Year round Bull Elk season

[blindluck]

Have had multiple experiences coming across Native Americans with Bulls in the back of their pickups during the spring and summer. Just happened again last weekend. A buddy ran into a pickup with a 3 point bull loaded up. They said it’s open year round for anything with visible antlers. Our experience discussing this with the wardens felt more like they were annoyed with us talking about it then having any issues with it. Just doesn’t seem right here in 2021. What say you?

[trophyhunt]

Pictures? I believe you but pictures always help in these situations. Yes, even if some tribes have year round seasons, if someone pass’s gass, they can go kill something. Anyway, before this thread gets locked, where were you? And please tell me you pulled out your cell phone and got pics? Not that they broke any laws, most likely they didn’t, but pics are nice.

[rtspring]

The WHITE man gave them those rights.... 

Yes, they can shoot bulls year around. 

[blindluck]

No pictures, but the warden was very aware. It was the Colockum

[Jellymon]

...

[Rainier10]

I don't think it is right but it is their right.  (See what I did there?)

I will say that I think there is just as big of a problem from the non native side.  I think if you stop illegal harvest by non natives you would see game numbers increase.  Once we get people to follow the rules and seasons in place we can look at the abuse by tribal members exercising their rights.

I look at it this way.  Everyone says our moose populations are hurting and yet every member on here that draws a moose tag this year is going to do everything they can to harvest a moose.  Every permit holder last year and the year before did the same thing.  Why?  Because they had a tag, they had the right and they wanted to fill that tag, exercise that right before their were no more moose to hunt or the opportunity was taken away.

Our elk are in the same spot.  Is it because of tribal overharvest or is it because everyone that has an OTC spike tag or special permit bull or cow tag this year is going to do their best to fill it?  If people feel so strongly about the numbers of elk and moose we have don't fill your tag.  People that are against hunting do it all the time. They buy tags they never intend to use.  Control what you can.  Right now there is nothing that you can do about tribal rights. ( I did it again) 

You can control what you do, make the personal decision to not exercise your right to harvest an elk OTC or with that coveted special permit but don't hunt and then complain that someone else is exercising their right.  Don't exercise yours and someone should exercise theirs less so you can enjoy yours more.

[jackelope]

The second that this thread gets out of hand with personal attacks and such(it will), it goes away.

Just a warning before it happens. It's not our first rodeo.

 

[Mtnwalker]

I don't think it is right but it is their right.  (See what I did there?)

I will say that I think there is just as big of a problem from the non native side.  I think if you stop illegal harvest by non natives you would see game numbers increase.  Once we get people to follow the rules and seasons in place we can look at the abuse by tribal members exercising their rights.

I look at it this way.  Everyone says our moose populations are hurting and yet every member on here that draws a moose tag this year is going to do everything they can to harvest a moose.  Every permit holder last year and the year before did the same thing.  Why?  Because they had a tag, they had the right and they wanted to fill that tag, exercise that right before their were no more moose to hunt or the opportunity was taken away.

Our elk are in the same spot.  Is it because of tribal overharvest or is it because everyone that has an OTC spike tag or special permit bull or cow tag this year is going to do their best to fill it?  If people feel so strongly about the numbers of elk and moose we have don't fill your tag.  People that are against hunting do it all the time. They buy tags they never intend to use.  Control what you can.  Right now there is nothing that you can do about tribal rights. ( I did it again) 

You can control what you do, make the personal decision to not exercise your right to harvest an elk OTC or with that coveted special permit but don't hunt and then complain that someone else is exercising their right.  Don't exercise yours and someone should exercise theirs less so you can enjoy yours more.

OTC harvest not doing much damage to the elk numbers these days.. but I digress 

[NRA4LIFE]

A couple of honest questions here, do the tribal hunters have to report their kills?  And if so, are those numbers made public?

[hunter399]

I don't think it is right but it is their right.  (See what I did there?)

I will say that I think there is just as big of a problem from the non native side.  I think if you stop illegal harvest by non natives you would see game numbers increase.  Once we get people to follow the rules and seasons in place we can look at the abuse by tribal members exercising their rights.

I look at it this way.  Everyone says our moose populations are hurting and yet every member on here that draws a moose tag this year is going to do everything they can to harvest a moose.  Every permit holder last year and the year before did the same thing.  Why?  Because they had a tag, they had the right and they wanted to fill that tag, exercise that right before their were no more moose to hunt or the opportunity was taken away.

Our elk are in the same spot.  Is it because of tribal overharvest or is it because everyone that has an OTC spike tag or special permit bull or cow tag this year is going to do their best to fill it?  If people feel so strongly about the numbers of elk and moose we have don't fill your tag.  People that are against hunting do it all the time. They buy tags they never intend to use.  Control what you can.  Right now there is nothing that you can do about tribal rights. ( I did it again) 

You can control what you do, make the personal decision to not exercise your right to harvest an elk OTC or with that coveted special permit but don't hunt and then complain that someone else is exercising their right.  Don't exercise yours and someone should exercise theirs less so you can enjoy yours more.

I'm just gonna throw this out there as far as permits vs native hunting regulations.
To wait 10-20 years to draw a moose tag,or bull tag and not hunt it ,is crazy talk.
There is a pretty big difference in regulated hunting,harvest reporting-vs-year round season with very liberal bag limits.
Yes I do agree it there right according to the treaty.
But I didn't see anything in the treaty about casinos and other stuff that can be regulated in a way to encourage natives to comply with,harvest reports,bag limits,and a little more conservative seasons.
Natives would still regulate themselves just like they do now.
If that casino operating liences was on the line,tribal members would be Alot less likely to look the other way.
And in turn enforce a more conservative game policy.

[Rainier10]

A couple of honest questions here, do the tribal hunters have to report their kills?  And if so, are those numbers made public?

Some tribes do and some don't.  I have seen the document from a group of tribes that do report, I think it was a report on like 20 something tribes.

[hunter399]

I guess what I'm really trying to say in my above statement.
There are ways of encouraging natives to take a little more conservative path. And still be within the laws of the treaty.
They would still have all the rights they have now,exempt from wildlife laws all that and self govern by there own people.

[Rainier10]

I always try to come back to "operation cody" and how many animals are getting taken out of season by non natives and that is just what one game warden wrote about.  How many others were taken that nobody knows about.

The OP talks about elk in the back of trucks that are visible.  Why are they visible?  Because it is their right to harvest them and take them home.  The people in operation cody didn't have those rights.  They didn't get caulk because they had an elk in the back of their truck in the drive thru at McDonald's.  They did it so nobody would see them but they still did it.

People are upset at the tribal harvest because they can see it.  I assure you there is just as much overharvest by non natives that you don't see.

[Rainier10]

I guess what I'm really trying to say in my above statement.
There are ways of encouraging natives to take a little more conservative path. And still be within the laws of the treaty.
They would still have all the rights they have now,exempt from wildlife laws all that and self govern by there own people.

I agree 100% and think it would be great if they/a very select few would take a little less.  It would improve things for all user groups IMO but I totally understand them not wanting to give an inch.

[johnbmyersii]

I always try to come back to "operation cody" and how many animals are getting taken out of season by non natives and that is just what one game warden wrote about.  How many others were taken that nobody knows about.

The OP talks about elk in the back of trucks that are visible.  Why are they visible?  Because it is their right to harvest them and take them home.  The people in operation cody didn't have those rights.  They didn't get caulk because they had an elk in the back of their truck in the drive thru at McDonald's.  They did it so nobody would see them but they still did it.

People are upset at the tribal harvest because they can see it.  I assure you there is just as much overharvest by non natives that you don't see.

I dont completely disagree but one single non-native doesnt get to go shoot 3 bull elk and 2 mule deer bucks on the firing center in one week. The times I've been on the firing center during the winter I look at the sign-out sheet and the amount of animals getting taken out of there every week by the natives is insane and there is a log book at the check-in station you can look at and see the evidence first hand