Tribal Hunting Sparks Controversy Non-Indians Colide With Yakamas Over Shooting Elk At Feed Station

The Jan. 27 killing of two bull elk near a state-run elk feeding station, has prompted protest meetings and letter-writing campaigns by more than 100 Chinook Pass-area residents.

Yakima County Prosecutor Jeff Sullivan is exploring grounds for filing charges against Joe Young, a former Yakama Indian Nation police chief who shot the elk close to state Highway 410. At issue is whether the feeding site in the tribe’s “usual and accustomed hunting area.”

Under the Treaty of 1855, Yakamas are allowed to hunt bull elk and buck deer year-round within the 10 million acres ceded to the federal government. The tribe retained rights to fish, hunt and gather medicinal plants on that land.

Young defended his kills to the Yakima Herald-Republic, saying “This treaty gives us our right. We can hunt, fish and gather roots within our usual and accustomed places. This was within the ceded area.”

But non-Indian hunters are outraged, arguing it is immoral to kill elk near feeding stations months after the end of hunting season. A similar incident last March also drew protest.

“The way they’re taking these elk right off a feeding station where they’re trying to survive, it’s not fair to the animal or the sportsman,” said Todd Huck, a Naches orchardist and hunter.

Some hunters complain elk hunting shouldn’t be allowed under the treaty because the animals aren’t indigenous to the region but were introduced in 1913 by area sportsman.

Non-Indian hunters also complain they are limited to hunting “spikes,” young male elk with single-prong antlers, to try to build up the herd, while the Yakamas can kill older males, with five- or six-prong racks.

Yakima County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Wilson said he hoped the tribe would be embarrassed by the public outrage.

“It’s not all the Indians doing this. It’s just a few. But it gives all the Indians a black eye,” Wilson said.

Bill Bradley, the Yakama’s fish and wildlife director, described the shootings as legal but as posing “public relations problem” for the tribe.