Night Deer Hunting approved by Chippewas in Wisconsin

[Archerysniper]

I dont know for certain on the wolf hunting but with night hunting coyotes you can only use a shotgun with shotshells for safety reasons. So are the indians going to be using a shotshell? Maybe they should have to use a hand made bow and the light of the moon. I would support that.

In Mn you can use rifles at night. The only restriction to shotguns is if you are using a spot light during that open time frame.

[arrow]

State of Wisconsin will lose on this, they should save their money and invest it in habitat improvement, stocking, etc. We already have night hunting in various forms so that argument is lost. As long as we have democrats ruling we have zero chance of seeing this overturned. Moreover the US Supreme Court will more likely move toward a more liberal court with whomever our current President nominates. So that eliminates any chance of the court reversing its prior decisions. Sad as it is we must learn to accept that certain segments of our population will have different rights and regulations. In the past the Native Americans were not offered anything close to equal rights so its just done a 180 degree turn. I have come to the conclusion that its not worth beating your head against this wall as you have zero chance of affecting any change.

[eye1000us]

Below is the portion of the 1837 treaty that pertains to hunting and gathering. For starters it never mentions "rights" , only a "privilige". Further more no where does it state that that they have the authority to create thier own rules or laws pertaining to these priviliges. It merely states they have the guarantied privilige to keep hunting or gathering.

Article 5

The privilege of hunting, fishing, and gathering the wild rice, upon the lands, the rivers and the lakes included in the territory ceded, is guarantied to the Indians, during the pleasure of the President of the United States

[shortfatguy]

Below is the portion of the 1837 treaty that pertains to hunting and gathering. For starters it never mentions "rights" , only a "privilige". Further more no where does it state that that they have the authority to create thier own rules or laws pertaining to these priviliges. It merely states they have the guarantied privilige to keep hunting or gathering.

Article 5

The privilege of hunting, fishing, and gathering the wild rice, upon the lands, the rivers and the lakes included in the territory ceded, is guarantied to the Indians, during the pleasure of the President of the United States

Thats the part right there they seem to over look. If the treaty was ment to last forever they wouldnt have included that last sentence.

[walleyehunter80]

Are native americans allowed to vote?

[InTheNorthwoods]

Are native americans allowed to vote?

Yes.

[deerminator]

From what I gather, this appears to be a tit for tat over the overall hunting of wolves? If you're gonna go against my wishes and hunt wolves who have a great spiritual significance to me - day or night - look what I'll do that you don't like.

It would seem only logical that everyone should follow the same rules, regardless of race or nationality or religion. Or regardless of history or how terrible the events of the past were. That's the way it works in most every other scenario. So not sure why this one is any different or if we'll ever see the day where it finally changes.

[kjgmh]

If you think that they will only be hunting public land you are wrong. Had a "Native" poach a large buck from my in-laws land a few years ago. Shot it from the road, in broad day light, drove across the field and picked it up. Vehicle and shooter where IDed and local warden told us it was turned over to the Reservation Warden and all they would get is a slap on the wrist. They don't have to play by the same rules that we do...

[Musky Buck]

I hope their ancestors are embarassed by the use of something they used to condemn, technology. I think it will be a long time waiting, waiting for them to live up to the reputation they think they have in giving back to the fish,deer,moose, bald eagles, not just puffing a pipe and blowing it into the wind in respect, that's partially what their words say but their actions seem to speak otherwise. If they want us to think highly of them, which they don't care, then they need to lead by better example. That isn't happening. The Wisc. hunt those guys will just come smirking and tip-toeing back into MN when they run out of bullets, hopefully after running over a pack of wolves on the way back from their poaching episode, in my dictionary anyway it's called poaching when you use lighting after dark and rifles to take big game, it's poaching. Seems a bit dangerous doesn't it. Here's to a little friend that cranks the dials on their scopes the night before they go do this making them shoot way low.

[mrklean]

If you think that they will only be hunting public land you are wrong. Had a "Native" poach a large buck from my in-laws land a few years ago. Shot it from the road, in broad day light, drove across the field and picked it up. Vehicle and shooter where IDed and local warden told us it was turned over to the Reservation Warden and all they would get is a slap on the wrist. They don't have to play by the same rules that we do...

Poachers will always poach no matter what race they are just because one poached your families land doesnt mean they will all run wild and start doing that on private land....could make your argument for white ppl also

[kjgmh]

Poachers will always poach no matter what race they are just because one poached your families land doesnt mean they will all run wild and start doing that on private land....could make your argument for white ppl also

[Musky Buck]

I guess the real deal is what's the limit, how many deer is the magic number, if it isn't too many then I'd suggest we could fill their freezers with road killed deer and give each guy 1 tag so they can harvest one like anybody else. Yesterday I mentioned way low, how many may become wounded and will they track it down in the dark etc. There's a lot of questions I guess, they better be eating the tongue, etc. etc. like their families did when the treaty was signed. Nothing goes to waste so why do the pike,muskies, get dumped etc. I'm really kinda confused, things aren't matching up well. Will they have to wear the hunter tag number on the back of their blaze orange, isn't that a wisconsin thing ? May TIP be called by someone not in the loop hearing nightime rifle fire ? Reading my 1963 book about hunting last night stated the NE native americans deer meant everything, here in the midwest the buffalo meant everything so why are they not going after buffalo ? Speaking of moose the record in 1963 for a yes Shiras moose or the Wyoming moose was shot in Minnesota ! I'd assume that record got broken since then. They need to target buffalo like their midwest ancestors did, they didn't dilly dally with deer.

[Musky Buck]

Wednesday Star and Trib had an article on it, 74 have passed their shooting in the night requirement or something ?

[deerminator]

"They need to target buffalo like their midwest ancestors did, they didn't dilly dally with deer." All of this kind of talk is just plain ridiculous and such statements could add to this thread getting locked if it gets out of hand. This is about what's right for everyone in Wisconsin or whatever state it is where tribes assert their "rights." I know that tribal nations are supposed to be just that, their own nations. And I don't claim to know all the laws or if the Minnesota treaty, for instance, gaurenteed nightime hunting in detail. From what I know, it sounds like it just gaurenteed the right to hunt and fish - just like everyone has. The point is, we're living in 2012, soon 2013, here. This is present day America and the plains wars of the 1800s are over. Everyone has the right to hunt and fish. No group should be given special rights over another because of what happened 100-200 years ago.

[Jameson]

Darn Canadians!

[bigbucks]

Everyone has the right to hunt and fish. No group should be given special rights over another because of what happened 100-200 years ago.

Bad logic.

Well lets see 1776 is still pretty important to me...

Jesus dying on the cross was way longer ago than that...

[skee0025]

This afternoon Judge Barbara Crabb of the Western District Federal Court ruled that the State may enforce state shining laws against any Chippewa Tribal member hunting deer at night within the Ceded Territory (roughly the northern third of the state) until the preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for Dec. 12 and further order of the court. Chippewa Tribal members have been prohibited from night hunting/shining deer since 1990 in line with a 1989 federal court decision

[DonBo]

Quote:

Members of five Chippewa tribes in Wisconsin were poised on Monday to begin a contested off-reservation night deer hunt, according to a spokeswoman for the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Seventy-four tribal hunters completed firearm proficiency training and filed a shooting plan, but as of 8 p.m. Monday the commission had not granted any night deer hunting permits, according to Sue Erickson, the commission’s public information director.

Although the tribes did not specify when the hunts would start, they are to be held on land in the ceded territory of northern Wisconsin.

Erickson said the night deer hunt would take place despite a 1989 court ruling that prohibited the practice as well as the protestations of state officials.

“When the state allowed night hunting for wolves this year, our tribal members took it as a sign they could night hunt for deer,” Erickson said.

The state Department of Justice, representing the Department of Natural Resources, asked a federal judge in Madison last week to stop the tribes’ plans and confirm the DNR’s authority to enforce regulations that prohibit night deer hunting.

DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp said her agency was worried about public safety for people living or driving near the night hunting.

“We stand firm that they (the tribes) don’t have the authority to do this,” Stepp said in an interview.

State officials asked the tribes to hold off on any hunt until U.S. Judge Barbara Crabb rules on the motion. Crabb has yet to issue a ruling.

Erickson said the tribal commission planned to file a cross-motion Monday night or Tuesday morning.

Members of the St. Croix, Lac du Flambeau, Mole Lake, Red Cliff, and Lac Courte Oreilles bands have qualified for the night deer hunt, Erickson said.

Although the tribes didn’t specify when they planned to begin the hunt, several other details were revealed.

The night deer hunting would take place over baited sites and from elevated stands. Lights would be used as an aid at the “point of kill.” Firearms, bows or crossbows could be used.

“This harvest opportunity helps tribal members better meet their needs for a traditional source of healthy food,” said Fred Maulson, the commission's chief warden.

Tribes periodically update treaty harvest regulations to mirror changes made by the state, such as recent laws to extend deer seasons and to allow uncased firearms in vehicles. In April, the Legislature passed a wide range of controversial wolf hunting regulations, including night hunting with rifles.

“As baiting and feeding whitetails continues to be ingrained in sport hunting culture, deer are spending daylight hours bedded down and only moving at night,” Maulson said.

Erickson said tribal law enforcement officers would be on hand to oversee the hunting activity.

State conservation wardens plan to investigate any complaints to determine the identity of night hunters. But if tribal members are involved, the DNR would notify tribal law enforcement and leave the area, according to a DNR directive.

The tribes hold an annual off-reservation deer hunting season. This would be the first to include night hunting.

Last year the tribes harvested 1,387 deer in their off-reservation season, according to GLIFWC reports.

The tribal off-reservation deer hunting period began Monday and runs through Jan. 6. The daily bag limit is two or four deer, depending on regulations of individual bands, Erickson said.