Wednesday, May 22, 2013

News
Bell Vindicated in Musk Ox Horns Controversy
Troopers say Senate candidate did not break game law
By Bill McAllister


ANCHORAGE - In a fiercely contested West Anchorage senate race, it appears Republican Bob Bell has been vindicated in the issue about carved musk ox horns he received from an artist in Nome after a 2010 subsistence hunt.

Craig Medred has been writing articles for the Alaska Dispatch suggesting Bell broke the law against removing intact horns from the game management unit.

But based on an email from a state trooper, Medred says, to his surprise, Bell acted according to regulations.

Medred sent CBS 11 News this email Friday: “It would appear that if you shoot a musk ox on a subsistence permit in the Nome area and simply give the horns away, someone can later mail you some musk ox horns and all is fine as long as you don't know what horns you're getting.”

Democratic Senator Hollis French has been trying to use the horns as an issue against Bell, but he said Thursday he would stop.

Bell says he's done with the issue.

Troopers have closed their investigation.