Letter Regarding Colockum Elk - The Reel News "The Tribes Killed Elk"

[chukarchaser]

Ii am not sure if the Colockum is ceded, however the version I have been told is that The Yakima's warned WDFW that they would hunt this herd hard if the WDFW opened a area somewhere down by Yakima. 

I had hoped that this issue would have come to the forefront when Jerry Gutzwiler got on the commission. This is happening in his backyard but alas it goes on every year to greater and greater degrees.

[NWTFhunter]

What do you mean if they opened an area down by Yakima

[chukarchaser]

I heard there was some area that was previously not open to non tribal hunting and WDFW opened this small area up.  I have never hunted the Yakima herd so the country is unfamiliar to me and I do not remember anything else.  As a longtime Colockum hunter this situation has gotten increasing worse every year for about the last five years.

[bobcat]

I believe this is the area you are speaking of:

Elk Area No. 3068 Klickitat Meadows (Yakima County): Beginning at Darland Mountain, southeast along the main divide between the Diamond Fork drainage and the Ahtanum Creek drainage to the point due west of the headwaters of Reservation Creek (Section 18, T12N, R14E); then along a line due west to Spencer Point (as represented in the DNR 100k map); northeast from Spencer Point to US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 1136; north along USFS Trail 1136 to USFS Trail 615; east on USFS Trail 615 to Darland Mountain and the point of beginning.

[chukarchaser]

That does soundl like the area. 

I hate what is going on in the Colockum, and I am even more upset with the fact that the commision knows what is gong on and does nothing to even attempt to resolve it.  It makes one wonder if hte goal is not to eliminate the heard and turn the area into more orchards. 

[Charlie]

I believe Americans are Americans and should be treated as such. There should be no separation when it comes to rights and priveledges. If we are all equal, we should be treated the same and enjoy the the same rights and priveledges. 

[Ridgerunner]

Guys the reality is letter writing isn't going to do anything, the state isn't going to stand up to the tribes. IMO the only hope is to gather enough hard evidence through photos and videos and turn one of the major media outlets onto the story.  Then the negative publicity might have a chance of doing some good, becuase even non hunters will recognize this for what its worth.

[loveipabeer]

We are the State. If we stand up then the state stands up.

Somebody write a nice little 2-paragraph email summarizing our position and post it to this link.

When this nice somebody does write that 2 paragraph email, we can copy and paste it into an email and forward it to the "public" servant of our choice.

This is a quick and paineless excercise the gets results and it's also one of the most important things that we and Hunt WA can do.

[NWTFhunter]

I think thats the one thing the people of this nation have forgotten.  These people work for us. Not us working for them.  Thats from the top to the bottom, and people today just dont think that a mass flodding of opion can change anything.  Well we need to stand up on this issue and say we have had enough of our wildlife wasted. And that we demand a change in the hunting regulations.
I nor you can force anyone to send an email or letter to the gov, or the wdfg. But if you value your hunting you need to stand up and be counted damn it.

[SuperDave]

Sad situation, a sign of the times!  Do they have to cross private ground to access this area?  Dig the road up!   I feel this is a battle we sportsman are not gonna win, until something is drastically changed.

[logger]

  I know it's a ,long shot but man this pisses me off more than an ex-wife

[bobcat]

Do they have to cross private ground to access this area?  Dig the road up! 

There is public access to the Colockum, but I don't understand why the state can't simply gate the entire area and ban the use of any motorized vehicles. Indians aren't going to hunt somewhere they can't drive.

[logger]

I am no marathon runner but truer words have never been spoken.

[dbllunger]

bobcat I have been saying the same thing.  Last commission meeting I brought this up This was the reply I got.  "All the roads are not ours to control, and many are controlled by DNR, Forrest Service and others.  Many of those roads are needed in case of fire and other forest/ground maintenance needs."  My next question was...Do you not think if the WDFW requested the roads to be closed that you would not get cooperation from the other agencies?  "Well I really don't know, but it is something that can be considered"  I also gave them a simple suggestion to dig up the roads at key locations to prevent motorized traffic.  "Well what about the fire issue"  My question to a question was what is the first piece of machinery on most fires, and are sitting waiting to respond while we pay for them?  "I don't know..maybe water trucks"  No the first piece of machinery is a Dozer, and if the road is burmed on the entry side all they have to do is push in the ditch in a minute and the road is totally useable.  "We will have to see if that is feasible".  That was brought up a few years ago when the Clockum slaughter started.  Seen anything done about it?  No..Neither have I.  I finished up with saying that groups like RMEF and MDF would gladly install gates if allowed to.  Again same answer. 

[bobcat]

Fires? That's the excuse? Heck, fire is what is needed in many areas to rejuvenate wildlife habitat. Close the roads, let the fires burn. It's better than letting a few tribal members wipe out the entire Colockum elk herd.