Everett, Wash. Published: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tribes a small part of hunting
Indians take only a fraction of the wildlife killed in a season, according to hunting data.
By Krista J. Kapralos Herald Writer
Tribal hunters took only about 2 percent of all deer and elk hunted in Washington state over the past two years.
Data for the 2007-08 season was released late last month in a report published by the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, a group that works with Northwest tribes to protect natural resources.
Of 45,916 elk and deer hunted during the last season, 992 animals were taken by members of American Indian tribes. All the elk and deer taken by tribal hunters were in the state's western half.
There's a general perception that tribal hunters take countless animals each season, but "nothing could be farther from the truth," said Tony Meyer, spokesman for the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.
Tribal hunting is closely connected with partnerships tribal governments are creating with the state, Meyer said. For example, tribal and state wildlife officials are working to grow an elk herd in the Nooksack area in Whatcom County. There, tribal hunters took more than half the 24 elk hunted there.
There are fewer tribal hunters than nontribal hunters, Meyer said. That's part of the reason that the tribal take for deer and elk is low, but tribal hunters are also limited in where they can hunt if they want to do so under treaty rights.
When tribal leaders signed the Treaty of Point Elliott in 1855, they agreed to give up about a fifth of what is now Washington state in exchange for a guarantee that they would be able to continue living as they always have. No one disputes that tribal members have the right to hunt, but it's not clear where that hunting can occur, Meyer said. Major federal court cases have determined where Indians can fish and how much they can take from the water, but the terms for tribal hunting are vague, he said.
"They're limited to their 'traditional areas,' but what's a traditional area?" Meyer said. "Nontribal hunters can pretty much hunt the whole state, but tribal members just don't have the same flexibility."
Tribes set their own seasons and regulations for tribal hunters.
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission wants to avoid court battles and instead find ways to cooperate with state wildlife officials to find more opportunities for tribal hunters, Meyer said. But until tribal traditional areas are defined, tribal hunters will likely continue to hunt a very small number of the deer and elk taken by hunters, he said.
Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.
Where the hunts weRE
Areas where tribal hunters took the majority of elk and deer in the 2007-08 season:
Green River area: Tribal hunters took 19 of 28 deer and eight of 11 elk.
Stampede Pass area: Tribal hunters took 24 of 48 deer and 15 of eight elk.
North Sound area: Tribal hunters took one of two elk.
Nooksack area: Tribal hunters took 14 of 10 elk.
Hoko area: Tribal hunters took 23 of 31 elk.
Pysht area: Tribal hunters took four of eight elk.
Matheny area: Tribal hunters took 17 of 20 elk.
Skokomish area: Tribal hunters took eight of 11 elk.
Olympic area: Tribal hunters took 17 of 20 elk.
Satsop area: Tribal hunters took 19 of 37 elk.
White River area: Tribal hunters took 49 of 61 elk.
