By Sally Nickelson, PNPTC Wildlife Biologist
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| Greg Sullivan, a Port Gamble S’Klallam
tribal member, harvested this bull from the Dosewallips herd during the
2000 tribal elk season. This
herd was closed for conservation by the four Point No Point Treaty Tribes
starting in 1990. In 1993,
the tribes convinced the state to close it to state hunting as well, and
the entire Olympic GMU was closed by both the tribes and the state from
1993 through 1996. The herds had recovered enough by the 1997 season that the
tribes and state reopened a limited permit-only hunt, with the tribes
issuing permits by herd, to ensure that no herd is overharvested. The 2000 season is the fourth year of the permit hunt, and
the herds have all remained stable or are increasing.
By Sally Nickelson, PNPTC Wildlife Biologist |