TRIBAL MEMBERS UP OKLAHOMA GULCH

[bobcat]

In the Yakama's rules I don't see anything about a limit on deer or elk. Apparently they can kill male deer and elk year around with no limit. 

The Colville's have a limit of two deer per day on the "South Half" with no possession limit.   

On the "North Half" which is basically north of their reservation to the Canadian border, they are limited to three deer per season.

I don't believe the Colville's are allowed to hunt in Chelan County so that really doesn't apply to this discussion.

[cle elum bowhunter]

Wow, interesting reading.  No regulations on how many animals they can harvest.  If a cougar can kill one deer a week, 52 per year, how many can a yakima kill with a rifle?  Hell, they want aboriginal hunting rights, make them hunt with a bow.  Don't get me all spun up now, I'm at work and nobody wants me all grumpy.

[colockumelk]

Nobark, maybe this can be brought up in Ellensberg.  Would be nice if we could find this online so we could be more informed.  Maybe I'll have to email WDFW and ask them.

We're working on a group that is going to address these issues and force the WDFW to change their ways.  It's not so much the Yakama's fault although they do need to have better accountability of themselves, it's the WDFW that allows them to do this.  That website will help out.  You should message that to FrankDown so he can put it on our website.  cle elem hope you come to our meetings. 

[HawkenBob]

Colock, The treaty natives as co managers get what they want or they threaten with a federal lawsuits. The WDFW will absolutely not go against them. They do not have the budget to fight them in federal court. And once a lawsuit is threatend, the problem go's away.

The WDFW has no power to set there limits. Never has, never will. Why do you think tribal netting goes on so strong? The BIA and and a federal treaty protect against the state.

Not saying your group isnt going to work, or has crappy ideas, but to turn this you need to FORCE the Federal courts. Or Force the natives to police and allocate as you see fit. You wont force WDFW into anything but a tailtuck between there legs.

Doubt you'll get anywere with the state.

These problems go on here on the wet side too. The QIN got an extension to there already 8 month open season. I have relatives hunting Clearwater area this month.

You have from July to Dec to hunt. Why on earth would you need an extention?
Its crazy, but the natives got the state by there Church bells.

Do you have a plan of attack other than WDFW?

[HawkenBob]

My post above is best reflected if you think about allocation setting with the tribes and WDFW. Its always behind closed doors.

A BIG march of hunters to Olympia would be a good start. Make the public aware, backed by evidence. Get the news there ect.

A group of Oly penn guides and fisherman did this years ago on the Quiliute river. The media coverage was so strong the natives pulled there nets. It was a small win, but a few Steelies got by. But then they let up on the pressure and things went back to 6 day a week netting.

The pressure must be pushed so hard that the Federal gov takes notice.

Im probably preaching to the quire, but some dont really realise how one way'd this is...

[colockumelk]

Hawken that's basically our goal.  We're not just going to go attack.  Our plan is going to use alot of PR stuff.  We're gong to make the public aware and get pettitions signed and ell so loud that the federal government will hear us.  In any case the treaty states ....in common with the citizenry of the territories so the treaty is even on our side.  We're going to use an "eyes in the woods" program and video them with piles of rotting salmon and steelhead and truckloads of elk heads and deer and show the feds and everyone even the hippies how much wild game the use,waste and abuse.  I hope you join us. 

[colockumelk]

It souns like alot of you are just as angry as I am.  If you put half your actions into how much emotion you feel we will win. I hope to see all of you at our first meeting come March.  Maybe if the tribes hadn't abbused their privelages to hunt off the reservation and had done a better job (or at least tried) of policing their own and maybe if the WDFW had held them alittle bit more accountable they would be able to continue to have unlimited hunting off of their reservations.

But they have abused those privelages.  They kill more than is ethically and morally right.  They don't care about conservation although they try to act like they are the pioneers of conservation.  Their hunting practises are ethically and morally wrong.  Even if I could kill as many elk and deer as I would want I still wouldn't go out and kill all big bulls and just take their heads.  I doubt any of you would either.  The hunt from the roads and give the rest of their tribe a bad name. 

Well like all privelages that are abused we are about to take that away.  They can still hunt they will just have to abide by the same rules and regulations that we abide by.  It's time to pass some legislation to force these new rules and regulations.  It's time to pass some legislation to finally give the game wardens the legal right and power to finally do something about the poaching that goes on.  It's time that the WDFW and the tribes are finally held accountable and responsible for their actions.  It's time for proper, fair and ethical game management.  If you also believe in this then please come to our meeting.  Soon we will have our own website as well.  Also if you have any pictures or video of Indians harvesting game like we know is happening out there please send it to me or FrankDown.  If you know someone who has some pics or video get them and send them to us.  Together we will win.  But if all we do is talk and maybe send an email or two we will accomplish nothing.  Nothing like this has been tried before on the scale that we plan.  This will at least get the attention of the Feds and our PR campaign will shed a negative spotlight on the Tribes that don't police their own. 

[bam]

Colockumelk, just read poaching article in the local daily record.  Quotes wdf officials about some local poaching issues.  NO mention of any tribal unethical hunting.  If we could convince some of the local press people to shine the spotlight on the problem, Then maybe wdf would have to at least acknoledge the problem officially.  It seems no one wants to touch this with a 10' pole.  Hush ca$$ino benifits must speak loud!

[bobcat]

Casino benefits to who? They pay no taxes so it seems they only benefit the tribes.

[cle elum bowhunter]

Seems to me that when the treaty rights were granted back in the mid 1800's that I'll bet that weapons and methods of travel were significantly different which had less of an impact upon wildlife populations spread over such a large area.  Think about it, for horse travel from the heart of the Yakima res to Clockum would have taken a day at best.  Then to harvest(with a bow or primative firearm) an elk and transport it back to the family was quite a task, and one to be proud of.  Today, they jump 2 guys into a pickup truck, drive for 60-90 minutes, pull out the magnum and shoot 2-4 mature bucks or bulls off of the snow covered hillside.  Slide them down into the truck whole, and then have them hanging in the garage by mid-day.  Maybe the tribe needs to consider that technology over the last 150 years has changed their impact on wildlife and modify their own hunting regulations to promote sustainable harvest for all.  Besides, as we ALL know, the Rocky elk were introduced so should not be part of the Native treaty rights.  Again, just my .02 worth.

[colockumelk]

Colockumelk, just read poaching article in the local daily record.  Quotes wdf officials about some local poaching issues.  NO mention of any tribal unethical hunting.  If we could convince some of the local press people to shine the spotlight on the problem, Then maybe wdf would have to at least acknoledge the problem officially.  It seems no one wants to touch this with a 10' pole.  Hush ca$$ino benifits must speak loud!

Yeah I read that one.  It's going to be on our website.  I loved the picture they had of a "spike" it and claimed "this is an elk that poachers just shot and left". Actually it was a spike with a tiny little point on each side, so it was a hunter that made a mistake and left it so he wouldn't get in trouble.  Now that it's "true spike" only what do they think isn't going to happen? 

But yeah you're right there was absolutely no mention of tribal poaching or that large camp that goes up there and kills alot of bulls.  I was at the sportsmens show today and there was like maybe 12-15 bull elk racks.  Three of those was from the same guy.  He shot three bulls over 300.  All from this year.  That's just one guy.  He killed more elk in there by himself than all the special permits combined.  Oh by the way for those that are interested we're gong to release our website at the end of the week. 

[bornforhorns]

All of that( and they are admirable actions) OR close the roads period!

[haugenna]

Post the dates when we march on Olympia and I will be there and pass it on.  Can we talk to someone about a mass email to all?

[hunt4]

Casino benefits to who? They pay no taxes so it seems they only benefit the tribes.

   OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire is benefiting from more than $650,000 in campaign contributions from Indian tribes that hit the jackpot in 2005 when she killed a gambling compact potentially worth more than $140 million a year to the state.

[FrankDown]

Post the dates when we march on Olympia and I will be there and pass it on.  Can we talk to someone about a mass email to all?

We are working on this right now.  We will have an area that you can register and get emails and send emails to friends and what not if you wish.  Everything is just about finished and ready.  We're working on content and checking everything right now.