judgements in their zeal. In this case they testified that they were afraid that the perp was going to flee to Canada, over 100 miles on the river away!
 
Jim's, big objection, and rightfully so, was taking on a boarding party in the middle of the river. These river can be pretty nasty and wanting to
go to the bank with the boat rather than a dangerous boarding make a hell'uva lot of good sense to me. I would do the same thing.

Jim is a pretty cool guy, not a disagreeable one, but with the method of
"checking" Jim out, I think, either I, or you, would probably have a few
expletives to voice.

One thing for sure, Jim Wilde is no ass........bite your tongue!

Dr. Bob, the voice of reason, thanks. I have been boarded several
times in PWS by the Coast Guard and each has been respectful and
resulted in a friendly conversation, actually enjoyable.
 
Shortly after we moved up to Alaska, I took the boys to one of the parks located a half mile from the house. Beings boys, they encountered a creek and decided to try to skip rocks across the water. Within 30 seconds, an NPS employee came running at us yelling to stop immediately. We were informed that no rocks were to be tossed into the water. My boys were not yet even teenagers but they were lectured on how rocks kill wildlife in the same manner that a gang member who just performed a drive by might get treated.

We quickly learned that there seemed to be two types of NPS, Public Safety and NOAA employees, ones that had lived in the area or in Alaska for a while, and those who came up with big chips on their shoulders. I imagine 3rd Byte and others have experienced similar, but I'll vouch for the gun toting official folks who have been in Alaska for a while. My experience with those folks were repeatedly very positive. The chip on the shoulder ones seemed to get transfered back out rather quickly.

It's very easy to get in big trouble out in the wild places of Alaska and if you are a known jerk, you find help can be a bit slow. I highly doubt Jim was cruising that river looking for trouble, but it sure sounds like the NPS was and trouble usually finds people who are looking for it!
 
I'm only speaking for myself here (but quietly wish more people felt this way) being "nice" and "cooperative" toward these "authority" figures often feels like cowing to them and/or grovelling because they somehow are worthy of respect simply because they have (IMHO) questionable legit power vested to their position (and guns and usually out-number you) While visiting Port Angeles a while back, my lady friend and I walked around the docks looking at boats, we couldn't help but notice the top-of-the-line custom weld patrol boat with 4 (four!!) 150hp outboards, cutting edge electronics, etc. etc. all paid for by us (i.e. other people's money) yes one can argue these guys need more HP and out gun those they're supposedly up against, and if they reserved that for the truly "bad" people who seem an even match--instead of bored boardings for safety checks and quota making, well I'd have more respect. Instead, just like the streets and roads of America, we're ALL being suspected of terrorist plots and organized drug trafficing (the Feds have that market cornered I'm afraid) All levels of police in America have been militarized by the massive increase in DHS spending...and this does include some areas of the park service. If this isn't the prelude to modern day police state, what exactly needs to happen to convince some people?

I could go on and on ranting my attitudes about this important subject (that an alarming amount of people simply don't want to notice) If a 73 year old man wants to live in the depopulated wilds of Alaska, and he's not hurting anyone but the federal budget $24 bucks at a time...leave...him...alone. Better yet, give him a medal!
 
Having lived in Alaska for more than 35 years and seen large changes in the classification of federal lands from the BLM to the National Park Service, it sometimes results in lands being closed that were formally opened. The most important aspect is that a National Park comes with a lot of overhead that BLM or in some cases Forest Service land does not. This overhead results in more people, especially temporary employees, coming to Alaska every summer. You ask these employees about hunting in the Noatak National Preserve or the Preserve portions of Denali National Park, and they become apoplectic. However, Alaska residents are allowed to hunt in the preserve portions of National Park Service managed lands in Alaska.

I have always said that BLM can manage Alaska lands to the same values as the National Park Service, but with a lot less overhead and a lot more common sense. They also build some of the best outhouses.
 
Having lived in Alaska for more than 35 years and seen large changes in the classification of federal lands from the BLM to the National Park Service, it sometimes results in lands being closed that were formally opened. The most important aspect is that a National Park comes with a lot of overhead that BLM or in some cases Forest Service land does not. This overhead results in more people, especially temporary employees, coming to Alaska every summer. You ask these employees about hunting in the Noatak National Preserve or the Preserve portions of Denali National Park, and they become apoplectic. However, Alaska residents are allowed to hunt in the preserve portions of National Park Service managed lands in Alaska.

I have always said that BLM can manage Alaska lands to the same values as the National Park Service, but with a lot less overhead and a lot more common sense. They also build some of the best outhouses.
 
Right on Tom. Unfortunately, layers of bureaucracy are the fashion of
our times, multiplied several X over by governmental largess.

In other words, the quality of the outhouse is secondary to the amount of crap that encompasses it.

But what do we know, we've only got 114 years of residency in Alaska
between the two of us.
 
I thing the bigger question is " why do we need to register our property with the state?" Really what is the purpose of boat or car registration other then the collecting of fund? Why do I have to pay taxes on my own belongings year after year? I know we have to pay for services right? yes we do but there are far better ways to do that that will tax every one in a equal manner and require almost no paper work. I have been for ridding our selves of the overbearing tax laws, registration and fees for years and at some point I think we have to scrape it all in favor of a national sales tax.

the government has no need to tax me to live in my house or drive my car. You want me to have a safety/smog inspection every 5 years? sure I can do that. but repeatedly proving over and over again that I own my car ? one time transfer and new plate? ok. but if I own it for 50 years it should be one time.

I own a trailer that I use every three years or so. It sits in my back yard the rest of the time. It is not required to have a safety inspection, but I have to pay registration every year???

Local LE uses the boater registration issue to write themselves checks every year. There is no other need to register my boat every year then a excuses to board me and/or write me a ticket. if I am behaving in a unsafe manner then hit the blue lights and pull me over and write a ticket for my behavior, not for failure to have a piece of paper you say I need. I have owned bikes and boats that I used in lakes in Texas and California (some mine some family) that were never registered, ever.
 
It is amazing what happens in Alaska with rangers, fish and game officers, and ranger sometimes. I went on an extended fishing/float trip in the middle of nowhere with good friends (a whole fleet of boats and we were the last one a couple miles behind the lead group) on a remote river and we saw a plane fly low overhead. We both thought, man it would be really cool to be in a position to be rich enough to have a cabin up here as it was really off the grid.

But it wasn't a cabin they were going to....a few bends down the river the big tire plane was landed on a sand bar and they (fish and game officer with a trooper) had stopped to check to see if/what we were hunting. And when they found we were not (which they didn't seem to believe......odd since we didn't have any rifles) they went about checking everything they could possibly check. This included some things that I thought they had no business getting into since they didn't have probable cause.

They were polite enough, but because of their rediculous search, making us unpack all of our gear, and asking for documentation for every little this and that, we didn't have enough daylight to catch up with friends downriver who were packing the kitchen, food, adult beverages, and the tents in the large rafts. To put it kindly, it really sucked......
 
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