Shoshone Tribe Allows Elk Hunting In January Tribal Biologist Who Was Critical Of Late Hunts Had Been Laid Off

Shoshone-Bannock Indians hunted big game well into January this year despite their biologist’s objections to late-hunt proposals in previous years.

This time, the tribes’ biologist was not around to discuss it.

Dan Christopherson was laid off due to the federal budget impasse when the Fort Hall Business Council voted to extend the season on elk, deer and moose through Jan. 31. The council has asked his opinion on such extensions before, and Christopherson always opposed them.

Tribal hunters took advantage of the one-month extension by hunting elk on the desert wintering grounds of Fremont County. Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials fear the late hunt drove the 3,000-elk herd uphill into deeper snow, where the animals are more susceptible to stress and starvation.

Christopherson said he expressed the same concerns when the tribal council considered extending the season in previous years.

“To go and hunt them in there, it hurts the whole herd,” he said. “We hunt on that herd later in the year, so it hurts us.”

The tribes have treaty rights entitling them to set their own hunting rules on federal lands. The state enforces safety rules during their hunt, but not the season length. The tribal season usually runs from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31.

Christopherson said he probably would have opposed a late hunt again this year, but he was laid off from mid-December until last week.

Indian hunters asked for the extension because of economic hardship on the Fort Hall Reservation, tribal Vice Chairman Keith Tinno said.

Fish and Game confirmed the harvest of 12 elk - all adult bulls - on the Fremont wintering grounds in January, state conservation officer Joe Curry said. But he suspects the actual number of animals taken could range up to 50. Unusually dry weather allowed access to game for the first two weeks of the month before heavy snowfall essentially closed the area.