Michigan tribe opposes any possible moose hunt in the Upper Peninsula
BY JOHN FLESHER
TRAVERSE CITY -- An American Indian tribe has come out against any possible moose hunt in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and claims to have the legal authority to stop it. A state official called that conclusion premature.
In a statement on its Web site, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians said Thursday that its Inland Conservation Committee believes the U.P. moose herd isn't healthy or stable enough to justify a hunt.
"The Sault Tribe is not in agreement with the State of Michigan concerning the appropriateness of a moose hunt," said Joe Eitrem, the tribal chairman.
In 2007, the state signed an agreement with five tribes outlining inland fishing and hunting rights for tribal members in an area covered by an 1836 treaty that includes parts of both peninsulas. According to the Sault Tribe's statement, the agreement stipulated that there could be no moose hunts "unless the state and the tribes agree that such a harvest is appropriate and agree on an allocation of such harvest."
That provision means all five tribes must endorse a hunt for it to go forward, said Michelle Bouschor, spokeswoman for the Sault Tribe. Other tribes covered by the agreement include the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.
Mary Detloff, spokeswoman for the state Department of Natural Resources, declined to comment on the Sault Tribe's interpretation of the law but said, "We feel their response is premature. We're not even at the point where we have a moose hunt. We may never have one."
DNR biologists say they believe about 430 moose are scattered among portions of Marquette, Baraga and Iron counties in the western U.P., while fewer than 100 range across parts of Alger, Schoolcraft, Luce, and Chippewa counties in the eastern U.P. The western population grew from a group of 59 moose transported to Marquette County from Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada, in the mid-1980s.
The herd fell short of the official goal of 1,000 moose by the year 2000. Scientists say a number of factors probably have limited their growth, including an increase in numbers of whitetail deer, which carry a brainworm parasite fatal to moose. The warming climate also may be a problem. Moose are cold-weather animals, and the Upper Peninsula is on the southern fringe of their comfort zone.
The Sault Tribe said the herd appeared to be growing little if at all, with biologists reporting low pregnancy rates.
The Legislature established an advisory panel on moose hunting last year. In August, the panel recommended an initial season in which 10 bull moose could be killed. Licenses to hunt the moose would cost $100 and be awarded by lottery. The final decision would be made by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, which sets hunting and fishing policies for the state.
If the commission decides to proceed with a hunt, the state would negotiate with the tribes, Detloff said. One question to be resolved is whether the agreement with the five tribes gives them any authority over the western moose herd, because its range is outside the area covered by the 1836 treaty.
A separate treaty signed in 1842 covers the western U.P."It'll be a deliberative process ... a long road," Detloff said.
"The Sault Tribe is not in agreement with the State of Michigan concerning the appropriateness of a moose hunt," said Joe Eitrem, the tribal chairman.
In 2007, the state signed an agreement with five tribes outlining inland fishing and hunting rights for tribal members in an area covered by an 1836 treaty that includes parts of both peninsulas. According to the Sault Tribe's statement, the agreement stipulated that there could be no moose hunts "unless the state and the tribes agree that such a harvest is appropriate and agree on an allocation of such harvest."
That provision means all five tribes must endorse a hunt for it to go forward, said Michelle Bouschor, spokeswoman for the Sault Tribe. Other tribes covered by the agreement include the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.
Mary Detloff, spokeswoman for the state Department of Natural Resources, declined to comment on the Sault Tribe's interpretation of the law but said, "We feel their response is premature. We're not even at the point where we have a moose hunt. We may never have one."
DNR biologists say they believe about 430 moose are scattered among portions of Marquette, Baraga and Iron counties in the western U.P., while fewer than 100 range across parts of Alger, Schoolcraft, Luce, and Chippewa counties in the eastern U.P. The western population grew from a group of 59 moose transported to Marquette County from Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada, in the mid-1980s.
The herd fell short of the official goal of 1,000 moose by the year 2000. Scientists say a number of factors probably have limited their growth, including an increase in numbers of whitetail deer, which carry a brainworm parasite fatal to moose. The warming climate also may be a problem. Moose are cold-weather animals, and the Upper Peninsula is on the southern fringe of their comfort zone.
The Sault Tribe said the herd appeared to be growing little if at all, with biologists reporting low pregnancy rates.
The Legislature established an advisory panel on moose hunting last year. In August, the panel recommended an initial season in which 10 bull moose could be killed. Licenses to hunt the moose would cost $100 and be awarded by lottery. The final decision would be made by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, which sets hunting and fishing policies for the state.
If the commission decides to proceed with a hunt, the state would negotiate with the tribes, Detloff said. One question to be resolved is whether the agreement with the five tribes gives them any authority over the western moose herd, because its range is outside the area covered by the 1836 treaty.
A separate treaty signed in 1842 covers the western U.P."It'll be a deliberative process ... a long road," Detloff said.
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