Firring center ?

[PlateauNDN]

Mostly true there Bone.  They are a recognized band of the Yakama Nation and almost all of them claim Wanapum but are enrolled Yakama.  I have family that are from that area and some in-laws that still reside in their village and just about every one of them are enrolled Yakama but retain their original family ties to the Wanapums.  The largest family and the most prominent family is the Buck family and they're direct descendants of the original Wanapums but, most of them are enrolled Yakama. 

They get what they need through the rights of being enrolled Yakama but again they are Wanapum and that's what they wish to be referred to as.  Through marriage and blood ties they inherit the same rights as any other Yakama.

As I've stated before it's very few Yakamas' nowadays that choose to exploit our rights that do not know where they come from.  My fathers side of the family comes from the river, the Wishcum (Wishham) and Klickitat Bands, while my mothers side comes from the Yakama band.  Also through my father we have blood ties to the Warm Springs Tribe.

Before I forget and it get misconstrued in any way, I'm not putting down nor saying anything negative about the Wanapums just clarifying some information. 

[Bigtine96]

I've never really had a problem. Most everyone I've meet out there is for most part very polite and have never really been treated rudely by anyone. I've had the vehicle inspections and stuff but it's no big deal. The only problem I had is when the MP's still ran security out there (pre 9/11) one guy tried to tell me I had to wear orange to coyote hunt. I told him that wasn't right and then another guy came in and agreed with me. Moot point since everyone has to wear orange now anyway. Good luck on your hunt. I know between the Wanapums and the cougars the deer have been annihilated. There's still a few good bucks out there but nothing like it was 5 years ago.

Well your assumptions about the Wanapum's and cougars on YTC couldn't be further from the truth. I spent three years working for the Wanapum Nation from 2002-2004. During that time, never once was an elk harvested by a Wanapum. In fact, the only elk meat they ate were from poached elk off of Hanford by Non-Natives. The Game Warden would grant them the meat. The highest annual harvest rate of mule deer from YTC during my tenure was five. The Wanapums only harvested both fish and wildlife for subsistence. The majority of Wanapums have good paying jobs with the Grant County PUD. I know exactly how many salmon were harvested each year, because I was the one who conducted studies for the WDFW. I know exactly who those salmon were distributed to. I've spent countless hours driving around on YTC, and can tell you deer numbers are way higher closer to the Wanapum village then they are towards Yakima and I-90. There is no cougar problem on YTC, just a lot of coyotes. Although I don't agree with a lot of hunting practices by Native-Americans from other tribes, these assumptions about the Wanapum Nation couldn't be further from the truth.

Highly disagree with you about the wanapums, Like all groups of people you have good eggs and bad eggs. And alot of those bad eggs get out on the firing center and do serious damage. I saw one Wanapum coming off the base with a whole buck in the back, and asked if he could borrow a knife to gut it I spend ALOT of time on the base and see them all the time coming out with "Bucks." The range control guys are pissed at them to. They are constantly finding them cutting the locks on gates to access the training center from closed gates so they dont have to check in. And find them all the time driving around drinking and road hunting of course.

The deer population has drastically declined in the past few years due to over hunting, talk to any biologist on the base and they will tell you the same.

[boneaddict]

Far as I can tell they'd have to come in the backdoor and poach as they don't have any more rights than we do.  I guess they could try to pass themselves off as Yaks, but if asked to show a card.    

[Bigtine96]

Far as I can tell they'd have to come in the backdoor and poach as they don't have any more rights than we do.  I guess they could try to pass themselves off as Yaks, but if asked to show a card.    

They have many more rights on the firing center than you or I. The government leases the Firing Center from the Wanapum's. But it is still required that they check in and let the Military know that they are on the base.

[chad s.]

I've never really had a problem. Most everyone I've meet out there is for most part very polite and have never really been treated rudely by anyone. I've had the vehicle inspections and stuff but it's no big deal. The only problem I had is when the MP's still ran security out there (pre 9/11) one guy tried to tell me I had to wear orange to coyote hunt. I told him that wasn't right and then another guy came in and agreed with me. Moot point since everyone has to wear orange now anyway. Good luck on your hunt. I know between the Wanapums and the cougars the deer have been annihilated. There's still a few good bucks out there but nothing like it was 5 years ago.

Well your assumptions about the Wanapum's and cougars on YTC couldn't be further from the truth. I spent three years working for the Wanapum Nation from 2002-2004. During that time, never once was an elk harvested by a Wanapum. In fact, the only elk meat they ate were from poached elk off of Hanford by Non-Natives. The Game Warden would grant them the meat. The highest annual harvest rate of mule deer from YTC during my tenure was five. The Wanapums only harvested both fish and wildlife for subsistence. The majority of Wanapums have good paying jobs with the Grant County PUD. I know exactly how many salmon were harvested each year, because I was the one who conducted studies for the WDFW. I know exactly who those salmon were distributed to. I've spent countless hours driving around on YTC, and can tell you deer numbers are way higher closer to the Wanapum village then they are towards Yakima and I-90. There is no cougar problem on YTC, just a lot of coyotes. Although I don't agree with a lot of hunting practices by Native-Americans from other tribes, these assumptions about the Wanapum Nation couldn't be further from the truth.

Highly disagree with you about the wanapums, Like all groups of people you have good eggs and bad eggs. And alot of those bad eggs get out on the firing center and do serious damage. I saw one Wanapum coming off the base with a whole buck in the back, and asked if he could borrow a knife to gut it I spend ALOT of time on the base and see them all the time coming out with "Bucks." The range control guys are pissed at them to. They are constantly finding them cutting the locks on gates to access the training center from closed gates so they dont have to check in. And find them all the time driving around drinking and road hunting of course.

The deer population has drastically declined in the past few years due to over hunting, talk to any biologist on the base and they will tell you the same.

The Wanapums don't need to access YTC through any gate from their village. How do you know the guy you were talking to was Wanapum? It makes no sense! In all honesty if you truely know your way around, anyone can access YTC without going through a gate through a series of dirt roads! You have no facts to base your hatred on.

[boneaddict]

I know, I did it once by accident when I was going to Central, along with Hornseeker.   Ended up looking down the barrelS of an apache attack helicopter.  Scared the living bejesus out of me.   


I did not know the lease thing.  Still trying to understand that since they don't have a reservation do they, so what land is theirs to lease........   I'm not argueing, just trying to understand as I don't know and I probably don't have the facts straight. 

[coachcw]

The range control dosnt keep track of Indian kills. They take what they want.

[Bigtine96]

I know, I did it once by accident when I was going to Central, along with Hornseeker.   Ended up looking down the barrelS of an apache attack helicopter.  Scared the living bejesus out of me.   


I did not know the lease thing.  Still trying to understand that since they don't have a reservation do they, so what land is theirs to lease........   I'm not argueing, just trying to understand as I don't know and I probably don't have the facts straight.

This is what range control told me when I asked why dont they start arresting the Indians that come out there drinking and driving. That seems like leasing 500+ square miles of area could be expensive

[Bigtine96]

I've never really had a problem. Most everyone I've meet out there is for most part very polite and have never really been treated rudely by anyone. I've had the vehicle inspections and stuff but it's no big deal. The only problem I had is when the MP's still ran security out there (pre 9/11) one guy tried to tell me I had to wear orange to coyote hunt. I told him that wasn't right and then another guy came in and agreed with me. Moot point since everyone has to wear orange now anyway. Good luck on your hunt. I know between the Wanapums and the cougars the deer have been annihilated. There's still a few good bucks out there but nothing like it was 5 years ago.

Well your assumptions about the Wanapum's and cougars on YTC couldn't be further from the truth. I spent three years working for the Wanapum Nation from 2002-2004. During that time, never once was an elk harvested by a Wanapum. In fact, the only elk meat they ate were from poached elk off of Hanford by Non-Natives. The Game Warden would grant them the meat. The highest annual harvest rate of mule deer from YTC during my tenure was five. The Wanapums only harvested both fish and wildlife for subsistence. The majority of Wanapums have good paying jobs with the Grant County PUD. I know exactly how many salmon were harvested each year, because I was the one who conducted studies for the WDFW. I know exactly who those salmon were distributed to. I've spent countless hours driving around on YTC, and can tell you deer numbers are way higher closer to the Wanapum village then they are towards Yakima and I-90. There is no cougar problem on YTC, just a lot of coyotes. Although I don't agree with a lot of hunting practices by Native-Americans from other tribes, these assumptions about the Wanapum Nation couldn't be further from the truth.

Highly disagree with you about the wanapums, Like all groups of people you have good eggs and bad eggs. And alot of those bad eggs get out on the firing center and do serious damage. I saw one Wanapum coming off the base with a whole buck in the back, and asked if he could borrow a knife to gut it I spend ALOT of time on the base and see them all the time coming out with "Bucks." The range control guys are pissed at them to. They are constantly finding them cutting the locks on gates to access the training center from closed gates so they dont have to check in. And find them all the time driving around drinking and road hunting of course.

The deer population has drastically declined in the past few years due to over hunting, talk to any biologist on the base and they will tell you the same.

The Wanapums don't need to access YTC through any gate from their village. How do you know the guy you were talking to was Wanapum? It makes no sense! In all honesty if you truely know your way around, anyone can access YTC without going through a gate through a series of dirt roads! You have no facts to base your hatred on.

1. Yes you "can" access it through the village, You still have to check in and come through the correct gates to enter and hunt on the Firing Center

2. You can enter the firing center through exit 11 but they do not want you to anymore, and are no longer giving the combo to civilians.

3. The Indian hunting told me he was a Wanapum tribal member

4.I do not hate anyone except criminals and liars.

5. How dare you tell me that I hate a single group of people!

[Bigtine96]

The range control dosnt keep track of Indian kills. They take what they want.

Range control wants hunters to give a tooth off the animal harvested for study by the biologist, and many Indain hunters abide by this.

[boneaddict]

I missed your post Plat.   Thanks for that clarification.  That makes sense.

[pat2bear]

I've never really had a problem. Most everyone I've meet out there is for most part very polite and have never really been treated rudely by anyone. I've had the vehicle inspections and stuff but it's no big deal. The only problem I had is when the MP's still ran security out there (pre 9/11) one guy tried to tell me I had to wear orange to coyote hunt. I told him that wasn't right and then another guy came in and agreed with me. Moot point since everyone has to wear orange now anyway. Good luck on your hunt. I know between the Wanapums and the cougars the deer have been annihilated. There's still a few good bucks out there but nothing like it was 5 years ago.

Well your assumptions about the Wanapum's and cougars on YTC couldn't be further from the truth. I spent three years working for the Wanapum Nation from 2002-2004. During that time, never once was an elk harvested by a Wanapum. In fact, the only elk meat they ate were from poached elk off of Hanford by Non-Natives. The Game Warden would grant them the meat. The highest annual harvest rate of mule deer from YTC during my tenure was five. The Wanapums only harvested both fish and wildlife for subsistence. The majority of Wanapums have good paying jobs with the Grant County PUD. I know exactly how many salmon were harvested each year, because I was the one who conducted studies for the WDFW. I know exactly who those salmon were distributed to. I've spent countless hours driving around on YTC, and can tell you deer numbers are way higher closer to the Wanapum village then they are towards Yakima and I-90. There is no cougar problem on YTC, just a lot of coyotes. Although I don't agree with a lot of hunting practices by Native-Americans from other tribes, these assumptions about the Wanapum Nation couldn't be further from the truth.

My "assumptions" come from a friend that has worked and hunted out there for several years. Maybe I have the Wanapum's confused with another band but regardless the consensus I hear from everyone is the tribes have had a huge effect on the deer numbers out there. And yes, there are a number of cougars out there.

[colockumelk]

Plateau good info.  Thank you for the education and history.  Very interesting. 

[coachcw]

It will be a cold day in hell before I go back in there !

[pat2bear]

How did it go coach? Did you see anything at all?