July 13th, 2026 – Pope and Young, North America's leading bowhunting conservation organization, is taking a stand to help protect the culture and future of bowhunting in Alaska. We encourage you to join us and make your voice heard.
Hunting opportunities for both residents and nonresidents continue to decline. As a result, we believe now is the time to oppose the introduction of additional technology into Alaska's archery seasons.
"As more technology is introduced and allowed during archery seasons, success rates increase, which ultimately decreases hunting opportunities," said Justin Spring, Executive Director of Pope and Young. "In certain areas where wildlife populations are above management objectives and harvest rates need to increase, technology is not necessarily a bad thing. However, in places like Alaska, where hunting opportunities are already declining, we must oppose the introduction of new technology that will inherently increase harvest rates."
Please see below more information from The Professional Bowhunters Society on the proposals, and how you can let your voice be heard.
The Alaska Board of Game is currently considering two critical proposals that would fundamentally alter the landscape of restricted archery hunts. Proposals 2 and 3 seek to legalize the use of electronics and high-tech optics in seasons specifically set aside for primitive weapons. The Professional Bowhunters Society, standing with the Alaskan Bowhunters Association, strongly opposes these changes.
Proposal 2
Would legalize verifiers, clarifiers, and non-electronic scopes for archery-only hunts, substantially expanding the definition legal equipment permitted during Alaska’s restricted archery hunts
Proposal 3
Goes even further by authorizing electronic scopes and electronic sights that do not project light externally. As written, this proposal would permit electronic sighting technology and would legalize electronic range finding bow sights in Alaska’s archery-only hunts.
For decades, organizations such as the Alaskan Bowhunters Association and the PBS have worked to demonstrate that bowhunters deserve additional opportunity because of the discipline, ethics, personal skill, and equipment limitations traditionally associated with bowhunting. Those efforts have resulted in meaningful gains in bowhunting opportunity across North America. Proposals 2 and 3 threaten to undermine that foundation and could make future efforts to establish or defend additional bowhunting opportunity significantly more difficult.
Take a Stand: Send Your Comment
We encourage every member to submit a formal comment to the Board of Game. You may use the following language as a guide for your submission:
“I oppose Proposals 2 and 3 and urge the Alaska Board of Game to take no action on either proposal during the special meeting. Furthermore, I encourage the Board to consider any future changes to archery equipment regulations only through Alaska’s normal regulatory process, where they can receive full public review and stakeholder participation.”
Take Action:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/7edf34720c3f45d9b878c3c7a0251d13
About Pope and Young:
The Pope and Young Club is North America's leading voice and supporter of bowhunting and related conservation issues and projects. If you are a fair chase, ethical bowhunter, and you care about preserving, protecting, and promoting the culture and future of bowhunting, then you should belong to the Pope and Young Club. Join today at www.pope-young.org.