Are sportsmen now willing to pay tribal members to hunt predators?

[Special T]

Commisioners are doing everything they can to reduce predator hunting. Comments have made to reduce bear tags from 2 to 1, reduce cougar quotas, or end the season, and eliminate coyote hunting. It is also quite likely that elk will go permitt only on the east side if not state wide. Elk herds are more that 20% below objective and the WDFW no longer has the tools, hound hunting, to reduce predation. Past Game Management Plans allowed such measures of hounds and more liberal season in areas below objective. The Commission won't allow this.

Some of you may be familiar with Foundation for Wildlife Management. F4wm.org. Are sportsmen at the point where will follow a model like this to pay tribal members to do the work that our department is unwilling or able to do? Some tribes are currently doing this to a degree on ceded hunting areas. Some could do more, and some tribes like the Yakimas have such a huge area that they could make a big difference if incentivised.

I am of the opinion that working inside the system of courts, the department, and legislature are not preventing the decimation of our herds. I belive a shot across the bow of anti hunting orgs and Comissioners is in order. An endeavor like this would require sportsmen opening up wallets and raising real money. Are we going to wait until the predators have eaten most of the deer and elk before we are motivated to do so? Are we willing to burry the hatchet for our frustration/envy/hate for certain tribes or tribal members that we feel take more than thier share? We should realize what half of ZERO is.

I would also entertain plans or other options besides wishing for the other side to come around.

[wolfbait]

It's too late in many areas of WA, on another note wolf hunting will not control the population, nor trapping.

Then there's the problem of WDFW just dumping more wolves in areas they think have a shortage of wolves, face it where wolves are concerned we are in a lose, lose situation.

[NWWA Hunter]

It's too late in many areas of WA, on another note wolf hunting will not control the population, nor trapping.

Then there's the problem of WDFW just dumping more wolves in areas they think have a shortage of wolves, face it where wolves are concerned we are in a lose, lose situation.

I do not believe this. Special t has a point and quite possibly the only answer to fix the problem.


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[jrebel]

I don’t know the answer the questions I’m about to ask, so don’t flame me!!! 

Are the tribes helping fight the current commission and decisions being made without listening to the game biologists?  Have the tribes spoken out about the new conservation vs preservation model?   What have the tribes done in recent years to fight for everyone’s hunting rights? 

Again….I don’t know the answer to the above questions and would need to know where the tribes stand before answering your initial question.   I have to believe the tribes carry a heavy voice with the state and elected officials and if they stood with hunters against what’s going on, things might change. 

[NOCK NOCK]

Isn't it in a hunters best interest to not kill wolves? Just another step backwards from a possibilty (slim as it may be) of delisting.





I'll jump on the getting flamed wagon.... Paying Natives to kill predators will allow the Natives to improve their hunting, while at the same time do nothing to improve the non-native's hunting.   Have we forgot about the commish goals?

[Platensek-po]

I don’t know the answer the questions I’m about to ask, so don’t flame me!!! 

Are the tribes helping fight the current commission and decisions being made without listening to the game biologists?  Have the tribes spoken out about the new conservation vs preservation model?   What have the tribes done in recent years to fight for everyone’s hunting rights? 

Again….I don’t know the answer to the above questions and would need to know where the tribes stand before answering your initial question.   I have to believe the tribes carry a heavy voice with the state and elected officials and if they stood with hunters against what’s going on, things might change.

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/nwifc-chair-weighs-in-on-wa-fwcs-draft-conservation-policy/

I think the tribes understand that without help from the state then everything goes down the toilet. They can manage for their pieces of land but if the animals don’t necessarily respect boundaries. They also know that as soon as they take it away from us they are next. It’s gunna be interesting and scary to see how this goes

[Special T]

Isn't it in a hunters best interest to not kill wolves? Just another step backwards from a possibilty (slim as it may be) of delisting.





I'll jump on the getting flamed wagon.... Paying Natives to kill predators will allow the Natives to improve their hunting, while at the same time do nothing to improve the non-native's hunting.   Have we forgot about the commish goals?

We know that anit hunting forces are not honest brokers in the discussion or negotiation. They move established goal posts at every opportunity through lawsuits and commission appointments and votes. I believe we have limited recompence within the rules, that are mostly favored/controlled by the Anti crowd. My question revolves around the desire of sportsmen to solve problems while thinking out side of the box. I am most interested in those that voted NO and their thoughts.

As to tribes only killing predators that have helped themselves... I know of at least one tribe that has instituted a cougar culling project  and has done so for some time now on land that all sportsmen can hunt. Does it help them? Sure it does but its public land and it also helps us. Many ceded hunting areas overlap with public hunting grounds. In talking with a couple of tribal biologists predator hunting isnt embraced by most tribal members. Im not sure of the reasoning but its not a widely embraced activity.  As an archer I have heard many an angry story about a tribal member pulling big bulls out the days before archery season. I understand. That same freedom or right that angers some can also be an asset. Anti hunting groups only fear the the tribes. TAKE ADVANTAGE of that. Tribes can use footholds snares, hounds or bait.  how many bitching sessions have we had on here about Indians doing XY or Z? plenty... My question is what does it take for sportsmen to turn the tables on our political enemies? Will you wait till ALL deer and elk are permit only? Will you be willing to wait and see which tribes tackle this problem on their own? How long do you think it would take for herds to rebuild once decimated? Keep in mind not all tribes are the same. Not all tribes are  pro predator control, Indians are not a homogeneous group.  Are you only willing to fight for deer permits in the North half above the Colville Rez because that tribe is willing to do something? The Walla Wall And Nez Perce dont seem concerned about elk numbers in the blues. The Yakimas have the largest area with hunting rights but dont seem have the funds or concern for ungulates across its range.  The west side has so many different tribes with a variety of interests and motivations that certainly cannot be summed up across their shared hunting areas.

I live in Skagit county. I remember when every Tarheal and Redneck had a dog box. As a Kid we picked up many a hound in the dead of night snowing and called the handler for them to pick up in the morning on our way back to Lake Cavanaugh. Sadly this is no longer the case. perhaps Im just a dreamer but I wish a bunch of those folks made friends with tribal guys and some one was carrying on the tradition and managment.

[jackelope]

Isn't it in a hunters best interest to not kill wolves? Just another step backwards from a possibilty (slim as it may be) of delisting.





I'll jump on the getting flamed wagon.... Paying Natives to kill predators will allow the Natives to improve their hunting, while at the same time do nothing to improve the non-native's hunting.   Have we forgot about the commish goals?

I’m pretty sure we’ve had the ability to delist wolves already and nothing has happened. They were already federally delisted and that got thrown out. So I’m not sure sticking to this mindset anymore makes sense. I used to think the same thing.

[buckfvr]

So you dont think the goverment isnt already heavily influencing tribal involvement where hunters and fishermen are concerned ?  Casinos, smoke shops, hunting/fishing historic tribal lands, ie. north half of Colville rez, Cowlitz river system AND its tributaries etc. ?  Collusion with the tribes is on going and well oiled.  Dont look forward to full blown OFFICIAL tribal support anytime soon.   

[jstone]

 

[jstone]

This state sucks.!!
The Democrats are destroying this state. Voters are just in lala land

[NWWA Hunter]

This state sucks.!!
The Democrats are destroying this state. Voters are just in lala land

Some of our strongest advocates for hunting and fishing have been democrats. We need to quit being so closed minded and find answers for the situation. Possibly it could be electing pro harvest democrats where republicans can not be elected where us idiots are wasting a vote.


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[snit]

Firstly, IF there was even going to be a "payment", it would have to be based on the definition of a "successful" hunt. Not just a bag of money for an extended amount of time with minimal results.

Relating the topic to PNW salmon/steelhead populations and interactions with predators over the last 25 years; some coastal tribes do practice predator control that affect their tribal fisheries, on both marine mammals and avian species. My understanding of the laws that apply to these specific situations are VERY minimal, but I do know that there's some instances where tribal member can practice predator control for these aforementioned critters. It is well above and beyond what non-Indian persons may partake in. (I.e. an Indian killing a seal/sealion near the mouth of the Quileute, Queets, or Quinault Rivers for example). I've heard several reports of my example over the last (2) decades, yet, along the Southern WA coast or the portion of the Columbia below Bonneville Dam to Ilwaco (where 100's of pinniped's reside in this 90-mile section of the Columbia) I've never heard mention of a tribal member performing "predator control" on a marine mammal (or birds). Yes, occasionally there's an isolated "unsolved" killing of a sealion, but I don't think it's relevant to my point.

My point is that the tribes take care of "their" resources to the best of their abilities; but if "they" really cared about "the salmon/steelhead" resources that are migrating along the WA Coast and up the Columbia as a whole, they would be the best group to challenge any of the federal laws (if needed) to control the insane amount of pinniped's that line the Lower Columbia awaiting the return of the anadromous fish...but they don't.

Therefore, I really don't believe that "hiring" Indians would be a long-term, positive solution to the predator problem. I think there's still a negative socio-stigma from the settlement of the West that taint's the tribe's overall management plans, and how they mesh with coordinating with "us"/("sportsman"). Also, in this State it appears that financial motivation for Treaty Tribes is quite passive, as I believe the current regimes have adopted the tribes quite well into their clutch (casino's, reservation fuel centers, tax free tobacco, etc).

[jason stevens]

I would absolutely pay tribal to hunt predators.  I'm all about supporting the effort. The tribes do a lot for the fisheries.  Hatcheries an other things.. in my opinion it's just like paying a guide if you choose to do so. Heck I've been buying all my fish the last few years from the nets because 1 the state never knows when there gonna shut down the season an 2 support.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Random thought, kinda close to topic.

Does anyone have any insight or idea why, since we are shared partners with the tribes why they do not have a slot or 2 seated on the Commission?

As has been said, what is done or not done outside the reservations still has an impact on them, at least to some degree I would think.