Tribe seeks return of hunting rights
By Electa Draper,
Denver PostArticle
Last Updated:03/26/2007 01:38:37 AM MDT
Durango - The Southern Ute Tribe is close to re-establishing hunting rights for its 1,300 members on 3.7 million acres in western Colorado - in accordance with an 1874 federal treaty.
The tribe and the Colorado Division of Wildlife are discussing an agreement that would determine when tribal members could hunt game in parts of nine counties and four national forests, an area defined under the 1874 Brunot Treaty.
After the discovery of precious metals in the San Juan Mountains in the late 1800s, the U.S. government persuaded - some say coerced - the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes to surrender a fourth of their reservation lands to make room for mining camps in what are now La Plata, Archuleta, Montezuma, Dolores, San Miguel, San Juan, Ouray, Mineral and Hinsdale counties.
The government paid for the land. But the agreement included a provision allowing the tribes to hunt in the area "as long as the grass grew."
Since then, the tribes' two reservations have shrunk by many more millions of acres to a current combined holding of roughly 1 million acres. But the tribes never exercised their Brunot hunting rights until the 1970s, when the Ute Mountain Utes, now with roughly 2,000 members, began to hunt deer and elk, mostly during regular state-run hunting seasons but with tribal licenses, said DOW assistant regional manager Tony Gurzick. The tribe generally allows each member one buck, one doe, one bull and one cow, unless a member can make a case for additional kills.
But the Southern Utes, with their own large deer and elk herds on their reservation, instead negotiated with federal wildlife managers in the 1970s to obtain training in wildlife management. The tribe agreed to forgo hunting in the Brunot area for the time.
However, last fall, Southern Ute leaders revisited the issue with the Colorado Wildlife Commission, reasserting their historic rights.
The tribe likely will issue most licenses for hunts during the state's traditional seasons, Gurzick said, but some year-round hunting will be allowed, as it is for the Ute Mountain Utes.
The tribes cannot sell or transfer their rights to nonmembers, Gurzick said.
"The Southern Ute Tribe is approaching this from a conservation and wildlife-management standpoint similar to ours," Gurzick said.
Still under discussion is the desire of both tribes to also issue their own licenses for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. The state issues few of these tags.
"I think we'll reach an agreement that will be fair to the tribes but not to the detriment of the state's other hunters," Gurzick said."And it will help us reach our wildlife-management goals."
When a final agreement is drafted, likely within a few months, officials will present it to the Wildlife Commission and the tribal councils for approvals.
Neither Southern Ute nor Ute Mountain Ute officials returned requests for comment.
Tribe seeks return of hunting rights in CO
- Thread starter Oak
- Start date
Washington Hunter
Well-known member
That's not good. Colorado is definitely in trouble. The tribes here in Washington do whatever they want, hunt where they want, at any time, and violate many laws, but it's ok. They kill trophy size mule deer and elk while they're most vulnerable, on their winter range. They have even killed elk right at one of the state's elk feeding areas. They dont hunt for food, they hunt for profit.
Dinkshooter
Well-known member
Give them G-5 goat tags and don't let em hunt the train side. See how long they want to hunt Mtn Goats for.
I never understood this crap. Can't they already buy/draw a license for anything on regular non reservation ground just like the rest of us? And hunt the reservation as well? greedy bastads.
They just want to kill chit on the winter grounds,plain and simple. That and they don't have sheep, goats or moose on the res.
I never understood this crap. Can't they already buy/draw a license for anything on regular non reservation ground just like the rest of us? And hunt the reservation as well? greedy bastads.
They just want to kill chit on the winter grounds,plain and simple. That and they don't have sheep, goats or moose on the res.
Washington Hunter
Well-known member
Damn 1 pointer, very well said. You're alright. I don't care what they say.
BuzzH
Well-known member
1-pointer,
Those treaties may also be used to serve a purpose for all of us...in particular those who enjoy fishing anadromous fish.
Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.
Those treaties may also be used to serve a purpose for all of us...in particular those who enjoy fishing anadromous fish.
Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.
JoseCuervo
New member
Do you believe all treaties the US Government signs are bullchit?
Washington Hunter
Well-known member
That is a good point about the fish. At least the treaties are good for something.
But still, something needs to be done about how tribal members are slaughtering deer and elk on public land in many western states.
But still, something needs to be done about how tribal members are slaughtering deer and elk on public land in many western states.
Nope. Have we ever broke or re-wrote any treaties that were written 134yrs ago?
Buzz- I think the salmon/steelhead fight could be one without the treaty rights, but it would take longer. Besides, steelhead are like bigfoot to me, I've heard of them and seen pictures of them, just have a hard time getting my hands on one!
Buzz- I think the salmon/steelhead fight could be one without the treaty rights, but it would take longer. Besides, steelhead are like bigfoot to me, I've heard of them and seen pictures of them, just have a hard time getting my hands on one!
They're overrated, don't let anyone tell you different. I "retired" from fishing for them a couple years ago, took away from hunting time where I might at least see my quarry.
Similar threads
