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May 01, 2013
Wisconsin Indian Tribe Authorizes Deer Hunting at Night - 7
by Tony Hansen
In late November, the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, which oversees the Chippewa tribes' treaty rights in Wisconsin, voted to authorize night hunting for deer by tribal members. To participate in the after-dark hunt, tribal members would be required to pass a marksmanship test. According to an Associated Press report, 74 members met those requirements but, thus far, none have applied for a night-hunting permit. But they might. And that has hunters and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources officials concerned. A little history here. In the 1800s, the Chippewa entered into a treaty with the U.S. Government that reserved the right for the tribes to hunt in a "ceded" territory that covers about 22,400 acres of northern Wisconsin. The tribes are allowed to set their own hunting and fishing regulations including season dates and bag limits. The tribes are allotted a percentage of all state-mandated quotas on fish and game. The law isn't entirely clear on whether tribal hunters are allowed to hunt on private lands not owned by them or the tribe outside of the recognized reservation boundaries. But public land is clearly on the table. In 1989, the tribes also attempted to incorporate night hunting for deer into their regulations stating that because the WDNR allowed night hunting for fox and coyotes, they should be allowed the same opportunity for deer. U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled that the hunt would present a risk to public safety and therefore was not allowable under the terms of the treaty. But the debate has been rekindled thanks to the Chippewa's recent decision to authorize the night hunts. Why now? Well, this doesn't seem to be a simple case of the tribes wanting to offer additional hunting opportunities to their members. Instead, it seems to be a case of tit for tat. The tribes are upset by the Wisconsin Legislature’s decision to hold a wolf hunt (which allows for night hunting) and its attempts to loosen mining laws. The tribes consider wolves to be sacred and they fear more relaxed mining laws will result in the establishment of a large-scale mining operation that would impact an area lake. Perhaps the tribes are truly interested in providing members with more opportunities to hunt and night hunting is an important part of their cultural history. I'm not a tribal member so I clearly don't know for sure. But the timing is interesting. When the Legislature was working on the mining regulations, the tribes made an announcement: The Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission authorized tribal members to target an elk, a species that state wildlife managers have had difficulty reintroducing. Now, on the heels of the state's wolf hunt, the tribe authorized night hunting for deer. I certainly don't pretend to know all of the background and history concerning a consent decree from the 1800s. Nor do I understand all of the cultural implications of the methods of take for tribal members. And, as a hunter, I'm not inclined to look fondly on playing a game with such stakes. |
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Comments (7)
Huntfishtrap,
No they are not, for the most part if they are tribal they hunt when and where they want. What makes it worse is that they do most of the violating. Violate by hunting on private land, their sense of entitlement is sickening. Land owners are constantly chasing or encountering tribal members on their (my) property. Most of the time the response is "we're tribal there's nothing you can do". Even though its illegal for them to be on private land they still do it. I've been trying for years to get our DNR and the tribal conservation officer to prosecute, to no avail. I've even contacted the director of Michigan's DNR to get involved, again no avail. Last year I had a 30-06 cartridge sitting on top of one of my salt licks and a gut pile 40 yds away. Wisc has opened pandoras box. Best of luck
AMMOHunter: Are the U.P. Indians doing that on their own hunting land? If so, you may not like it, but they have the right to manage it however they want.
Over the course of time this new policy will desimate the deer population. I live in the U.P. of Michigan and the local tribe here have hunting right from Sept 1 - Jan 1, 24/7. This is a huge reason why the U.P. deer population is virtualy gone. Wolves, coyote, and other predators dont compare to the carnage that the tribe puts on the deer. Trust me this is a bad policy, just give it time.
I don't have a problem with it, as long as they do it on their own lands. On public land, they should be required to follow the laws of the state however.
"But public land is clearly on the table." - Why do you think that is? It's pretty clear that this is not a "deer" isue it's a mining/money issue. We have lied to the Indian tribes for hundreds of years, we might as well just keep it up?
native Americans are granted all the rights of citizenship under our Constitution but don't necessarily have to follow some of our laws and regulations. I guess they want it both ways. They sell this sort of thing based on their "traditions". What a bunch of B.S.
Hi...
I know that Native Americans are granted some concessions when it comes to hunting and fishing.
If they are also imposed upon our public hunting lands, wouldn't that appear to be overstepping their authority...??
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)
Hi...
I know that Native Americans are granted some concessions when it comes to hunting and fishing.
If they are also imposed upon our public hunting lands, wouldn't that appear to be overstepping their authority...??
native Americans are granted all the rights of citizenship under our Constitution but don't necessarily have to follow some of our laws and regulations. I guess they want it both ways. They sell this sort of thing based on their "traditions". What a bunch of B.S.
I don't have a problem with it, as long as they do it on their own lands. On public land, they should be required to follow the laws of the state however.
Over the course of time this new policy will desimate the deer population. I live in the U.P. of Michigan and the local tribe here have hunting right from Sept 1 - Jan 1, 24/7. This is a huge reason why the U.P. deer population is virtualy gone. Wolves, coyote, and other predators dont compare to the carnage that the tribe puts on the deer. Trust me this is a bad policy, just give it time.
AMMOHunter: Are the U.P. Indians doing that on their own hunting land? If so, you may not like it, but they have the right to manage it however they want.
"But public land is clearly on the table." - Why do you think that is? It's pretty clear that this is not a "deer" isue it's a mining/money issue. We have lied to the Indian tribes for hundreds of years, we might as well just keep it up?
Huntfishtrap,
No they are not, for the most part if they are tribal they hunt when and where they want. What makes it worse is that they do most of the violating. Violate by hunting on private land, their sense of entitlement is sickening. Land owners are constantly chasing or encountering tribal members on their (my) property. Most of the time the response is "we're tribal there's nothing you can do". Even though its illegal for them to be on private land they still do it. I've been trying for years to get our DNR and the tribal conservation officer to prosecute, to no avail. I've even contacted the director of Michigan's DNR to get involved, again no avail. Last year I had a 30-06 cartridge sitting on top of one of my salt licks and a gut pile 40 yds away. Wisc has opened pandoras box. Best of luck
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)