BRWNBR, question...

[Oak]

So I've been hearing rumors for several months that AK may be going to exclusive concessions for outfitters in a couple of years. What I heard is that the concessions will be bid on, and most of the smaller outfits will likely be priced out. It seems to me that this will lead to large price increases as competition is reduced or eliminated.

What can you share about the situation? (or anyone else from AK)

 

[BRWNBR]

well right now its up in the air and people aren't saying anything for sure yet.
This is what i've heard....
its only on state land
and its not all exclusive...
they are going to make maps of all the state land, divide it up into areas, and then determine how many guides they'll allow to operate in each area, multi-use and some might be exclusive.
How they are going to award these areas is still up in the air, they don't want to do the highest bidder deal, cause then you'll get cabela's or something backin' a guide so they can stay in business, then basicly you've got walmart for a guide indudstry.
What i've heard is that they are building up an application that will be awarded on a point system much like kodiak national wildlife refugee, score points for time in the area, experience, happy clients, clean record blah blah...supposibly we'll have a look at all this this coming december, but once it hits public comment some folks will flip out and it'll all probably fall apart for a while longer.
PROS and CONS...
prices will go up, they will anyway. Some guides will loose their jobs or just keep guiding illegally, some are already anyway, some hobbiest guides may get the area and some guides who actually guide for a living might loose their areas, some alaskan guides will loose out to non-alaskan guides.
But there will be less pressure, some draw areas will have better odds at pulling tags, but you'll more than likely end up paying for it. Hunt quality in SOME areas will get better.
Right now this is all rumor and speculation and nothing has been finalized as of yet....

 

[Oak]

Thanks for the information. Although it might not be finalized, it's heading in the direction that will put a sheep or bear hunt further out of reach of the average Joe. If it's on the horizon, I want to consider another sheep hunt before it's finalized.

So I suppose support from the guides is all over the map, depending on their time and standing in the industry in AK.

 

[BRWNBR]

it might not make it out of reach for some, my exspenses won't go up at all and i can't see charging any more for my hunts because of the limited land use...some areas will go up though, alot will depended on where they are, and WHO gets it...money drives some people in different ways.
sheep hunting will never get cheaper no matter what happens!!
this should all be implemented by fall of 2010...least thats what they are saying.

 

[Oak]

Do you know of any discussions regarding this topic on any other hunting forums? I'd like to read them.

 

[lilbiggun]

Thanks Jake, I heard a few rumblings about it but nothing much.

Good info.

 

[BRWNBR]

i haven't seen any other threads on this that i can recal. its been kinda hush hush, i think they are afraid to let the cat outa the bag, cause once everyone gets good wind of it, they'll freak. unless your a alaska proffesional hunters member you don't know much about it, the APHA is kinda trying to help make decisions for everyone on this and alot of folks don't agree with the direction APHA pushes for. If it does go thru, alot of guides will loose their jobs and some other things, like hunt costs going up, fewer guides in an area stuff like that. some good and some bad basicly. hope to find out more at the BGCSB meeting this december.

 

[Oak]

I'd appreciate it if you keep us up to date on what you learn at the upcoming meeting. Thanks.

 

[DRAFTSTUD]

I wish I could remember where it occured, but did'nt a Tree Hugger organization get ahold of a large Concession a few years ago and could that not happen with what you are talking about???? Prices are what they are and will always be a constant in planning a hunt. But what if the area you have researched is either taken by an anti or is Fronted by an Outfitter for the antis? John

 

[BRWNBR]

ya sure oak, when i hear something new i'll toss an update in here.
Its doubtfull and anti group would get it, the way they are talkin' now is by application and experience in an area is a big part of that. So new people can't get new permits, basicly they are just going to decide out of the folks that are already there, hopefully just the ones that are legally there....

 

[Oak]

Draftstud, I think you are referring to a BC concession area.

 

[DRAFTSTUD]

Yes, That was it. Thanks, John

 

[BRWNBR]

heres the latest i've heard, kodiak is not changing anything as far as guide use areas go and no new exclusive areas, because its already micro managed they are gonna leave kodiak the way it is right now.
i'm gonna be at the BGCSB meeting in two weeks and they'll be talking about this stuff more.

 

[Oak]

Thanks for the update. Hope you post what you learn in two weeks.

 

[BRWNBR]

heres an update...state land is changing state wide as is BLM land and State Park land, guide numbers are severaly limited, areas that used to have 25 guides will now only have anywhere from 1-3. Guiding in alaska is about to be turned on its face. Almost all of kodiak will be exclusive guide area....ie read price hikes i'm sure....areas will not be bidded out they will be awarded based off a scored application.
THis is all still in the works and things will change some before they are done, but they are shooting to have these areas given out and in effect by the hunting season of 2011. I'll post more later, have one more meeting to go.
Guiding just got weirder up here....
transporters are going to be limited to the number of people than can drop in areas and its on the agenda now that some of them will have to get land use permits before they start dropping folks off...ie read higher prices....

 

[Oak]

Thanks for the info. Any Don Peay sightings?

 

[BunkerBean]

Any additional information on this subject?

 

[Oak]

Here is an 8-page thread on the subject from the last three weeks:

http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/showthread.php?t=48351

 

[Bambistew]

WOW, this is fugged up. Maybe I should move to MT instead.

Making these areas exclusive to just a few guides, and if transporters get involved and limit the access, there could be huge chuncks basically off limits unless you have a lot of money or own a plane.

Maybe I'll buy a plane instead of a house?

 

[Oak]

Yeah, and a real chance for it to get even more fugged up.

http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/showthread.php?t=50171