Hanford Bulls

[Bigtine96]

I remain amazed at how our tribes here in the Pacific NW (Yakama, Mucklehoots, etc) are so different that tribes in the SW (White Mtn, San Carlos, Acoma, Jicarilla, Navajo, Jualapai, Havasupi, etc). There, they understand the importance of managing their elk and their reservation wildlife for multiple use...not only for tribal food sustenance but also for the ability to generate income for their tribe through the sale of a limited number of tags which gives non-tribal member hunters an opportunity to purchase limited and exclusive tags and the treasured chance to harvest large, quality elk, deer, bear, antelope, mtn lions, etc. in limited numbers. Here, and when it comes to elk, alot of these posts lead me to the conclusion that our tribes seem to have confused a treaty right with a license to slaughter whatever, whenever and wherever they want (including closed areas like the Hanford Reservation), almost rubbing all non-tribal hunters' noses in it in their quest for killing what seems to be just for sake of killing.

Excellent post

It really is sad to hear stories of all the big bulls getting slaughtered for no other reason than the antlers and because the indians can. I was able to harvest my first branched antlered bull this year after 10 years of applying. It is a good 6x6 but nowhere near the size of the bulls these indians are killing.

And let me tell you what, I worked my ass off for 2 months scouting and hunted hard for 6 days to finally harvest my bull so I can actually appreciate the set of antlers I have sitting in my house.

[TheHunt]

The South West tribes have to hunt on their reservations.  If they are caught out side of their reservation they are treated like a white person if they are breaking the white man's laws.

[400out]

Do you guys remember when this thred was about some cool bulls on the hanford res. 

[njc89]

njc glad you posted pics of your dad's bull.  Couldn't have happened to a nicer fellow.   Has he scored him yet?  Even with the relatively short fronts he has to go well over 350...

If I did it right, he grossed out at 348.  Before this bull neither of us ever even thought about scoring an animal.

[groundhog]

I think the intent of the Treaty was to ensure subsistence hunting and fishing opportunities. If this was about putting meat on the table I do not think most sportsman would have a problem with it. If someone from the Yakima's went down to Hanford and shot some Cows and Spikes I doubt we would be on page 16. I doubt that whomever shot Mr Mass even has the meat. He probably gave it away. To be honest I am not sure I would eat an animal from Hanford.

The new trend though is for them to shoot the biggest bulls and bucks they can find and then sell the antlers for big money. There is a difference between subsistence fishing and commercial fishing just as there is a difference between subsistence hunting and commercial hunting. I think if it went to court we would find that Native Americans do not have the right to sell any part of an animal that was taken through their Treaty rights. If they couldn't sell the antlers I think most would choose to shoot younger better eating animals.

[Gringo31]

So you have a problem with them selling elk but selling salmon and oversized sturgeon is OK?  The argument will be that "as before" they can barter and trade.

[groundhog]

Gringo,
Read my post. I have a problem with them selling any of our fish or wildlife that was harvested under subsistence. Unless it was commercially harvested with the proper documentation they should not be able to sell it.

[colockumelk]

They are not allowed to sell any part of the elk or deer for monetary profit.  Does it happen yes it does.  But if they are caught then they are in trouble.  As far as fish goes I think the same thing goes unless they jave a license to do so.  Not sure though.  Plateau would be the one to ask. 

I would love it if the tribes and the WDFW would crack down on this but I think the gang issue and meth is a bigger issue in Yakima County than illegal meat trade.

[Yak-NDN]

PlateauNDN
hows that excursion on gas? and how many bulls have you shot on hanford?

Sorry wagon but I don't own a ford nor ever will I'm a chevy and kind of a dodge man.  I haven't harvested any bulls on or near hanford mostly in wenas to klickitat meadows.  I do know that either YakNDN is either the one that shot Mr. Mass or is very close to the boy.  I've seen the huntnfishnw plus seen a facebook and know the boy holding the antlers with the excursion in the background.  So either YakNDN is putting on a front about who he is or he is the person that shot Mr. Mass.  Either way I could care less about the boywhos holding the antlers because he's no different than the other "hunter" that has slaughtered bulls from the colockum, about 7 bulls in 2 years I believe?  Everybody should know who I'm referring to.

Why am I either the one who shot it or am putting on a front. You saw a facebook pic so you must have shot it or are very close to whoever did. lol Im not putting on a front if I shot it I would be sporting that s**t all over it looks like a monster to me.

 And Bone trust me im thinking of going I cant let two family's and the non-tribal hunters kill out all the big hanford bulls. And trust me I have looked at them Through my scope but they were on Hanford and wouldn't cross. (I just want one)

[Huntbear]

They are not allowed to sell any part of the elk or deer for monetary profit.  Does it happen yes it does.  But if they are caught then they are in trouble.  As far as fish goes I think the same thing goes unless they jave a license to do so.  Not sure though.  Plateau would be the one to ask. 

I would love it if the tribes and the WDFW would crack down on this but I think the gang issue and meth is a bigger issue in Yakima County than illegal meat trade.

Dude,, have you looked on EBAY?   

They can be pretty brazen....

[Yak-NDN]

Anybody can sell antlers. I have never sold any.

[Bigtine96]

Anybody can sell antlers. I have never sold any.

But only a certain few indians kill strictly for the fact that there going to sell them...china pays well I hear

[PlateauNDN]

They are not allowed to sell any part of the elk or deer for monetary profit.  Does it happen yes it does.  But if they are caught then they are in trouble.  As far as fish goes I think the same thing goes unless they jave a license to do so.  Not sure though.  Plateau would be the one to ask. 

I would love it if the tribes and the WDFW would crack down on this but I think the gang issue and meth is a bigger issue in Yakima County than illegal meat trade.

Right once again colockum.  We are not allowed to sell, barter or trade any part of an animal that we have harvested for monetary profit.  We can however give it away in certain cirmcumstances such as if a relative of mine shot an elk or deer and he was offered assistance packing it out by non-tribal members and he gave them part of the kill for helping him out that wouldn't be a problem. 

But if they go out and harvest then give the whole kill away and kept the antlers then that is not subsistence and considered illegal.  I'm the primary hunter/gatherer for my family (i.e. wife/kids, mother-in-laws household, my parents and my grandmother) so I share a portion of my kill with only them and some steaks here and there with close friends but majority of the kill is kept within. 

As far as fishing you need to have a permit issued by the Tribe to sell commercially.  If your catch is from rod and reel or dip net then no you don't need one as far as I know.  Again everything I catch stays internal and follows the same as above.

I don't care about antler size so you're not going to see me chancing it running down to the Hanford area just to say I got a bull that hasn't known predatation and just stands around while you basically walk up to it and shoot it.  As far as I'm concerned that's like going to the zoo and shooting something. 

I would rather put all the elements to the test and teach my boys how to actually hunt in the mountains then the open plains but, that's just me.  I know the animal I harvest is earned with the time I spent scouting, tracking, calling and then finally putting down and packing out so from my perspective those that have gone down there and harvested an EASY kill are flat out lazy and I don't recognize their kills nor care about those kills.

I know the parts of Hanford that are legal but I'm still not going to chance it and if they want to then that's fine.  I don't want to be the one having to fight a legal battle just because I drove all the way to Hanford for a bull I could've stayed closer to home for.

Yes Yak is said it.  You have made it clear now that it wasn't you and I apologize.  Going through all the info. posted on both hunting sites and from people I spoke with lead me to the facebook picture and if that's not you then again my apologies.  More power to you if you go down to the Hanford area and harvest one but it's not for me and I'm not going to do it. 

I've been a strong believer that if we don't continue practice our customs and traditions in our Ceded Areas than we have the potential to lose them so I don't do anything on the Rez.  All my gathering, picking and hunting has been done in the Ceded Areas for a very long time and as long as I can prove somebody still does it then there is no chance we have of losing those rights.  If you choose to hunt the Hanford Area than so be it and hope you bring a nice looking one home with a story and pics.

And in my eyes the GANG and DRUG trade is a higher priority in my opinion.  But, that does not mean we shouldn't ignore the issues and handling those that break the law.

[Huntbear]

Anybody can sell antlers. I have never sold any.

Not accusing you Yak...

Just saying if you want to buy Washington Elk antlers...... and big racks at that... they can be had pretty easy, and it isn't white people selling... why else would the natives just shoot the big bulls... if it was for food to feed the family.. cows eat much better.. just saying...

[buckmaster_wa]

[quote author=Bigtine96


   Personally I enjoy the pics that get posted up of these big bulls. I wouldnt otherwise have seen pics of Mr. Mass alive or any of these other studs if not for them. I enjoy any and all pics of big bulls, i even love going to NW Trek just to see em  , big horns are big horns.
 
[/quote]

Shhhhhhh    Dont let this info out. There are big bulls at NW trek and if the Wheelers and Whitefoots find out then they might be tempted to go climb the fence and slaughter the bulls one of these nights. I wouldnt put it past them.