Even More Trash

[need2hunt]

This post is in regards to another-popular-related post.

Do many of you really think poaching or disrespecting of game animals is more prominent on reservations VS. Off? Seems to me that the problem lies on both sides of the boundary. I am a native and do live on a reservation and there is a fair share of poaching/disrespecting game animals where I am from. But it seems like that it's always only the same handfull of people (15-20) who do it here, year in and year out. They either get caught or they don't and - yes - they only get a hand slapped for it here too, then their back to there same old ways again. I think the problem between SOME natives and non-natives is somewhere on the lines of hunting land access. Non-natives seem to get the notion that natives have "all that land" to hunt on to themselves. Well I can tell you that if a lot of other reservations are as mine is....hunting season can be a circus! Natives are wanting to hunt outside of the boundary because of the overcrowding and Non-natives are wanting to hunt on the reservations. I think this system works OK enough for now. If everyone was allowed to cross the border there would be fools shooting one another (cowboys & indians sort of thing). I guess i'm trying to say is that us indians are not that much different..."Can't we all just get along!"

 

[Colville]

I think some of the problem lies with (maybe not in your state or on your tribe's land) the eiter almost, or fully, wide open game laws on the reservation to begin with. On many, there's no season and either huge or no limits.

As far as natives hunting off the res, they can, just get a license and go at it. The problem I usually hear is that that individual wants to hunt state land under the nearly unregulated rules of the reservation, not just to hunt.

Game pics like in the other post and similar stories are common from res's. Much of the time as there aren't rules on waste, limits or seasons. If reservations adopted restrictive seasons, more restrictive limits (it can be higher than state if in fact it maintains management objectives) and waste... along with penalties like I'd face; losing my weapon, huge fine, and losing hunting privilages followed by posssible jail time for future offenses, then the tribes would steal the thunder out from under threads like the previos "trash" one.

We can get along and i don't doubt a second it's a small element gving the bad name, BUT the good elements, the councils or governments of the tribes are doing NOTHING to stop it. They'll put an end to this converstation immediately be acting responsibly with their rules and consequences.

 

[boneaddict]

ditto exactly what Colville said.

especially... emphasizing natives hunting off of reservation. Tribal members try to hide behind customs one case in point if you are interested.(OK two cases)

The Lummi indians hunting in the Methow. Several groups showed up in December when the snow was about three feet. They went on a killing spree with their AUTOMATIC weapons. Many deer were left. All in the name of tribal hunting. They claimed they had treaty rights. Well, I'm sorry, I can guarantee tribal members in the old days weren't coming over the mountains and hunting on the winter range slaughtering them with Machine guns. The story just goes on and on.

The shooting of several trophy bulls in a feeding lot here in Yakima as they ate alphalfa hay.

I guess it just seems fowl when tribes are hiding behind custom when they aren't using custom to do their deeds. Similiar to gill netting with nylon netts stretched across whole rivers, using their huge powerboats, and claiming its the damns fault.

The biggest beef is the inability for them to even police themselves as soviern nations, then when crimes are committed on other land, are these folks held accountable.

 

[ddy58]

Im not speaking of or have much knowledge of most reservations, but the one near where I live I do know a thing or two about. I went to school with all of the kids my age that happened to want to go to school and 99% of them had zero respect for anything or anybody. On many occasions they would brag about going hunting and shooting anything that moved only to shoot it. And it is also a well know fact in my area that a large percentage of the poaching is done by natives. I dont have any problems with natives but I have a problem with hunters that dont respect the animals and their right to hunt.

 

[IDkTm]

Need2hunt mentioned what maybe the biggest problem is, people only getting a slap on the wrist for wildlife crimes. If you're a poacher to begin with what good is it to take away hunting rights? You already aren't following the rules, why start after you get busted. A member of our local tribe was busted a while back for killing a bighorn sheep that had just been reintroduced to tradional sheep habitat a short time before being killed. The sheeps entire body including radio collar was dumped in the river, the only thing salvaged was the head. He was caught because of the radio collar giving a signal in the river, the only charge they could hold him to was the use of a fully automatic rifle which he did not have a permit to own. Sad story imo. I have no problem with the tribe itself, I just wish they had some sort of wildlife management system besides shoot on sight.

 

[Hawkk33]

The attitudes of arrogance come from tribal folks on reservations with treaties. Im my observations in dealing with the kids, and adults of those tribes is that those treaties make them better than not only other natives, but non natives as well.

In reality a treaty meant you gave up or were conquered. The US Govt promised those things to them , access to usual and accustomed lands because they (GOVT) fully expected the natives bo be fully assimilated within say a generation or two and would abandon those lands and whatever. Or they were on the list to be terminated and lose those rights but were never put on the chopping block so to speak.

But in any event, you can't make a spoiled apple edible again so I will leave it at that.

Our tribe has a restricted season. (1) animal per hunter for deer, we have no elk so that is not an issue. We just changed it to shorten the season and are looking at doing a herd count in july the set our tag numbers.

(The way those tribes hunt IMO relates to the arrogance they possess, somewhere in there with all that per capita and lack of the need to work.. the lack of carrying on traditional hunting practices and respect for the game mother earth provides went too.)

Just my 02.

Hawkk33

 

[IDkTm]

I fully agree, spot on.

 

[boneaddict]

I agree. That that is where most of it comes from.

 

[need2hunt]

My tribe does have decent hunting laws, bag limits, and hunting seasons. Problem here is that SOME of the members go out and shoot as many animals as they can during the season. Our deer herd is struggling because of this practice and the elk, although expanding, could be doing way better. There is a great occurance, also, of elk being taken during deer season and vice versa. I guess i'm trying to say that I don't like getting a bad label because of a few foolish members in my tribe or other in other tribes, we are not all like those people. I won't take an animals life just to prove "I have rights." I don't know where a lot of natives lost the conservative side they were naturally born with "only take what you need."