This year, for the first time, the Service selected "rude-outfitters for these coveted guide areas based on a competitive process. Guides were selected by ranking their applications on such factors as applicants experience and guiding knowledge, and their prior compliance with laws and regulations. Other considerations included the applicants plans for proposed operations on refuges, client safety, and potential impacts on refuge resources and other users. The old system, which awarded exclusive guide areas to existing guide-outfitters based on their prior use of the area, was thrown out by a 1988 State Supreme Court decision (Owsichek vs. State of Alaska).
The Service has worked for several years since the 1988 court decision to develop the new policy. The federal draft plan was published in January, 1992. The Service solicited and evaluated comments from registered big game guide outfitters, the public, the states Big GameCommercial Services Board, other federal agencies, Native regional corporations and other hunting and outdoor organizations. Applications for the guide areas closed Oct. 15, 1992, and evaluation panels met in early December to rank proposals.
"We are very happy with this new guide-selection process," said Walter 0. Stieglitz, Alaska Regional Director for the Service. "The general public as well as hunting clients who visit the refuges will be comfortable knowing that the guides selected are not only knowledgeable and experienced, but are also safety conscious and will be operating in the best interests of our wildlife resources.
-FWS-
