Alaska Captive Hunting Statutes and Regulations

No Ban: Mammals permitted, but there are no fenced enclosures in the state.

Statutes

The Alaska Fish and Game Code states that the Board of Game may adopt regulations "establishing the means and methods employed in the pursuit, capture, taking, and transport of game" as well as "classifying game as game birds, song birds, big game animals, fur bearing animals, predators, or other categories" and "prohibiting the live capture, possession, transport, or release of native or exotic game" (§16.05.255).

The biennial license fee for game mammal farming is $250 (§16.05.331).

It is prohibited to "take, transport, sell, offer to sell, purchase, or offer to purchase" game or any part of game or a nest or egg of game unless permitted (§16.05.920).

Nondomestic animals of any species may not be transferred or transported from the state unless approved by the Board (§ 16.05.930). The term game refers to "any species of bird, reptile, and mammal, including a feral domestic animal, found or introduced in the state, except domestic birds and mammals" (§16.05.94019).

The term big game animal refers to "moose, caribou, mountain sheep, mountain goat, feral reindeer, deer, elk, bison, walrus, or musk ox" (§16.30.030).

In addition, "whenever it is determined by the department that a surplus exists in the herds of buffalo and musk oxen under its control, the department may, under regulations adopted by it, grant the surplus or portions of it to persons, groups, associations, partnerships, or corporations for the purpose of raising and breeding the animals as domestic stock for commercial purposes, or for scientific and educational purposes" (§16.40.010).

Live elk cannot be "captured from the wild or released into the wild without an appropriate license or permit" (§16.40.050).

A permit may be issued to possess, import or export an elephant if the person can prove intent to "exhibit the animal commercially," possession of "facilities to maintain the animal under positive control and humane conditions," and maintaining "personal injury and property damage insurance" (§16.40.060).

Regulations

Regulations promulgated by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game state that "no person may possess, import, release, export" live game without a possession permit (5 AAC 92.029a).

The department cannot "issue a permit for the capture, possession, import, or export of any game animal" for use as a pet (5 AAC 92.029c).

Swine is considered feral "if the animal is not under direct control of the owner, including being confined in a cage or other physical structure," and feral animals may be captured or destroyed by the commissioner. Similarly, "musk oxen, bison, or reindeer" or "elk held under a valid game mammal farming license" when "not confined" are considered feral (5 AAC 92.029d).

If it is determined that a "surplus of bison and musk oxen exists," the commissioner may sell these animals to private ownership for the purpose of "raising and breeding the animals as domestic stock for commercial purposes" as long as the animals are "confined and under control" (5 AAC 93.050c-d).

It is prohibited to intentionally feed or negligently leave food or garbage in a manner that attracts "moose, deer, elk, bear, wolf, coyote, fox, or wolverine) unless under permit or baiting of black bears (5 AAC 92.230).

According to an official of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska does not have any private shooting preserves, operations or anything within fenced enclosures.

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