Defenders' Experts
Aerial Hunting
Alaska is truly our nation’s last frontier. It is also the last place in the U.S. where a few hunters still use aircraft to chase and kill wolves and other animals. They shoot these animals from the air or chase them to exhaustion before landing and shooting them point blank.
More than 30 years ago, Congress tried to put an end to aerial hunting by passing the Aerial Hunting Act in 1971. But Alaska is exploiting a loophole in the federal law to resume the practice. Other states could soon follow suit. It’s time to stop aerial hunting once and for all.
That is why Defenders of Wildlife is supporting the Protect America’s Wildlife (PAW) Act, which will close this unethical loophole in federal law.
Watch our video to find out what aerial hunting is really like.
Fact Sheets
Introduction of the PAW Act
On September 25, 2007 Defenders launched the PAW Act with Rep. George Miller (Calif.-7).
Scientists and Wildlife Professionals
In 2007, nearly 200 scientists and wildlife professionals signed a letter to Alaska Governor Palin which detailed their concerns over the lack of science in Alaska’s predator control program and highlighted the threats posed to ecological balance and longterm sustainability of the wolf elimination program.
Letter from scientists and wildlife professionals to Gov. Palin.
What do hunters think?
Many hunters oppose the practice of aerial hunting because it violates the basic ethics of hunting and fair chase.
Testimonies from Alaskan hunters.
Press Release
Defenders Hails Bill to End Aerial Hunting in Alaska (9/25/2007)
The PAW Act in the media
Since the PAW Act was introduced in September 2007, we have run several ads in multiple outlets, urging Congress to support the PAW Act.
Television Ad
A television ad aimed at stopping aerial hunting of
wolves ran on network television affiliates in Washington,
DC around the date of the 2008 State of the Union address.
Watch the TV ad.
Ads in Congress Daily
In September 2007, Defenders of Wildlife published a series of
advertisements in Congress Daily, asking representatives to support the PAW Act. View the ads below.
- This still goes on in America. You can stop it.
First ad in the series. - This is not my Alaska. This is not my America.
Features: Brooke Edwards, Professional Guide - This is not my Alaska. This is not my America.
Features: Jeff Sloss, Hunter and Longtime Alaska Resident - This is not my Alaska. This is not my America.
Features: Lorraine Ramsey, Alaska Native - This is not my Alaska. This is not my America.
Features: Vic Van Ballenberghe, Wildlife Biologist
Ads in the Metro
Throughout the second half of January 2008, nine PAW Act ads were displayed in the entrance to Capitol South Metro station, which sees an average of 6,000 commuters each day including many Members of Congress and staffers.
See a brief slideshow of our outreach on the subway.
Ads in The Washington Post Express newspaper
In the last week of January 2008, the ad below was featured on the much-read gossip page of The Washington Post Express. The free paper has a daily circulation of nearly 206,000 and is distributed at Metro stations throughout the DC area each morning.
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