Colockum and Yakima Hunters Unite.

[Gobble]

I KNOW THER IS NOT MUCH WE CAN DO.  BUT MAY BE WE AS STATE WIDE HUNTERS COULD STAY OUT OF THERE TRIBAL CACENO'S IN PROTEST UNTEL THE TRIBAL COUNCEL TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM.  OR MAY WE COULD DO WHAT THE GAME DEPARTMENT DID AFTER THE SLATER IN THE LATE 60'S AND SCATTER HURDS AND MAKE IT HARD FOR THEM TO HUNT
 
THANKS

Welcome to the site. I couldn't agree more STAY OUT OF THE CASINOS. This is giving them great revenue and power to flex their muscles.

[colockumelk]

Muleyguy I think also where people failed is most have tried to change the treaty itself.  It's a federal thing and most likely that wont change.  The only way we could hope to change or ammend the treaty is through public pressure ie boycotting their casinos etc or so much negative opinion their way that they agree to ammend the treaty.  My goal is to 1. enforce the laws that are already there.  2. Actually close the roads that are already closed using kelly dips and gates instead of relying on peoples honesty.  3. to make new laws that will regulate their harvests.  A good example is how the tribes regulate their sheep tags.  I have no problem allowing all Indians to hunt off the reservation as long as they follow the same regs we do.  We can even give them free tags.  Also like the sheep in order for them to shoot a branch bull they must get drawn.  With the sheep tags there are special tags reserved for Indians so obviously it would be easier for them to draw a branch bull tag than it would be for you and me.  I think that this would be perfectly fair.

[Wenatcheejay]

You know I am beginning to wonder who is more absurd WDFW or the Tribes? Can you really blame the Tribes for not wanting to deal with people who mismanage things so badly? Don't get me wrong I do get upset about things but seriously, with the latest rule changes I am beginning to think that we are going about this the wrong way. Maybe we need to look at the Tribes taking everything over and we buy tags from them. Really, I MEAN IT! I am to the point of giving up hunting in Washington. This may be my last year of buying tags; They win.

[rougheye]

You know I am beginning to wonder who is more absurd WDFW or the Tribes? Can you really blame the Tribes for not wanting to deal with people who mismanage things so badly? Don't get me wrong I do get upset about things but seriously, with the latest rule changes I am beginning to think that we are going about this the wrong way. Maybe we need to look at the Tribes taking everything over and we buy tags from them. Really, I MEAN IT! I am to the point of giving up hunting in Washington. This may be my last year of buying tags; They win.

WOW , giving up huh ?  As absurd as that sounds im starting to feel the same way . The WDFW just took the lead over the tribes . 

[Wenatcheejay]

The only reason to hunt this state at all is that I am here. Out of State tags are expensive. But, you know I just bought licences tags for my son and I. It was over $200.00. For what? This type of drama? By the time you add gas, food, time off work, it is really not that big of a deal to add a few hundred for tags in a State with far better game management. WDFW doesn't care. Our State Government doesn't care. Sometimes you have to ask if the battle is worth fighting even if one is right? A couple of people splitting costs makes out of state seem like the logical choice. I am a bulldog for what is right but when I think of what a fight would be for, "true spike rules?" The new bear rules, coyote, and cougar rules? Deer unit closures? Of course not for them, (Indians & poachers) just us. Even if they disappeared, WDFW has made it (hunting) a "see and don't shoot." Or, "don't see don't shoot" situation. I think many people will agree after this season. It will only go down hill from here so long as the political engine that is bringing about these changes continues. (And it ain't gonna change through democracy.)

[colockumelk]

That's why we are creating a united front.  Democracy can solve things but if they scoff at our "requests" then it's time to play hard ball and make the requests into demands.   A few angry letters here and there wont solve anything.  Shoot they probably don't even read them any more.  No we have to launch a PR campaign and get pettitions signed and actually make our actions as loud as our words.  If it comes down to it I fully support a boycott of buying and hunting or fishing tags.  Lets see how the WDFW likes it when their budget is cut in half.

[colockumelk]

Heres what the treaty says.

ARTICLE 3.
And provided, That, if necessary for the public convenience, roads may be run through the said reservation; and on the other hand, the right of way, with free access from the same to the nearest public highway, is secured to them; as also the right, in common with citizens of the United States, to travel upon all public highways.
The exclusive right of taking fish in all the streams, where running through or bordering said reservation, is further secured to said confederated tribes and bands of Indians, as also the right of taking fish at all usual and accustomed places, in common with the citizens of the Territory, and of erecting temporary buildings for curing them; together with the privilege of hunting, gathering roots and berries, and pasturing their horses and cattle upon open and unclaimed land.
 

What we are trying to do is not change the treaty.  This is what everyone has tried in the past.  Our goals are to launch a Public Relations campaign against the tribes.  We will use their unwillingness and inability to police their own members unethical hunting practises.  Utilizing volunteers with video cameras we will video their hunting camps and get pictures of their poaching and their kills.  Game camera's will help out alot as well.  In any case we will launch a PR campaign against them and also get a petition so that we can get on the 2010 state wide ballot in order to enact new laws that prohibit the unrestricted havesting of big game animals by the tribe.  With all the bad PR they will get this bill is bound to pass.  We already have a website we just don't know what to call it.  We need everyones help in getting some pics of poached animals or video anything we can put on our website.  We plan on having meetings within two months. 

We are not talking about taking away the right to hunt from the Native Tribes.  OUr new law would require them while hunting off their reservation to abide by the same rules and regulations that we must abide by. They would be given free licenses and could have their own special permits drawings.  This would be just like their program that allows them to hunt sheep.  They still get to hunt but they just wont be allowed to continue to decimate our big game herds. 

We are also looking at helping to close off the roads that are already closed.  I am not interested at this time about closing more roads just putting physical barriers in front of the ones that are already closed.  This would go along ways in preventing poaching. 

[Wenatcheejay]

Do they have to abide by fire closures?

[muleyguy]

"on the 2010 state wide ballot in order to enact new laws that prohibit the unrestricted havesting of big game animals by the tribe."

the state does not have jurisdiction over tribal members;  this is why a state law will not work.  If a state law was all that was required, it would have already been done.  Your first order of business should be to find an attorney who knows the jurisdictions and laws and has done work in this area before, he will be able to quickly tell you what your options are concerning the existing law and future laws.

the program to hunt sheep is a purely VOLUNTEER program on the part of the tribe. 

[muleyguy]

at the end of the day, unfortunately, this is your only real solution, to try and talk some sense into the tribe about responsible management of their own, unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be anything the Yakama tribe is interested in:

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/03/nation/na-treat

[colockumelk]

Muley you do alot of good research.  You should definately join us and help our fight.