Gun Trade World - April 2023

usiness
Hunting – and
guided hunting in
particular – has a huge
economic impact on Alaska.
DOING BUSINESS WITH... alaska
MOOSE
Heavy bodied and long-legged, with a
drooping nose, moose (Alces alces) are
the largest members of the deer family.
They range in colour from golden
brown to almost black, depending upon
the season and the age of the animal.
Full-grown males (bulls) stand
almost 6 ft (1.8 m) tall at the shoulder,
and males in prime condition weigh
from 1,200 to 1,600 lbs (542 –725kg).
Adult females are somewhat smaller
and weigh 800 to 1,300 lbs (364 –
591kg). A 1,600-lb (726kg) moose will
dress out at about 950 lbs (431kg),
yielding approximately 500 lbs (227kg)
of meat. Alaskans and non-residents
annually harvest 6-8,000 moose, which
translates into about 3.5 million lbs of
usable meat.
Only bull moose have antlers. The
largest moose antlers in North America
come from Alaska, the Yukon Territory,
and the Northwest Territories of
Canada. Trophy class bulls are found
throughout Alaska, but the largest
come from the western portion of the
state. Moose occasionally produce
trophy-size antlers when they are six or
seven years old, with the largest antlers
grown at approximately 10 to 12 years
of age. In the wild, moose rarely live
more than 16 years.
During fall and winter, moose
consume large quantities of willow,
birch, and aspen twigs. In some areas,
moose actually establish a “hedge” or
browse line six to eight feet (1.8 – 2.4m)
above the ground by clipping most of
the terminal shoots of favoured food
species. Spring is the time of grazing
as well as browsing. Moose eat a
variety of foods, particularly sedges,
equisetum (horsetail), pond weeds, and
grasses. During summer, moose feed on
vegetation in shallow ponds, forbs, and
the leaves of birch, willow, and aspen.
in economic activity for
Alaska’s support sector.
1,380 people were
directly employed in the
guided hunting industry,
resulting in $25.5 million
in direct wages and guide
income.
Multiplier effects
generated another 510
jobs and $15.3 million in
wages for Alaska’s support
sector.
A majority (59 per
cent) of guide spending
occurs in rural areas of
Alaska in the form of
wages, air transportation,
fuel, food, and supplies.
Meat Sharing is a
long-standing tradition in
Alaska.
In addition to the
impacts of jobs, wages,
and goods and services
spending, hunting guides
and their clients share
a significant volume
of high-quality game
meat with Alaska
residents every year.
Recipients include Native
communities, elders,
needy families with
children, traditional food
programs, and those who
enjoy game meat but can
no longer hunt. Game
meat is nutritionally and
culturally rich and is an
important part of many
Alaskans’ diets.
An estimated 223,500
pounds of game meat was
shared with Alaskans by
guides and guided hunters
in 2019. 167,600 pounds
with rural residents,
55,900 with urban
residents.
Law Enforcement &
Gun Law
Division of Alaska
State Troopers
The mission of the
Division of Alaska State
Troopers is to preserve
the peace, enforce the law,
prevent and detect crime,
and protect life and
property.
The Division is
comprised of posts
assigned to four
geographic detachments
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