Question about Archery Certification in Alaska.
 

What is the reason that archery certification is not necassary for special bowhunts in the Palmer/Wasilla area, and a few other smaller areas?

http://www.state.ak.us/adfg/wildlife...ng/bowhunt.htm

RE: Question about Archery Certification in Alaska.
 

ABM, which hunts are you speaking of? the early moose bow only requires archery cert. the palmer/wasilla area is a prmitive weapons only,(no high power rifles),no cert required. dont know of any others. lamar

RE: Question about Archery Certification in Alaska.
 

lamar, if you click on the link and scroll down to the bottom of the page, it shows "Alaska's special bowhunting opportunities." It has brackets that indicate whether or not a IBEP cert. is required. I understand for small game in areas, but it also indicates that no certification is required for bowhunting big game in a few areas. I wonder if those are just restricted weapons hunts, but in one of the first paragraphs it says:
"Bowhunter certification is required for any big game hunt restricted to “bow and arrow only” or “certified bowhunters only.”

In the Nancy Lake, Palmer/Wasilla area, Captain Cook State Recreation Area, and Lost Lake Closed Area, it indicates that the certification is not required. Just curious why it isn't when it earlier states that all big game in special hunts need the cert.

RE: Question about Archery Certification in Alaska.
 

ABM, i looked in the book and those areas do look like special restictions. i cant find anything about the captain cook rec. area. probably the same tho.

RE: Question about Archery Certification in Alaska.
 

My only guess is that they would be open to muzzleloaders as well, and they would consider that a special weapons hunt. It appears as if they some are restricted to bowhunting only though.
Just seems like a lack of consistancy in the system.

RE: Question about Archery Certification in Alaska.
 

ABM- YEARS AGO THEY DID NOT REALLY STATE THAT YOU COULD BOW HUNT IN THE NANCY LAKE REC AREA BUT THE PARK REGS STATED NOT DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS NOT NO HUNTING IF YOU QUESTIONED THEM THEN YOU COULD FIND OUT THAT IT IS OPEN FOR BOW HUNTING .. I DID THINK ALL ARCHERY ONLY AREAS CERT WAS REQ. BUT THEY MIGHT HAVE JUST LEFT THE PARKS AS IS. BUT I WOULD BET THAT WILL CHANGE. THE PRIMITIVE WEAPONS HUNTS WOULD NOT HAVE THE RESTRICTION ....I DON'T THINK UNLESSTHEY ALSO REQUIRED HUNTER ED FOR SHOTGUNS AND MUZZLE LOADER CLASS FOR THEM

RE: Question about Archery Certification in Alaska.
 

I did look at the first two. The nancy lake area has special restrictions to firearms..it says nothing about bowhunting only. The PWMA is also not a bow only area as it reads in the regs. Like you were saying its also a black powder area. I wonder though if the Black powder folks need that class to hunt it....maybe beej can enlighten us to that one.

Its funny in the ACWR, to use a shotgun you are required to have completed a course...but its not bow only, I think thats going to be the catch to most all of these...its including but not limited to. Kind of a interpretation of someone in the fish and game dept.

the lost lake area is pretty wild also..here is how it reads

the area within 1/2 mile of the lake is closed to the taking of big game with firearms and crossbows.

Now hmm..if that doesnt leave something to be desired as it doesnt say you can but it doesnt say you cant! Clear as mud <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>!