Melnikov says the re-creation of the Hunting Department, for which he is hiring 40 people, will have far-reaching benefits for hunting in Russia. As director, his next top priority is to sort out all of the old hunting regulations still on the books since the Communist government was in power. Melnikov says many of the problems experienced the last couple of years are the direct result of conflicting old and new legislation.
Melnikov says he is also creating regional hunting departments throughout the expanse of Russia to facilitate and implement new procedures and regulations. You may recognize Melnikov as a principal from the hunting company Profi-hunt. Melnikov left the company last year to take a position in the Ministry of Agriculture when political infighting threatened the future of the hunting industry in Russia.
On a less positive note, if you plan to hunt Kamchatka or some other far-eastern part of Russia this year, be aware that no airline has stepped in yet to pick up the Anchorage, Alaska/Kamchatka, Russia route that Magadan Air flew before going bankrupt last year. At press time there was the possibility that the route........(continued)
