Sportsmen's Alliance for ALASKA News and Auction Update

I hope you are getting ready for the Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer. I’ll be camping with my wife and two Labrador retrievers in South Dakota’s Black Hills, but don’t worry – the show known as the Bristol Bay conservation campaign fundraising auction will go on. More details on that below, but first there are a few other newsworthy items to report.

Tongass NF Land Management Plan released
In late January, the US Forest Service released the new management plan for our nation’s largest National Forest – the Tongass in Southeast Alaska. The plan lays out how wildlife habitat is managed, where different recreational activities can occur, and where and how much logging can occur on the Tongass. Visit the updated Tongass page on the SAA Web site to learn more. To view a three-minute video clip about the new Tongass plan click here.

Bureau of Land Management takes Teshekpuk Lake off the table for oil and gas leasing (for now)
In late 2007, the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska worked to engage many waterfowl conservation and sportsmen organizations including Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, the Izaak Walton League of America, and more along with scores of individual waterfowl hunters from across the country in an effort to persuade the BLM to continue the protections for one of North America’s most important wetland areas. It seems all our hard work paid off, as the BLM released its new plan for management of the Northeast NPRA, including the area around Teshekpuk Lake. Visit the updated Teshekpuk Lake page on the SAA Web site to learn more.

Bristol Bay Auction Update!

The fundraising auction for Bristol Bay is rolling along. More items are being snapped up every few days, and the gross amount raised so far is over $10,600! The most recently sold items have proven that this campaign is indeed a global one – buyers from Norway, Canada, and the U.K. Thank you to the blogs, Web sites, and magazines who are helping spread the word. The greater the number of people visiting the auction, the better the odds are that we can raise some serious money to help fight for Bristol Bay.

NOTE: For any of the trips in June and July 2008 that did not sell on the auction, contact me if you are interested. We might be able to work something out with those lodges. I’m not promising, but I’ll try. This would be trips to Rainbow River Lodge, No See Um Lodge, and Bristol Bay Lodge. I know it’s short notice for a trip in a month or two, but let me know if you want me to look into it.

This auction is possible due to the very generous contributions of so many companies, lodges, and artists. Please support them and support the campaign for Bristol Bay’s future by bidding on an item or two. There’s a great selection and you should be able to find something you need or want. All starting bids are set below 70% of retail value, so you might even get a good buy.

The inventory for the auction is basically set up on a rolling basis, with new items being added every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. All listings run for 10 days, so there are always items nearing the end of their run.

Listings Sold (thanks to these buyers!):

• St. Croix Legend Elite 6-weight fly rod (to Steven R. in MN for $300)
• Galvan R-5 Rush Large Arbor fly reel (to Frank W. in CA for $168.50)
• Abstract Rainbow Trout print by Derek DeYoung (to Travis M. in CA for $122.50)
• Set of two signed Bob White/John Gierach prints (to Roger C. in VT for $300)
• Trip for two to Bear Bay Lodge in Alaska (to Carolyn S. in UT for $7,750)
• Patagonia full gear system – waders, boots, jacket, etc. (to Chris T. in AZ for $650)
• Simms duffel bag (to Frank W. in CA for $102.50)
• Scott G2 2-weight fly rod (to Espen in Norway for $560)
• Islander Precision Reels LX3.8 fly reel (to John in Canada for $406)
• Leupold & Stevens Katmai 8×32 binocular (to Marcus in England for $288)

Ending soon:

• Cloudveil 8x Pro Waders and 8x Boots in M’s or W’s (ends Thursday, 5/22) – current high bid is $400
• Trip for two with Reel Wilderness Adventures in Alaska for open dates in August or September 2008 or any open dates in 2009 (ends Thursday, 5/22) – could be yours for $5,500
• March Brown Hidden Water 8-weight travel fly rod (ends Saturday, 5/24) – could be yours for $275 (PRICE DROP)
• Trip for two to Alaska’s Rainbow Point Lodge for open dates in August or September 2008 (ends Saturday, 5/24) – could be yours for $7,750 (PRICE DROP)
• Scierra CTC #9/11 fly reel (ends Saturday, 5/24) – current high bid is $175
• Trip for 1 woman with Women’s Flyfishing Alaska in July 2008 plus book, dozen flies, ExOffico shirt and hat (ends Saturday, 5/24) – could be yours for $500 (PRICE DROP)
• Abstract brook trout print by Derek DeYoung (ends Saturday, 5/24) – current high bid is $127.50
• Orvis ZG Helios 8-wt rod + Battenkill large arbor reel and line (ends Saturday, 5/24) – current high bid is $760
• Full-day float trip for two with Yellow Dog Outfitters in Montana for any open date in 2008 season (ends Saturday, 5/24) – current high bid is $300
• Hardy Zane Saltwater combo (10-weight rod and No. 2 reel) (ends Monday, 5/26) – could be yours for $950
• Fishpond Shooting Star Tech Pack (ends Monday, 5/26) – current high bid is $117.50
• Trip for two to Turneffe Flats Lodge in Belize for any open week in 2008 (ends Monday, 5/26) – could be yours for $5,100

New Listings this week:

• Simms G4 Pro jacket
• Trip for two to Pesca Maya Lodge in Mexico for any open week in 2008
• Full-day float trip for one with Kirk Deeter and Tim Romano from Field & Stream magazine’s “Fly Talk” blog + Kaenon polarized sunglasses and Jim Teeny fly line
• Trip for two to Painter Creek Lodge in Alaska for any open week in 2008 or 2009
• Premium Alaska fly selection from Orvis
• Certificate for your choice of any fly rod in TFO’s lineup

A full schedule and list of auction items is available on the SAA Web site so you can plan your bidding!

Thanks for your support!

Scott Hed
Director – Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska