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Alaska wildlife official faces new allegations of illegal trophy huntingNot long after Corey Rossi organized what is alleged to be an illegal bear hunt for a trio of Outside hunters in 2008, he teamed with two members of the state Board of Game in an effort to scam themselves an illegal trophy hunt for musk ox in a subsistence-hunting area on the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, according to present and former members of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The scheme failed only because a lower-level state biologist refused to play along. Nome area wildlife biologist Tony Gorn told Rossi, Alaska Board of Game Chairman Cliff Judkins of Wasilla and then-Game Board member Bob Bell of Anchorage that he couldn't approve of their bending the law in a way that would allow them to ship the trophy horns of the harvested musk ox south from the coastal village of Shishmaref. To limit trophy hunting for the 3,000 musk oxen that roam the Seward Peninsula, state hunting regulations clearly state that anyone who obtains a subsistence musk ox hunting permit for the area must agree to destroy the horns. The regulation has served to effectively limit the subsistence hunt to meat hunters -- not head hunters. State records indicate about 1,700 hunters from across the country now apply for fewer than 100 drawing permits to hunt trophy musk ox in Western Alaska. Head hunting is legal in those drawing hunts, though hunters are required to salvage the meat, too. While many people pay to enter the lottery for just the chance to shoot a trophy, only about 200 people per year pick up subsistence registration permits to shoot a musk ox for meat -- despite the fact that those permits are available to any Alaska resident hunter free of charge. Rossi's alleged scam came around the time he was moving up the ranks in former Gov. Sarah Palin's Department of Fish and Game. Under current Gov. Sean Parnell, Rossi rose to director of the Alaska Division of Wildlife Conservation. Recently, the controversial director was charged with 12 counts related to organizing an illegal bear hunt. His fall has been swift and could spiral even further downward. 'Discretionary authority'The musk ox drawing hunts involve significant cost. Among the best known is on Nunivak Island in the Bering Sea. Any hunter lucky enough to win a permit to hunt there must pay a license fee of $500 for residents ($1,000 for non-residents, $1,500 for aliens). But that's only a small part of the cost. The full expense of a hunt on the remote island is estimated at $4,000 to $10,000 for airline flights, accommodations and, if necessary, a guide. Rossi had a plan to beat the system and hold down the costs. By using his influence, coupled with that of the two board members, he hoped to pressure a Fish and Game employee into waiving the horn-destruction requirement for the subsistence hunt on the Seward Peninsula. Subsistence permits were free and readily available, and the coastal community of Shismaref is more accessible than Nunivak Island, 135 miles offshore in the Bering Sea. All Rossi figured he needed to do was get Gorn to roll over on permit standards imposed per the department's "discretionary authority" over hunt conditions. Rossi apparently figured Gorn would show the discretion, so to speak, to waive the rule for three top state officials. Instead, the biologist said no. The trio, Gorn said, "put me in a very, very uncomfortable position." Even after he showed them the permit forms they'd signed -- permit forms that clearly stipulated they accepted of the requirement to destroy the horns -- the men pushed the issue. Gorn held his ground. He did nervously contact his boss immediately after the incident, however. "It is not every day that a fairly young biologist working in one of our most remote areas offices gets a visit from three, high-level state officials," said regional supervisor Steve Machida. "Any nervousness that Tony felt during the conversation was attributable to the fact that he had an assistant commissioner and two Board of Game members in his office." W. T. F. It's Tuesday. Cliff Judkins is STILL ON THE ALASKA BOARD OF GAME! WHAT THE F*CK? And this is all part of that fantastic State management right? Game Boards & Fish Boards making rules for themselves, their closest friends, and the people who appoint them. Obviously, this system is NOT working people! I see people keep mention AOC,,, don't forget who runs AOC ( Rod Arno) he push for these types of problems all the time at game board meetings That Great Alaska Bush Company, our States Right's Party, the BIg Book of Crime in Government. "Last Bridge to Nowhere" by former Prison Director Prewitt! "Trolling for Winter Kings" the "Corrupt Bastards Club" and the Juneau Classic, one short little ferry ride to the Corruption Capitol of the United States, Petersburg Packing's Finest Hour. An interesting connection to the "Tea Pot Dome Scandle" after President Harding tarnished the Gov's Mansion, and his Secretary of Interior, ended up in a Federal Prison? "Hunting for Trophy Politicians." I suppose when William H. Seward, gave that Higher Law speech to the Democratic State's Right's Party of Sara Palin, and Shaun Parnell, the confused Dixie Dance Queen's, would expect this to be Republican? SP+SP=SPx2 The Trailer Trash Governor's Sewer Pipe is leaking again. Oh and by the way, THANK YOU ALASKA DISPATCH for allowing ALL of the comments posted on A SINGLE PAGE! Unlike the ADN where you need to refresh the page after every 5-6 comments. Thank you! "The agency is no longer run by fisheries and wildlife professionals the way it was for decades after statehood." This statement says so much about the state of the State of Alaska nowadays. Why would it surprise anyone that Bob Bell would be involved in something like this. He has a history of doing whatever he feels like and assuming his political power will get him through it. Talk to the people in his condo unit about the things he did in direct violation of home owner by-laws. This former member of the condo owners association's board of director's explanation? He didn't know the rules. We need to be vigilant and rid our public processes of people like him and his buddies. Heck thats nothin', I heard from those same condo owners that Bob has been known to run out of his condo in nothin' but his camo skivies to get the mornin' paper. The man has clearly lost his wits. -TomClark Outstanding investigative journalism, Craig. There's a saying that "What goes around comes around" which demonstrably applies to the politics of wildlife management in Alaska or, as Yogi Berra famously said, "It's deja vu all over again." While it's easy to harken back to the "good old days" when professionalism ostensibly trumped politics, notable lapses occurred under icons Hickel and Hammond not unike those prevailing today. Corruption and unethical conduct reared their venal heads even then: a top fish and game offical inadvertantly caught on tape lying to the Senate Resources Committee over hiring of a helicopter for unauthorized wolf control in Southeast; illegal use of poisoned baits by staff biologists for predator control; illicit killing of black bears, polar bears, walrus and other prized species for lucrative organ, hide and ivory black markets in Asia and elsewhere; surreptitious capture for private profit of rare gerfalcons and other raptors for Middle East sheiks and potentates; hiring and appointment of unqualified cronies to top departmental positions, etc., etc. A final cliche: there's nothing new under the sun. Keep up the fine work. Joe LaRocca What a sad sad state of affairs, State of Alaska Fish and Game. This story makes me sick. Many Thanks to Craig Medred for digging deep and getting the facts. I personally know Tony Gorn, and he's a straight shooter. I have worked closely with him here in Nome. He does what he thinks is best regarding the big game animals out here, and he actively solicits the input from those groups put in place to help him do his job, ie, the local Advisory Committee, of which I am a member. If Governor Parnell has an ounce of honor about him, the remaining member still seated on the BOG needs to be dismissed immediately! The man is unfit to represent ANY group in the State. We'll let the Law deal with Mr. Rossi, and I hope it is done swiftly. I would hope that the remaining member of the BOG does not get 'dismissed immediately' because everyone is entitled to a fair investigation when allegations are made. Right now, it appears that its just one fellow making a claim that the incident happened. I am not saying I support these three bums in the least and I am not suggesting Gorm made it up; however, I am a staunch advocate of fair practices, which excludes your lynch mob mentality. -TomClark So only 200...Two Hundred hunt musk ox for subsistence? Hmmm, the way Alaskans like Palin go on and on moose or Alaksan game is the only thing they can eat! I have to agree with Arcticvillage! But cleaning house will clean out the whole Palin-Parnell administration who seem to think the laws are not met for them! This is another large piece of the Corrupt Bastards Club of the ADF&G since Palin and Parnell were paid off by the SFW, AOC, Safari Club, and their influential supporters in Alaska. Rossi, Judkins and Bell should all have been relieved from duties since they "serve at the pleasure of the Governor". Apparently this Governor, and the past Governor take great pleasure in appointing and retaining Game managers that have little personal ethic. Only the interest of the deep pockets of the most affluent hunters in America, and the appointees special interests are protected. All Alaskans should thank the good people who are working for ADF&G, like Tony Gorn who stood up to the the Wildlife Corrupt Bastards Club. There are several real biologists trying to do the right thing for our game and the Alaskans. They have their head down wondering when this BS is going to end. It will end when the Alaskans are informed by journalists like Crag Medred, as to the facts behind the current ADF&G management politics. This Governor needs to realize the ethics of his wildlife CBC, reflects on his character and ethics. Rossi and Bell are gone.... Judkins should be drop kicked off the Board of Game and not reappoint him. Time to clean your stinking house Parnell.... if not you are next at the poles. Time for the Lacey Act Thanks to Craig Medred for your dogged journalism. This crony crap goes all the way to Parnell. Parnell must be impeached. Cora Campbell needs to be dismissed. "Sportsmen" For Wildlife (SFW), are not sportsmen at all and have infiltrated DF&Gs across the country. They are a conservative Christian dominionist group of trophy hunters who are obsessed with the kill at all costs. They want to eradicate all predators and artificially inflate unsustainable game numbers-science be damned. Corey Rossi and Bob Bell and Cliff Judkins--current Chair of the Alaska Board of Game--have a predator-like mentality when it comes to their trophies that is NOT unlike those of notorious serial killers like John Wayne Gacy or Jeffery Dahmer. That Rossi would make a fiberglass replica of the musk ox horns he had to destroy illustrates the point. They are just sick. And Cliff Judkins is a known poacher of coyotes. His attempt to change the rules to allow subsistence hunters to keep their horns means he is unsuitable to serve on Alaska's Board of Game in any capacity. The same goes for the rest of Sean Parnell's and Sarah Palin's BOG appointments. They have absolutely polluted game management in Alaska. We must collectively make our voices heard and end the current Board of Game and restore sanity and science back to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Call Parnell and demand change starting with his resignation. 907.465.3500. "That Rossi would make a fiberglass replica of the musk ox horns he had to destroy illustrates the point. They are just sick. " Myself I don't think he did he prob made a fiberglass pair to leave! Or he just said that. Remember these people think the "law" does not apply to them, starting with Palin...Meaning he took the horns! I was sorry to hear that Bob Bell was involved in these shenanigans meant largely to benefit "the 1%" of the people from Outside who actually run the country for their own benefit. Bell was the Assemblyman who played a leading role in stopping Bill Weimar and Bill Allen's schemes to first build a prison in 1996-97 with partner Wackenhut (which bought out the equally troubled Cornell Corrections, and its Allvest subsidiary) in South Anchorage. It's the good ol' boy club, though. Hickel appointed a bunch of bums like these, but did less damage in his second term than the S.P.s have done in six years. At least he didn't kowtow to the oil industry. The criteria for any appointment under Sarah was, "Did you go to school or church with her? Were you a friend of the family?" That's how the sleazy "gopher choker" Rossi got appointed to a job that was vastly over his head. I wonder if he didn't have a conflict with the feds as well, with his private employment when he was working for them. It could be worse, I suppose. Sarah almost got Lyin' Joe Miller to replace Lisa. Medred wrote: "The current commissioner, Cora Cambpell, has a bachelor of science degree in education. She was picked as commissioner because she is smart, well-connected to the state's powerful commercial fishing industry and attended Pacific Lutheran Unviersity, the same school from which Gov. Parnell graduated." Wow, what a resume! Has anyone checked to see if Rossi's clients made any campaign contributions to Parnell? Well done, Tony Gorn. Would you be interested in a job opening in Juneau? Not a chance under this governor. It's amazing that he's still working, giving his honesty and professionalism. Keep digging, Craig and AD. I knew this cocky jerk had only the tip of the iceberg showing with the illegal guiding. I have seen first hand what he and his cronies are doing to ADF&G by the demoralization of staff. I am very proud of the AD - the detail and follow up reporting is outstanding. Gorn is indeed a great guy - he sounds like the kind of ADF&G employee our state used to have in toto. He has my heart felt thanks for being honest and not buckling under pressure. Parnell needs to be held accountable. Campbell's lame note thanking Rossi for his service to the state, knowing full well an investigation was going on, still sours me on her more than I already am. Time to send Campbell packing - she is not up to the task and is far too beholden personally to Parnell for the job. Great move, Parnell, to put a Commissioner in power who is unqualified and inexperienced. That's a sure way for you to count on her cooperation no matter what. Just one more example of the corruption of all of Alaska State government since the overthrow by the Big Oil Republican dictators. Now identical to the Texas model of governing by and for the wealthy and especially for the Great White Hunters. The Game Board is the most egregious example of the corruption as they demand the eradication of all predators to feed the horn hunters' otherwise absent masculinity. Wow, this is getting line a drug deal story. Well no, wait, if Craig was covering the Mexican Drug gangs he might get killed. Nope, he's far in the North following the trial of guys in the snow. That's the safe way to live... So covering corruption in the state and country you live in isn't enough? You think he should go to a foreign country and cover news he isn't familiar with (other than through the news) instead of covering Alaska? I know I have heard his name for many years in Alaska, so I think that he is doing what needs to be done in the place he needs to do it in. It seems the claims that Sarah Paylin "cleaned up corruption" is nothing but a lie and her Lt. Governor that took her place when she ran away from her job is carrying on the Paylin tradition and appointing those who circumvent Alaskan laws to suit themselves. Looks like Paylin brought MORE corruption to the states administration and Parnell is carrying on her tradition. Pretty disgusting. In addition to Rossi, we (and I'm being vague, since who in this criminal administration would do this?) need to aggressively prosecute out of state hunters who join into these schemes. In the internet era there is little excuse for ignorance of this state's rules, and the ones who know those rules are being "bent" for them need to be prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law. And these incidents should be publicized in these nonresidents' own home communities. We're not as shocked by these kinds of activities as we ought to be, but in most other places, this isn't the sort of behavior that wins a lot of sympathy. It's also interesting that ADN has not bothered to report on this yet. Another scoop for the Dispatch, even if by default. I believe the Lacey Act can be invoked where interstate game violations occurr - but it may be limited to transport of illegally taken animals. And its a Fed enforcement situation. Maybe AST will take a look? It always seems like we are out to screw the Martians.... "... $500 for residents ($1,000 for non-residents, $1,500 for aliens). " As usual, Parnell remains silent and hidden away from the public on this travesty. Like Paylin, he does not believe he owes any explanations for anything and refuses to be held accountable. So much for honesty and transparency in (sub)Par's administration. When will Alaskans hold him accountable for his poor decisions? ummm.....wasn't Vaulkenbergh the dude who introduced to the Board of Game to the concept that the Department and the Board of Game could collaborate and re-classify black bears from big game animals to fur bearers so the state could get on with the business of bear snaring? Ohh..and it happened without public notice or awareness right? No one ever said Valkenberg was above this crap. CM wrote: "The message, however, was clear -- Rossi, Judkins and Bell were looking for a loophole in the law and counting on Gorn to help them find it." Valkenberg himself looked for loopholes and depended on the Board of Game's collaboration to accomplish his goals. Black Bears; until Valkenberg figured out a scheme around the law and the Board of Game collaborated, were always classified as "big game" animals. So, Valkenberg decided the classification of black bears as big game was simply a department "policy". And, "department policies"; as Vaulkenberg schemed, can be changed with out public participation. However, the Board of Games legal council (Kevin Saxby who is really at the root of all evil in the matter of abuses by the Board of Game) advised the Board that the courts interpreted such long standing policies as law. Therefore Valkenberg's "policy" change could not likely be legally accomplished by simply making a new policy...but the Board of Game could approve the policy change and see what comes of it. So, the Board of Game went right along with Valkenberg's scheme and at the March 2010 meeting in Fairbanks "re-classified" black bears as fur-bearers. Throwing the door wide open for full on commercialization of Black Bear's. The Rossi/Bloomquist/SFW/Valkenberg/Board of Game scheme to commercialize black bears (gall bladders on the black market in Anchorage sell for 2k a pop) has accomplished little more than to pave the way for the full on commercialization of Brown/Grizzly bears too. Someone should research and report on proposals Aaron Bloomquist and SFW (Rossi) have sponsored and brought before the Board of Game since 2008. There have been many! These proposal all clearly further expanded the commercialization of Black Bears and blaze the trail for the exploitation of grizzly bears for guides like Bloomquist. Grizzly bears have gall bladders too. I assumed from the beginning that if you peeled the onion you would find Tom Lawson's involvement in this sordid affair. How about a comment Tom? It shines a light on the "banality of evil" described by Hannah Arendt. This story reflects the type of chicanery widespread in management of several Alaska state government agencies for the past decade. Thanks for some fine journalism, Mr. Medred. Tony Gorn is now my hero!!!! He has ethics and a steel spine!! Judkins and Bell should never have a position of authority with the state again they have no ethics as men or sportsmen!!! Rossi should never Work for the state or hunt in Alaska again. He worked for the agency in a top position and show a complete lack of ethics which is what he did as a guide and hunter. He should serve some prison time for felony forgery or fraud. He's getting special treatment by the troopers if anything else happens. Dilley should be joining him if no forgery or fraud occurred!!! Throw the book at this scumbag!!!We need professionals in power at Game and Fish not the unethical lowlife appointed idiots. Parnell needs to go for this alone but there are many other reasons to drop the Zero and elect an Alaskan who stands up for Alaskans!!!! Thanks Craig, open the tent farther and keep shining the lights inside. It can be really intimidating to be in a remote office and have high rollers and big wigs pushing you to bend the rules. I had an IRS guy yelling at me red faced in the Sand Point office when I refused to show him fish tickets for local fish and crab deliveries. He tried to threaten me with court - whereupon I explained to him that a court order was the ONLY way I could legally show any fish tickets to anyone but the original permit holder. Time to get professionals back into ADFG leadership - the recent govs just haven't given a whit about Fish and Game management like Hammond and most others before Murky. Remember folks, fish and game management were issues that drove us to statehood. Bravo Tony Gorn, Bravo Craig Medred for writing this! Boo to Parnell for appointing this guy and double BOO to BOB BELL who has done more over the years to politicize Fish & Game management in Alaska. I hope they all go to jail. I agree, and BOO to Denby Lloyd who could have shown some backbone and said no when Parnell wanted Rossi appointed to Wildlife Conservation Division director. The state of Alaska and it's opposition to rural preference of subsistence resources is getting disgusting. This display of behaviors by Rossi and two BoG members going on a subsistence hunt for muskox with clear intentions of trophy hunting just goes to show the vile nature of thier beliefs of subistence. What a embarassing example of a Alaskan "sport" hunter. In 2006, for anyone who was paying attention to the debates between Halcro, Knowles and Caribou Barbie, she was repeatedly using the code word, "abundance management." This meant screwing subsistence hunters, especially Natives and favoring instead the trophy and avocational hunters, the Alaska Outdoor Council and the Safari Club. The very low per capita income in areas such as the Upper Tanana, the Yukon drainage and the Wade Hampton tract make it nearly impossible to live in those places without depending on subsistence. When McCain's Hail Mary put her in the national spotlight, Palin continued with the code word in her campaign for VP, along with all of her nonsense about the gas pipe dream, etc. Rossi got appointed because Sarah's mom squeezed Parnell, after Sarah had first invented the job for him. Read Judkins public testimony during the NMFS Cook Intlet Beluga public hearing in Wasilla. He spoke as a member of the Conservative Patriot Group who opposed the listing. His words on subsistence are quite telling. Clearly Judkins doesn't like having to follow legals of state defined subsistence. His involvement with the CPG and the local ADFG advisory board out in Wasilla... |
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