# Shooting wolves from planes. Yes or no? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692 "2008-09-08T22:34:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/61 "2008-09-10T04:09:25Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Why stop at wolves? Imagine all the things you’d be missing out on while looking for that next wolf! > > Babies who scream for hours on airplanes, and the parents thereof, I’m lookin’ at you. Wait, are we shooting the screaming babies at the wolves? That’s a really mean thing to do to them (meaning the wolves, of course). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/62 "2008-09-10T04:12:03Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > Wait, are we shooting the screaming babies at the wolves? That’s a really mean thing to do to them (meaning the wolves, of course). Well, since you can’t give a baby a swirly on an airliner (damn you, vacuum-flush toilets!), I see no other option. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/63 "2008-09-10T04:25:16Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > A dishonest reply. I stated, and am backed up by fact, that the board members of that Commission are Appointees. Who these Appointees employ under them is another matter, as I suppose is at whose pleasure these same Appointees serve & collect paychecks.. from the above cite: > [@Bio of Commissioner Denby S Lloyd](#): > > Commissioner Lloyd has a long and distinguished career in resource management and research in Alaska. He has worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and other resource management agencies in the state since 1974, serving in a number of positions in many parts of Alaska. Before being appointed Commissioner by Governor Sarah Palin in February, 2007, Lloyd had been Director of ADF&G’s Division of Commercial Fisheries. > > Lloyd has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in biological science and biological oceanography from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and has written or co-written more than a dozen research publications. He is a Certified Fisheries Scientist with the American Fisheries Society and an Associate of the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/64 "2008-09-10T07:10:41Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > That’s nice but this letter came from a couple of wildlife photographers and it was directed at the Governor and not the appropriate agency. It lacks credibility. The letter is the one you referred to in #32: > [@](#): > > Yes, friend Zoe, the article does state that 172 scientists petitioned Palin. Are these 172 scientists molecular biologists, astrophysicists or perhaps nuclear engineers? Conveniently, the article doesn’t go into detail. The letter “came from a couple of wildlife photographers” in a way–they posted it on their website. What do you have to say about the 172 scientists who signed the letter? What about their arguments? Details, please. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/65 "2008-09-10T08:18:52Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > ETA: I would like to introduce [this](http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/bbs/contact/staff.php) into evidence. Members of the jury, make of it what you will. They don’t look terribly… professional, do they? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/66 "2008-09-10T08:20:51Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > The letter is the one you referred to in #32: > > The letter “came from a couple of wildlife photographers” in a way–they posted it on their website. What do you have to say about the 172 scientists who signed the letter? What about their arguments? > > Details, please. The disconnect is that this is a letter to the governor by a couple of photographers. While it’s nice that they got some autographs to give it some visibility it wasn’t addressed to the person in charge of the program. Wildlife agencies are challenged all the time by outside groups but it’s usually done by someone with some credentials. I’m not specifically taking sides in this beyond commenting on the legitimacy of the process. I’d be interested in the licensing of people to shoot from aircraft as I imagine it would take a certain level of skill and require 2 people to be certified together. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/67 "2008-09-10T08:23:38Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > They don’t look terribly… professional, do they? No shit. THOSE are the official photos of their staff? What the fuck? Whatever happened to the idea of propriety? I know it’s Alaska but they could at least all have been wearing identical leather bomber jackets with fleece collars or something, over a nice tweed jacket and tie. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/68 "2008-09-10T14:53:50Z")
> [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](#): > > Um, cite? This has been a bone of contention up here for many years. The people appointed to the commission are usually political cronies and people who are either avid or professional hunters, guides and commercial fishermen. I know one of the current members, who is an architect by trade. The fact that the commission is overwhelmingly pro-hunting, rather than actual game management people who are trained in wildlife management is what drives the controversy. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/69 "2008-09-10T14:56:24Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > No shit. THOSE are the official photos of their staff? What the fuck? Whatever happened to the idea of propriety? I know it’s Alaska but they could at least all have been wearing identical leather bomber jackets with fleece collars or something, over a nice tweed jacket and tie. That looks about right. These are people who have other jobs and who serve on the commission part-time. Also, we try not to take ourselves too seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/70 "2008-09-10T15:09:40Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > That looks about right. These are people who have other jobs and who serve on the commission part-time. Also, we try not to take ourselves too seriously. I anxiously await promo shots of the Governor chewing on a carrot stick while standing in front a cubicle. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/71 "2008-09-19T22:51:12Z")
This isn’t too far from drowning bags of cats. It’s disgusting, cruel, and stupid, and anyone defending this behavior has to do a serious moral self-inventory. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/72 "2008-09-20T04:15:21Z")
Defenders of Wildlife (I think) just had an anti-Palin ad talking about her support of aerial hunting of wolves and showing graphic film of the practice. It made me cry. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/73 "2008-09-20T16:53:53Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I anxiously await promo shots of the Governor chewing on a carrot stick while standing in front a cubicle. Oh. I thought that was a Cheeto. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/74 "2008-09-21T03:22:26Z")
Sounds like this is much more political and psychological, meaning another symptom of Palin Derangement Syndrome, than anything to do with advantages and disadvantages of this practice. I don’t know enough about it to have an opinion and neither do you if all you read is some political article. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/75 "2008-09-21T03:22:41Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Oh. I thought that was a Cheeto. Upon closer inspection, I believe you may be right. Is it just me, or is Board of Fisheries Publications Specialist II Shannon Stone totally bangable in a Tori Amos sort of way? I didn’t think there were any women in Alaska, let alone hot ones. Now we’ve got two in a month. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/76 "2008-09-21T03:30:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > In theory I’d be happy to shoot wolves from planes, as (a) it sounds evil, and (b) I’m evil. But first I must do a cost benefit analysis. Will the time I spend shooting be taken away from burning down nunneries? Is this the best and most evil use of my shooting-animals-from-plane-flying time available–that is, would it be more evil to shoot caribou, polar bears, bunny rabbits, or some other animal rather than wolves? Is shooting the wolves going to make baby Jesus cry, or is it going to whip Aslan into a Skald-smiting rage? > > You have to think these things through. If I were to stalk anyone, it would be you. I don’t think I’ve ever read a post from you that didn’t at LEAST make me smile, and usually laugh out loud. P.S. shooting polar bears is not a more efficient use of evil-time. There’s not enough of them left to hunt effectively, so you’d only get 1 or 2 kills for every dozen or so wolves you could’ve massacred in the same timeframe. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/77 "2008-09-21T04:00:30Z")
> [@Plan\_B](#): > > Sounds like this is much more political and psychological, meaning another symptom of Palin Derangement Syndrome, than anything to do with advantages and disadvantages of this practice. I don’t know enough about it to have an opinion and neither do you if all you read is some political article. Cruelty to animals is cruel. It’s not “political.” It’s not some made up “derangement syndrome” that disgusts people when they witness it. And there’s nothing sophisticated or wise about waving it away with your contemptuous little hand. Asshole. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/78 "2008-09-21T04:18:33Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Cruelty to animals is cruel \ **Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/79 "2008-09-21T06:51:43Z") > [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](#): > > So you believe that the professionals that decided to thin the wolf population don’t know what they are doing? Ok, believe whatever. > > Got your PETA membership card at the ready? Sure the professionals might have decided the cull…but I blame the piss poor hunter who thinks the method is sporting. They’re getting their jollies, and that is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692/80 "2008-09-21T07:23:20Z")
Let those hunters put their money where their mouth is. The catch should be, for every wolf you kill from a plane you have to recover it and eat it… Don’t give me any of your reasons or justifications. It is perfectly good meat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-wolves-from-planes-yes-or-no/462692.md?page=5)