Program Accomplishments
The program has purchased and placed radio collars in nine herds at a cost of
more than $10,000 to help with migration and population studies.
Biologists have monitored nine elk herds for composition, movement,
migration, and habitat use, and monitored an additional three herds jointly with
the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
The staff has also closely monitored four culturally important elk herds in the east
and south Olympics to obtain exact population counts, in cooperation with WDFW.
Biologists have conducted five mark-resight elk population estimates
at a flight and
supplies cost of about $12,000 each. Biologists have conducted 11 spring and fall elk herd composition surveys to
obtain productivity (calf/cow ratios), bull/cow ratios and spike/branch bull
ratios in six Game Management Units (GMU's) on the Olympic Peninsula at a flight cost of about $750
each. In 1998 the staff calculated elk population reconstructions for all GMU's on the Olympic
Peninsula in cooperation with WDFW and other Olympic Peninsula tribes. This
gave an additional population estimate for all GMU's hunted by PNPTC tribes.
Population Protection and Enhancement
In 1990, the Point No Point Treaty tribes closed tribal elk hunting in the
Dosewallips drainage, three years before the state closed state elk hunting in
this area.
In 1995, the tribes closed tribal elk hunting in the South Fork
Skokomish drainage, one year before the state closed state elk hunting there.
In 1995, the staff assisted WDFW and other cooperators in the relocation of elk from
the Dungeness to the Dosewallips drainage.
In 1997, the staff relocated elk from the Chehalis Valley to the South Fork Skokomish
River drainage. Cooperative project with WDFW, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF),
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and numerous private citizen groups. PNPTC's portion of
the costs was about $11,000.
In 1997, in a cooperative project with Simpson
Timber Company, WDFW, Tacoma Public Utilities and the USFS, the program purchased a gate
at a cost of $2,000 to protect the winter range of the South Fork
Skokomish elk herd.
Since 1994, program staff have commented on all Habitat Conservation Plans in the
PNP tribal hunting area to ensure wildlife and treaty hunting rights are protected.
Since 1994, staff have reviewed and commented on all land use projects in the areas PNP tribes open
for hunting that may adversely affect wildlife and treaty hunting.
In 1997, staff conducted an elk habitat enhancement project with
WDFW and a private landowner in the Dosewallips drainage, including purchasing
$1,500 in fertilizer.
In 1999, staff participated in an elk forage enhancement project of
seeding and fertilization for the Dungeness elk herd. This was another cooperative project with WDFW, USFS,
RMEF and a local citizen's committee.
In 1999, staff developed an elk management plan for the Olympic Peninsula,
in cooperation with WDFW and the other Olympic Peninsula tribes.
For more information on wildlife management please visit the
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission web site at: www.nwifc.wa.gov/hunting
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