Rumor: Spokane Tribe Confirms 4 wolves with DNA samples

[BuckNAze]

That's kind of the gray area, it's hard to really keep track of how many wolves we have unless we trap and collar every single one of them. Then more move into our area so its not really easy to regulate. There could be a draw season, open season (like coyotes), or so many are taking per district (there being 4 districts that we seperate into on the reservation). Most members don't want wolves here, and if they do want they it is because they want to harvest them for ceremonial purposes. We are a subsistance tribe first, meaning keeping their enough animals to support how much hunting we do, that mixed with a large numbers of members. We rely a lot on our deer, elk, and moose populations to sustain our tribe. Not sure where the Spokanes stand on the matter of wolves but I know the Kalispels aren't too eager to have them. Forgot to mention that yes since the wolves aren't federally protected on our side of the state we are allowed to manage them as we see fit. Any federally regulated animals we are not allowed to hunt.

[bearpaw]

So what does that mean Luvtohnt? Everything E of Hwy 97 is open for tribal members?

I think that once a tribe in the eastern 1/3 of WA has an approved wolf plan, then they can hunt within their hunting area.

[woodywsu]

The tribe has to have an "approved" wolf plan??? Is this correct? Who approves?

[PlateauNDN]

The tribe has to have an "approved" wolf plan??? Is this correct? Who approves?

This depends on the set-up of the Tribe.  Yakamas have to have a plan approved by Committee first then it goes to our Full Council.  If they are not fed protected (still protected within all our Areas) then we have to have a plan established before we can move forward.

[bearpaw]

I am pretty sure the USFWS must approve all wolf plans before management can begin anywhere.

[BuckNAze]

I dont think so, as long as they aren't federally protected they aren't required to make any management plan with the USFWS. All tribes are soverign nation, basically a nation within a nation (similar to the Vatican in a sense), and are allowed to make their own game laws. Certain laws obviously are the same but the regulations we put on our Fish and Wildlife are our own to make, again only if they arent federally protected. Some tribes have still decided to work along with the state in management to a degree but I don't believe are required to at all. I can double check with one of our Biologists and see but that was my understanding.

[woodywsu]

That's how I thought it was BucknAze. I didn't think the tribe needed approval from any agency. They probably should consult with them, but required approval I don't think so.

[PlateauNDN]

As I mentioned before some Tribes are different than others because some are not Treaty Tribes and some are Treaty Tribes which makes a world of difference.  Since we, the Yakama Nation, is a Treaty Tribe it empowers us to a wide range of governmental control that some Tribes don't have.  We have and exercise the ability to govern ourselves within the confines of our Treaty Language and our Laws as a Nation on a daily basis.  As long as we have a plan to justify our actions and laws to enforce that plan we can move forward if we would like as long as it remains in effect in the areas that are under the jurisdiction of the Yakama Nation. 

If a species is not Federally Protected then we have the ability to create a management plan and exercise that plan without the interference of State Jurisdiction.  We do work with the State but we are not governed nor under the jurisdiction of the State. 

So, if the Yakama Nation took a stance of saying they only want a certain amount of breeding pairs in it's jurisdiction, on or off reservation, then there is nothing the State can do. 

[Special T]

Would that mean that if a treat tribe wanted to they could regulate like WY does? Treat them like Coyotes, year round no bag limits?

[PlateauNDN]

Would that mean that if a treat tribe wanted to they could regulate like WY does? Treat them like Coyotes, year round no bag limits?

As long as there was a plan with regulations in place approved by our Tribal Council and they are not re-listed under the protection of the Feds.  Under our predatory animals we don't have a limit for harvest and if they listed it under predators it probably would have a limit given that they are "newly re-established" and not as abundant as other species, YET.

[Special T]

Funny thing when you remove most predators, the surrounding ones move in!

[BuckNAze]

Ours is the same way, our Council has to approve the management plan but one of the suggestions was to be able to harvest them as coyotes. In my opinion that is about the only way to manage them. I think personally they will get smart and harder to hunt and they are going to be here either way. If we don't hunt them like coyotes they are going to produce just like coyotes, only bigger, and devastate our elk and moose herds, not only for us but the state. They are also proposing a draw system here like I said for permits, or a certain number per district (we have 4 districts here), something along those lines. I think most can agree that a draw system with like 2 tags per distrcit wont work more than likely, as the wolves spread like they are they are going to be real hard to keep up with.

[WAcoyotehunter]

my guess is that the Colvilles will allow one pack and keep track of and manage the others trying to set up camp.  I'll be curious to see how things work out on the north half.

[Special T]

I know i may have asked this before but... I'm guessing body gripping traps are allowed on the Rez? How about tradional hunting areas like the northern area above the Colville or the Colockum via the Yakamas?

[PlateauNDN]

Up to the powers that be.  On or Off the Rez our Council decides our methods of harvesting.