San Juan Elk and Deer herds are Declining in Southwestern Colorado

[colowoods]

According to information passed on by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Dept, the elk and deer herds that winter on and around the Southern Ute Reservation are being severely over hunted. These animals make up a substantial portion of the San Juan Herd. Any member of the tribe is allowed to take 7 animals per year. 1 bull, 3 cows, 1 buck, 2 does. Negotiations with the tribe have failed to bring any changes. The website for the Ute Regulations is below as well as an excerpt of the 7 animal limits. The other problem is that Tribe members are not restricted to tribal lands, they can hunt US Forest service lands.

Please contact your Federal Senators.

www.southernute-nsn.gov/wrmweb/hunting/

Southern Ute Tribal Season Dates and Bag Limits (Enrolled Southern UteTribal Members Only, unless specified)
Open Areas
Open areas for huntable species shall include all lands within the exterior boundaries
of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. For private, assigned and allotted lands,
hunters must first obtain written access permission from the landowner. For USFS
lands and Navajo State Park lands contact the respective agencies for information
pertaining to access restrictions.
Closed Areas
Closed areas shall include all grounds immediately surrounding the Lake Capote
Recreation Area including the campground. For precise boundaries contact the Wildlife Division.
Mule Deer and Elk
Season Dates: Archery: August 26th through September 8th, 2017
General: September 9th through December 31st, 2017
Permits Issued: Beginning August 14th, 2017
Bag Limits: 3 Mule Deer (1 Buck and 2 Does**)
4 Elk (1 Bull and 3 Cows**)
** Tribal Members must have their first doe or cow validated to receive their second

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

They can hunt "anywhere in their historic tribal hunting grounds" according to their treaty with the United States. As I understand it, they can also hunt year round and on private property, regardless of their own self imposed "regulations". I believe this applies to the Ute mountain Ute Tribe also. CPW keep it pretty quiet about the actual language in the treaty. I've talked to a few tribe members who believe they can hunt when and where they want according to treaty. How would you like to be a CPW Game Warden and try to enforce Colorado's game laws with them when they are off tribal lands.

 

[ColoradoV]

It is the Brunot Agreement guys. I will attach a copy as when I lived in Durango some of the locals did have different rights. Yea they do kill some smoker bucks and bulls.

The way I see it that was in the treaty and we need to live up to it... It should be up to the tribe to make changes not us/me.

Link below

https://www.southernute-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2017-2018-Brunot-Area-Hunting-Proclamation.pdf

 

[mallardsx2]

Yes, I feel that we should uphold the treaty.

However, If they want to hunt like their ancestors did then so be it.

Stones, spears, hand made bows, Strings made from sinew, Arrows made from willow branches and hand knapped broadheads.

There is nothing about keeping with native tradition by going out with a modern firearm and shooting an animal whenever you want.

The same problem is happening in Ontario with the moose. The Indians are going around killing as many moose as they want whenever they want with whatever they want to kill them with. Its a SERIOUS problem up there. The moose population is dwindling because of it.

 

[colowoods]

It is the Brunot Agreement guys. I will attach a copy as when I lived in Durango some of the locals did have different rights. Yea they do kill some smoker bucks and bulls.

The way I see it that was in the treaty and we need to live up to it... It should be up to the tribe to make changes not us/me.

Link below

https://www.southernute-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2017-2018-Brunot-Area-Hunting-Proclamation.pdf

I believe we should honor the treaty also. These harvest quotas were never part of that tho, and will only hurt game populations in the end.

 

[480/277]

How can this be? "First peoples" lived in perfect harmony with the land and only took what they needed.......

I don't know the verbiage of the treaty, however let them kill off the herds on the reservation. But federal lands, they should
Play by the same rules as every else.