tribal killing of elk

[ICEMAN]

Never heard of it?

I have heard of it, I know it occurs. Many, many tribal members are adjudicated at tribal courts. No record of tribal proceedings is ever forwarded to have any of this information added to their criminal record. For many tribal members, no criminal record even exists. This is not the norm for non-members.

[colvilletacoma]

Where do you get your information from?

[ICEMAN]

Let's just say I work in a related field.

[HardCorpsHuntr]

colvilletacoma said;
"No we have to pay infractions, citations, anything just like everyone else. Trust me I had 6 speeding tickets in 1 year. Yes I carry full coverage and yes you have to pay tickets on the rez but I dont believe they go on your record for members or non-members."


The infractions you are issued by tribal police on the reservation must be responded to by all.  Non-tribal LEO can not issue infractions to members on the reservation.  Non-tribal LEO's can issue infraction on SR's and Istate's in the reservation to non-tribal members (most all of us).  Like mentioned above, off the reservation. we're all equal (with exception to hunting and fishing obviously.)

Welcome colvilletacoma.

[colvilletacoma]

Whats your related field? Why is it that tribal game wardens are letting a non-member that shot a porcupine our our reservation off with a $5,000 fine and he is still complaining about it. They could of bumped it up to a federal offense which I believe is $25,000 and up to 5 years in prison. Seems like both sides get let off easy, doesnt it?

[colvilletacoma]

Also all my tickets were off reservation. In spokane county and lincoln county to be exact. I have never got a ticket on the reservation as I am sure many of you havent. Most tribal cops wont issue tickets that often. And yes as stated above non-tribal police, cops, whatever can issue tickets on highways, interstates, etc. to non-members but if a tribal member gets pulled over by a non-tribal cop he can ask to have a tribal cop come and it will then be handed over to the tribal cop

[Grizzly95]

The chances of change are poor at best.  In 1995 I was a wildlife biology student at WSU and came home on the weekends and volunteered to feed elk at Oak Creek with John McGowan.  One weekend I'm home feeding elk up the Nile feed station and actually saw two Yakamas loading up two very nice 6pt bulls that they had killed right on the feed station on the old hay from the day before.  When I pulled up in the WDFW truck, the first thing out of thier mouths was "I'm indian, here is my tribal card."  then they asked me to help them load the animals in their truck.  I nearly reached out the window and strangled the guy with my bare hands.  Long story short, me and the county prosocutor tried to prosocute for close to 4 years, until it was finally thrown out of court.  So even if you catch them breaking the law, and follow the proper route to justice, they are basically untouchable except, by long range lead!  I would never do it, but I know some very pissed off rednecks, that if they were caught in the right mood, you'd find a truck with 3 dead indians in it]

Do you remember exactly where that was at? Up behind the woodshed restaurant?

[bobcat]

Whats your related field? Why is it that tribal game wardens are letting a non-member that shot a porcupine our our reservation off with a $5,000 fine and he is still complaining about it. They could of bumped it up to a federal offense which I believe is $25,000 and up to 5 years in prison. Seems like both sides get let off easy, doesnt it?

That's getting "let off easy?"     A 5 THOUSAND dollar fine for a porcupine, not even a protected species?  Did I read that right? Wow I sure wish the indian "poachers" were taken as seriously as a porcupine poacher on tribal lands!

Geez, I think I would be complaining too if I was a guy that got a $5000 fine for shooting a porcupine!

[colvilletacoma]

The porcupine is a federally protected species, meaning if he shot it off the reservation he could of served jail time and up to a $25,000 fine I believe

[ICEMAN]

The facts are this.

Non members face federal charges for poaching on rez.

Tribal members face nothing for breaking game laws off reservation.

Lets not try to make things sound as all things are even. They are not.

[colvilletacoma]

That may be but the guy was let off just as easy and a tribal member would of been. Correct? If he was off the reservation and was caught by a game warden he would of been in deep *censored*.

[runamuk]

Whats your related field? Why is it that tribal game wardens are letting a non-member that shot a porcupine our our reservation off with a $5,000 fine and he is still complaining about it. They could of bumped it up to a federal offense which I believe is $25,000 and up to 5 years in prison. Seems like both sides get let off easy, doesnt it?

Hey forgot to say   welcome to the site.

My interest isn't just who gets what privileges its why the heck are laws not being upheld.  A poacher is a poacher and all should be treated the same, american, tribal, illegal, etc.... A law breaker is a law breaker so again the same for all.  I hate to see new laws being drafted because existing ones aren't being enforced, so do we need to pressure enforcement?  I think so, and actually if some tribes are cracking down on this poor behavior they also can put pressure on the tribes that are be lax......those tribes make all tribes look bad....

I get real tired of the "our hands are tied" so some legislator or special interest group decides to fix the problem with more bunk laws that only punish those who are law abiding.  

The way I see it if you know someone is poaching there is a good chance they aren't following other rules so nail them on those, make their life difficult, they may not get the book thrown at them but if they keep getting busted either it may get noticed or they might give up due to it no longer being easy.

[bobcat]

That may be but the guy was let off just as easy and a tribal member would of been. Correct? If he was off the reservation and was caught by a game warden he would of been in deep *censored*.

No he would not have been "in deep *censored*" because porcupines are not a protected species, not on a state level, and not on a federal level. I've shot several of them.

[colvilletacoma]

Exactly runamuk, if someone is breaking the law its wrong and it should be enforced. Im not saying that Native Americans off the reservation shouldnt be punished the same as any poacher because they should. The law is the law. Im just trying to get both sides of it out on the table, seems to be one sided. Maybe the Yakimas need to crack down harder on their members but im not a yakima. Everyone has the right to be mad. I dont like to see poaching off or on the reservation.

[ICEMAN]

As a non-tribal, what would happen to me if I took my 50cal and killed and wasted a whale off the coast?  What if I endangered the lives of countless nearby fishermen?