Dangerous Precedent- DNR Gives Gate Keys To Tribes for Bear Hunting, What's Next

[THunt]

That is the biggest crock I have every heard of.

[rebal69972]

why cant we all join a tribe. problem solved.

I'm registered native American and i don't get all these perks but I'm from another part of the country and there we have to follow the same rules as everyone alse and it works just fine 

[bearpaw]

Update from Representative Brian Blake:

Dale, I just got off the phone with DFW enforcement and our fears are justified. It is considered lawful for tribal hunters to bait and or use hounds or use body gripping traps on open and unclaimed land {forest service, DNR} that is within their usual and accustomed areas or ceded lands. This can only be changed by Congressional action. The keys for access can be influenced at the State level and I will continue to pursue that issue so that we all may have equal access.
Rep. Brian Blake

[stw]

Ya my friend talks to Dnr all the time . Dnr wanted a spring bear hunt wardens in 460 said thier wasn't enough evidents on damage and blow Dnr off so they gave the key to the tribes

[bucklucky]

It sounds to me that since the WDFW hasn't reduced bear damage that the DNR is bypassing state management and using the tribe. This is the way it was explained to me, not sure of the details, but I forwarded the same info to a few people who will likely check into the situation.

The WDFW hands are somewhat tied because public hunters are not able to use baiting or hounds due to the initiative which was passed several years ago by voters. Legislators have not overturned that vote so it stands. Tribes are not bound by those restrictions, so it appears the DNR is bypassing WDFW management of wildlife.

However, if bear are such a problem there, was there additional spring tags issued? 

Ruth just called me and that is exactly how she explained it to me.That we as non tribal members are bound by the no bait or hounds but tribal members are not so that is how the dnr is taking care of peeling.Ruth said they are very dissapointed with dnr decision are trying to come up with better ways to manage the problem.Aka more permits    or longer seasons

I know on private land, timber companies can use individuals to hound hunt on bear damage permits. Thise individuals dont have to be tribal. That might not be the case on DNR land. DNR might have to use tribal members because of some rule they have.

My guess is the DNR has quite a problem with bear damage and lots of damaged trees. They needed to find a solution immediately, so they went to the tribe to take out some problem bears. You can say they could have done more permit hunts and other options, but the fact is hound hunting is the most effective way to kill bears. Especially problem bears.

Some of the worst damage areas I have found was on DNR land and they would never issue us a permitt to run the dogs . Said they dont issue permitss for state land?? That was 5-6 years ago when I had my last Depredation permitt for bears. ??

[bigtex]

Ya my friend talks to Dnr all the time . Dnr wanted a spring bear hunt wardens in 460 said thier wasn't enough evidents on damage and blow Dnr off so they gave the key to the tribes

I want to clarify this. It wasn't WDFW Officers ("wardens") that said there wasn't enough damage evidence. It was most likely the local wildlife biologists that came to that conclusion. WDFW Officers don't really get involved in the biological/scientific issues like they did 20 years ago, they are strictly law enforcement. And also, the area that DNR is giving the keys to the tribe is located in GMU 454

[Gamblin Guy]

Tex,

There is one WDFW Officer in the 460 area that is very bear friendly and may have some influence on what stw has stated.  Not saying that is normal, just know from first hand experience with this particular officer that he is very enamoured with bears.

[buckhorn2]

And while they are in there what happens if a nice buck or a big bull elk walks across is it bear only or can they shoot what ever they want.

[stw]

Thier are to main gates one is off of 18 and i90 and one is off of x27 to the right. That take u to the towers witch are in 460 east side of 18 before raging river is in 460

[bigtex]

And while they are in there what happens if a nice buck or a big bull elk walks across is it bear only or can they shoot what ever they want.

Well if it is their legal (open) season then they have the ability to shoot the animal legally under tribal laws.

[bigtex]

Thier are to main gates one is off of 18 and i90 and one is off of x27 to the right. That take u to the towers witch are in 460 east side of 18 before raging river is in 460

That's true, I was just saying that not all this area is 460

[pianoman9701]

There are two different issues here, tribal access and bait/hound hunting.

We can't hound/bait hunt because of a public vote in '96. That can't be rescinded without another vote, possibly legislative action. I don't see the legislature overturning a bill passed by the people, as they're unpopular enough.

The tribes hunt under federal treaties and I would imagine that's why DNR is choosing to offer them the hunts, because there's less paperwork and less a chance of the voters in the state to cry "foul".

I'm not a big fan of the DNR in all of its decisions, but this appears to be a more simple solution for a bear damage problem than otherwise available.

If this doesn't work for you, start a petition to get hounds/bait hunting back on the ballot or find a reason the law is unconstitutional and can be overturned by the state supreme court. Just my

[True Sportsman]

It sounds to me that since the WDFW hasn't reduced bear damage that the DNR is bypassing state management and using the tribe. This is the way it was explained to me, not sure of the details, but I forwarded the same info to a few people who will likely check into the situation.

The WDFW hands are somewhat tied because public hunters are not able to use baiting or hounds due to the initiative which was passed several years ago by voters. Legislators have not overturned that vote so it stands. Tribes are not bound by those restrictions, so it appears the DNR is bypassing WDFW management of wildlife.

However, if bear are such a problem there, was there additional spring tags issued? 

Ruth just called me and that is exactly how she explained it to me.That we as non tribal members are bound by the no bait or hounds but tribal members are not so that is how the dnr is taking care of peeling.Ruth said they are very dissapointed with dnr decision are trying to come up with better ways to manage the problem.Aka more permits    or longer seasons

I know on private land, timber companies can use individuals to hound hunt on bear damage permits. Thise individuals dont have to be tribal. That might not be the case on DNR land. DNR might have to use tribal members because of some rule they have.

My guess is the DNR has quite a problem with bear damage and lots of damaged trees. They needed to find a solution immediately, so they went to the tribe to take out some problem bears. You can say they could have done more permit hunts and other options, but the fact is hound hunting is the most effective way to kill bears. Especially problem bears.

Some of the worst damage areas I have found was on DNR land and they would never issue us a permitt to run the dogs . Said they dont issue permitss for state land?? That was 5-6 years ago when I had my last Depredation permitt for bears. ??

That is rather interesting. I never knew that no permits for state land. I didn't know you did damage permits either. That is pretty cool.

It sounds like the only option the DNR had would be the tribe to get rid of those problem bears. It seems like their hands are tied in some instances... I say good for the DNR to find a loophole and use it. I just hope the tribe conducts themselves professionally and respectfully.

[PlateauNDN]

why cant we all join a tribe. problem solved.

I'm registered native American and i don't get all these perks but I'm from another part of the country and there we have to follow the same rules as everyone alse and it works just fine 

If you don't mind me asking which Tribe are you "registered" with? 

It sounds to me that since the WDFW hasn't reduced bear damage that the DNR is bypassing state management and using the tribe. This is the way it was explained to me, not sure of the details, but I forwarded the same info to a few people who will likely check into the situation.

The WDFW hands are somewhat tied because public hunters are not able to use baiting or hounds due to the initiative which was passed several years ago by voters. Legislators have not overturned that vote so it stands. Tribes are not bound by those restrictions, so it appears the DNR is bypassing WDFW management of wildlife.

However, if bear are such a problem there, was there additional spring tags issued? 

Ruth just called me and that is exactly how she explained it to me.That we as non tribal members are bound by the no bait or hounds but tribal members are not so that is how the dnr is taking care of peeling.Ruth said they are very dissapointed with dnr decision are trying to come up with better ways to manage the problem.Aka more permits    or longer seasons

I know on private land, timber companies can use individuals to hound hunt on bear damage permits. Thise individuals dont have to be tribal. That might not be the case on DNR land. DNR might have to use tribal members because of some rule they have.

My guess is the DNR has quite a problem with bear damage and lots of damaged trees. They needed to find a solution immediately, so they went to the tribe to take out some problem bears. You can say they could have done more permit hunts and other options, but the fact is hound hunting is the most effective way to kill bears. Especially problem bears.

Some of the worst damage areas I have found was on DNR land and they would never issue us a permitt to run the dogs . Said they dont issue permitss for state land?? That was 5-6 years ago when I had my last Depredation permitt for bears. ??

That is rather interesting. I never knew that no permits for state land. I didn't know you did damage permits either. That is pretty cool.

It sounds like the only option the DNR had would be the tribe to get rid of those problem bears. It seems like their hands are tied in some instances... I say good for the DNR to find a loophole and use it. I just hope the tribe conducts themselves professionally and respectfully.

This topic has had a lot of good debate and it would be nice if people didn't just jump to conclusions and start ringing Tribes by the neck.  A loophole was found and exploited, doesn't sound any different than the Antelope Re-introduction project down here on the Yakama Reservation.  A loophole was found and exploited.  It does play on the grounds of being unfair but still legal?  As far as officers being the ones to make the decisions on if there is a bear problem highly unlikely.  As mentioned before it was highly likely that it was a biologist that made that decision.  That would be like a patrol officer having say on his/her shooting board for using deadly force.  Not going to happen.  Those types of decisions are left up to the admins. or elected officials.

[uncoolperson]

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