After 6 years of entering the lottery for McNeil, I have finally won. I know that we have a couple of past winners and possibly a current winner or two.
My time slot is July 1 to July 4. Any chance any other NPN members are winners as well?
If we have a prior winner reading this, I would love to ask you a few questions!
Please help!!
Don Gorczynski
Posted by Jim Erhardt on March 18, 2007 at 10:27 PM
Excellent!! No luck for me this year, so i'll be heading to Yellowstone for teh "new baby criter" workshop wiuth Dale and Lorrie Franz. Teh Winter Yellowstine workshop was spectacular, and I'm sure the spring on will be too.
Do a search for 'McNeil Bears" on a couple of forms - excellent info there from some of my questions.
I'll be not very far in the same time ( Hallo Bay - Katmai) ... About McNeil... All of you my friends, help McNeil Bears by reading this : (and please, give your support ! )
http://www.akwildlife.org/bears.php
http://www.mcneilbears.org/
We know we are asking alot to send the message to our Alaska lawmakers, but these are your bears to and we all need work together toward their protection so that future generations may have the opportunity to observe them.
Please send this on to every person, organization, newspaper and media source you can and urge them to respond to the information at the bottom
Thank You
Rep. Seaton Waffles on Support for McNeil-Katmai Bears
The McNeil Bear saga continues. Representative Paul Seaton of Homer is waffling on his support for bears by contemplating withdrawal of HB 127, which would provide permanent protection to these bears.
The plan to hunt McNeil-Katmai Bears in 2007 was recently halted by the Board of Game. Worldwide public support was overwhelming for this action. Reasonable people have a rare opportunity to applaud the Board of Game for stopping the proposed hunt. Be aware! Next years Board of Game could put the hunt right back on the table. A permanent fix for the issue was on the table until recently.
Rep. Seaton from Homer introduced HB 127, legislation that would have added state lands adjacent to the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary to the existing Sanctuary. Adding these lands to the sanctuary simply makes good sense, providing the permanent protection that these bears require.
On March 9, 2007, Rep. Seaton informed us that he has withdrawn support for his bear protection bill. In his recent press release, Rep. Seaton states that ÐThe Bears of the McNeil River area support a popular bear viewing industry that injects millions of dollars into the economy of Southcentral Alaska each summer.Ó Constituents concerned about a viable Southcentral Alaska economy and bear viewers worldwide wonder why Rep. Seaton has gotten cold feet and withdrawn support for his own bill!
Seatons legislative priorities are puzzling. He has worked long and hard pushing ÐgooeyduckÓ legislation that has questionable merit for his district, little economic value for anyone in Southcentral Alaska, and flaunts mother natures rules by allowing introduction of non indigenous species to Kachemak Bay and Southcentral Alaska.
Yet, he bails on his commitment to protect McNeil-Katmai bears, recommending to his supporters that we claim victory as a result of the recent Board of Game decision and stand down.
It is as if the bears are serving time on death row, but have now been granted a temporary stay of execution.
Please send your emails/faxes as soon as possible - please do not delay!
We must preserve the future of these bears & time is running out fast!!!
Personalized letters are preferred. However, you can simply copy and paste the following:
I Urge you to stand up and fight to preserve the McNeil River-Katmai bears and bear viewing areas.
Please remember to add: I Support the Advocates For McNeil-Katmai Bears of Homer, Alaska.
The following 4 people are the most important
Representative Paul Seaton:Rep_Paul_Seaton@legis.state.ak.us
Phone: 800-665-2689 fax: 907-465-3472
Representative Les Gara: Co-Sponsor of HB 127Rep_Les_Gara@legis.state.ak.us
fax: 907-465-3518
Senator Gary Stevens:Senator_Gary_Stevens@legis.state.ak.us
fax: 907-465-3517
Tina Day, Executive Director, Homer Chamber of Commerce
tina@homeralaska.org
If you have a little time available it would be good to copy these people as well
House Resources and Finance Committee members:
Representative Carl Gatto:Rep_Carl_Gatto@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Craig Johnson:Rep_Craig_Johnson@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Vic Kohring:Rep_Vic_Kohring@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Bob Roses:Rep_Bob_Roses@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Peggy Wilson:Rep_Peggy_Wilson@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Bryce Edgmon:Rep_Bryce_Edgmon@legis.state.ak.us
Representative David Guttenberg:Rep_David_Guttenberg@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Scott Kawasaki:Rep_Scott_Kawasaki@legis.state.ak.us
Governor Sarah Palin:http://www.gov.state.ak.us/govmail.php(for topic select: legislation)
REMEMBER: For those of you who are outside the USA,at the email "Zip Code" request, simply use "00000" or "99811"(the Juneau, Alaska zip code).
WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE:
Governor Sarah Palin
P.O. Box 110001
Juneau, AK 99811-0001
Fax (907) 465-3532
Advocates For McNeil-Katmai Bears
Homer, Alaska
March 11, 2007
Posted by Ron Niebrugge on March 19, 2007 at 1:47 AM
Philippe, I have been on the road and a little out of touch, but I thought this was resolved by the game board last week. What changed?
I had also heard that something was done last week about it. I actually already did write in. But I also talked to one of the Alaska wildlife people who is in charge of McNeil, a Mr. Meehan and he told me something was done to halt hunting for now.
Well, it took me about 20 years to win my first trip there, two years or so for the second, and another two years or so for the third. The only slightly hairy time was when a sow and two cubs tried to crawl into the tent with me one night while the outgoing group was sitting in the cook shack telling war stories to some of the incoming group. You should have a great time as long as the weather holds.
Jon C
Posted by Brian Monk on March 19, 2007 at 11:12 PM
WTH is McNeil???
Posted by Ron Niebrugge on March 20, 2007 at 11:31 AM
It is a state park in Alaska with wonderful bear viewing opportunities. Access is very controlled and limited and involves winning a lottery for one of the limited number of spots.
Discussion
9 repliesMy time slot is July 1 to July 4. Any chance any other NPN members are winners as well?
If we have a prior winner reading this, I would love to ask you a few questions!
Please help!!
Don Gorczynski
Do a search for 'McNeil Bears" on a couple of forms - excellent info there from some of my questions.
Sandy R
I'll be not very far in the same time ( Hallo Bay - Katmai) ... About McNeil... All of you my friends, help McNeil Bears by reading this : (and please, give your support ! )
http://www.akwildlife.org/bears.php
http://www.mcneilbears.org/
We know we are asking alot to send the message to our Alaska lawmakers, but these are your bears to and we all need work together toward their protection so that future generations may have the opportunity to observe them.
Please send this on to every person, organization, newspaper and media source you can and urge them to respond to the information at the bottom
Thank You
Rep. Seaton Waffles on Support for McNeil-Katmai Bears
The McNeil Bear saga continues. Representative Paul Seaton of Homer is waffling on his support for bears by contemplating withdrawal of HB 127, which would provide permanent protection to these bears.
The plan to hunt McNeil-Katmai Bears in 2007 was recently halted by the Board of Game. Worldwide public support was overwhelming for this action. Reasonable people have a rare opportunity to applaud the Board of Game for stopping the proposed hunt. Be aware! Next years Board of Game could put the hunt right back on the table. A permanent fix for the issue was on the table until recently.
Rep. Seaton from Homer introduced HB 127, legislation that would have added state lands adjacent to the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary to the existing Sanctuary. Adding these lands to the sanctuary simply makes good sense, providing the permanent protection that these bears require.
On March 9, 2007, Rep. Seaton informed us that he has withdrawn support for his bear protection bill. In his recent press release, Rep. Seaton states that ÐThe Bears of the McNeil River area support a popular bear viewing industry that injects millions of dollars into the economy of Southcentral Alaska each summer.Ó Constituents concerned about a viable Southcentral Alaska economy and bear viewers worldwide wonder why Rep. Seaton has gotten cold feet and withdrawn support for his own bill!
Seatons legislative priorities are puzzling. He has worked long and hard pushing ÐgooeyduckÓ legislation that has questionable merit for his district, little economic value for anyone in Southcentral Alaska, and flaunts mother natures rules by allowing introduction of non indigenous species to Kachemak Bay and Southcentral Alaska.
Yet, he bails on his commitment to protect McNeil-Katmai bears, recommending to his supporters that we claim victory as a result of the recent Board of Game decision and stand down.
It is as if the bears are serving time on death row, but have now been granted a temporary stay of execution.
Please send your emails/faxes as soon as possible - please do not delay!
We must preserve the future of these bears & time is running out fast!!!
Personalized letters are preferred. However, you can simply copy and paste the following:
I Urge you to stand up and fight to preserve the McNeil River-Katmai bears and bear viewing areas.
Please remember to add: I Support the Advocates For McNeil-Katmai Bears of Homer, Alaska.
The following 4 people are the most important
Representative Paul Seaton:Rep_Paul_Seaton@legis.state.ak.us
Phone: 800-665-2689 fax: 907-465-3472
Representative Les Gara: Co-Sponsor of HB 127Rep_Les_Gara@legis.state.ak.us
fax: 907-465-3518
Senator Gary Stevens:Senator_Gary_Stevens@legis.state.ak.us
fax: 907-465-3517
Tina Day, Executive Director, Homer Chamber of Commerce
tina@homeralaska.org
If you have a little time available it would be good to copy these people as well
House Resources and Finance Committee members:
Representative Carl Gatto:Rep_Carl_Gatto@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Craig Johnson:Rep_Craig_Johnson@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Vic Kohring:Rep_Vic_Kohring@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Bob Roses:Rep_Bob_Roses@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Peggy Wilson:Rep_Peggy_Wilson@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Bryce Edgmon:Rep_Bryce_Edgmon@legis.state.ak.us
Representative David Guttenberg:Rep_David_Guttenberg@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Scott Kawasaki:Rep_Scott_Kawasaki@legis.state.ak.us
Governor Sarah Palin:http://www.gov.state.ak.us/govmail.php(for topic select: legislation)
REMEMBER: For those of you who are outside the USA,at the email "Zip Code" request, simply use "00000" or "99811"(the Juneau, Alaska zip code).
WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE:
Governor Sarah Palin
P.O. Box 110001
Juneau, AK 99811-0001
Fax (907) 465-3532
Advocates For McNeil-Katmai Bears
Homer, Alaska
March 11, 2007
Jon C