Aerial Hunting: Wings of Death

	©Defenders of Wildlife
	More wolves will die like this one unless Alaskans vote yes on Measure 2.

On August 26, Alaskans once again have the chance to stop the cruel and unsporting practice of shooting animals from aircraft. Ballot measure 2 would prohibit the shooting of wolves and grizzly bears from the air or by using a plane to land and shoot.

Currently, the Airborne Hunting Act bans the hunting or harassing of wildlife from aircraft. The act was meant to address the obvious humane concerns associated with chasing animals down to the point of exhaustion with a plane or helicopter and then shooting them. 

The Act does, however, allow state wildlife officials to use airplanes for wildlife management activities. Alaska is currently exploiting this exception by allowing sport hunters to chase and shoot animals from the air.

By allowing sport hunters to hunt predators from the air, the state wildlife agency aims to boost the numbers of other game animals such as moose and caribou so that these animals may in turn be killed by sport hunters.

Alaskans have twice stopped this circumvention and banned the cruel and unfair practice of shooting wolves from aircraft and twice the legislature has ignored the will of its citizens and overturned the law.

Animal advocates, environmentalists and hunters agree. Shooting animals from the air or chasing them to the point of exhaustion and then shooting them violates all standards of fair chase hunting. It is like shooting fish in a barrel.

We are confident that voters will show the Alaska legislature that enough is enough—Alaskans will not stand for this inhumane land-and-shoot hunting of wolves and bears.

Related Links

Protect America's Wildlife Act

The Humane Society of the United States Calls on Congress to Pass the Protect America’s Wildlife (PAW) Act

More Than 100 Wolves Fall Victim to Alaska's Aerial Gunning Program