Governor’s appointees to Big Game Commercial Services Board describe enforcement, transporter and guide priorities

The House Resources Committee heard testimony March 17 from multiple governor’s appointees to the Big Game Commercial Services Board, which licenses and regulates registered guide outfitters, transporters and commercial services that support guided hunting and transport activities.

Aaron Blomquist, reappointed to a four‑year term, said the board spends substantial time adjudicating license sanctions and civil penalties and that a small number of operators generate prolonged enforcement cases. He urged faster board‑level license sanctions to remove problem operators before lengthy criminal cases conclude: “We've worked with the DA recently to do some license sanctions prior to criminal stuff, which I think is better serving the public,” Blomquist said. He also identified the guide concession program as an item the board is prioritizing to support conservation and improve guide reputations.

Martin Bonnick (transcript spelled “Boniak” in some places), reappointed to a transporter seat, highlighted transporter issues such as distinctive markings for aircraft used by transporters and consideration of whether transporters should have service areas like guides do. He also raised the challenge of ‘‘hunt planners’’—commercial websites and coordinators that arrange hunts but are not currently regulated by the board: “If it is something that does not require a guide service … that hunt planner can put together a hunt … and there's no involvement of our board on that even though it's a commercial service,” Bonnick said.

Katie McCarthy, appointed to a two‑year term and representing Southeast interests, described her long involvement in guiding and commercial fishing. Members questioned McCarthy about past compliance matters; she said two long‑past incidents were paperwork or sealing delays and that she completed required probation and corrective steps.

Committee members asked nominees about priority work for the board. Common concerns included a backlog of regulation projects (some have been pending for years), the guide concession program, enforcement of rules near developed areas (raised during questions about bear baiting), and how to address operator misconduct more promptly.

Ending: The committee set the appointments aside after testimony. The hearing record shows the board’s immediate priorities include enforcement streamlining, regulation updates, addressing unregulated ‘‘hunt planners,’’ and pursuing the guide concession program.