Assemblyman proposes legalizing duck hunting on Haines townsite waters

It’s illegal fire a gun in the Haines townsite, but Haines Borough Assemblyman Will Prisciandaro thinks it might be a good idea to allow duck hunting in townsite waters. That was one of a number of issues related to hunting in the Haines Borough discussed at last week’s meeting of the Upper Lynn Canal Fish and Game Advisory Committee. 

Discharging a firearm within the Haines townsite is illegal. For the most part, all hunting takes place outside of town.

But some duck hunters shoot from skiffs out on the water at birds flying overhead.

Prisciandaro said a couple duck hunters explained to him that the townsite boundaries extend out into the waters of Chilkoot and Lutak Inlet. Some duck hunters are concerned they might get tickets if they hunt in those areas.

“They asked if there was any way to possibly get it cleaned up, so if people want to sit out in the middle of the canal and shoot birds as they fly by they don’t have to worry about getting in trouble with the local police if someone reports them,” Prisciandaro said.

The townsite service area extends into the water from Battery Point to Taiya Point and across Lutak Inlet to the ferry terminal.

Police Chief Heath Scott maintains that it is currently illegal to discharge a firearm in areas of the inlet that are part of the townsite.

However, it is unclear how strictly this rule has been enforced.

Even though the townsite service area for the Haines Borough Police extends into the water, the department lacks a boat to quickly respond to infractions that occur out in the inlet.

In some cases, police rely on maritime assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.

There is one exception that allows people to hunt for ducks within the townsite and that’s at the Valley of Eagles golf course.

Prisciandaro said he would like to open up some parts of the inlet to hunting as well.

“If someone wants to be out in the middle of the canal, shooting migratory ducks, I think it would be a fine thing. People enjoy hunting in Alaska, so we should give them all the opportunities they can get,” Prisciandaro said.

But he says he still needs to work out the details of which areas could safely be designated for hunting.

“I think I’d like to exclude the portage cove area, high use areas, and probably an area around the AML dock and the ferry terminal area,” Prisciandaro said. “I think my next thing would be to come up with some points and lines for these areas that I would like to exclude and then maybe work with the borough in drafting some code that could be presented for the whole assembly and people from the town would have opportunity to give their opinion in public comment and all that.”

At the moment, Prisciandaro has only discussed this idea with a few people. No formal proposal has been brought forward to any municipal bodies.