SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - The 9th Circuit upheld a federal decision to allow a rural Alaskan community to harvest moose, despite the state's stricter hunting regulations.
The state of Alaska challenged the decision of the Federal Subsistence Board, which allowed Chistochina residents a "customary and traditional" use to harvest moose.
The state wanted the 93 residents of the community to harvest moose in a more restricted area than the board wanted to allow.
Judge Tashima saw no reason to substitute his opinion, ruling that the hunting restrictions were not violated.
"A (customary and traditional) determination does not limit nonsubsistence use," the judge ruled, "it simply allows for subsistence use."
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