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In the 1850s, western Washington treaty Indian tribes reserved the right to
continue hunting a variety of game animals in treaties signed with
representatives of the federal government. Like their finfish and shellfish
harvest rights, the tribes' right to manage big game was quickly forgotten and
ignored for more than a century. But unlike finfish and shellfish, the hunting
right has not been fully adjudicated in the federal court system.
In response to this management need, the Point No Point Treaty Council began a comprehensive wildlife management
program for elk, deer, and other game animals on the Olympic Peninsula in 1993
with a grant from the Administration for Native Americans.
The program
currently employs a program coordinator and a wildlife biologist stationed at
Point No Point's central office. The staff help member tribes develop
comprehensive wildlife management programs for a variety of species. They
participate in several different studies, as well as habitat enhancement
projects, population assessment projects, and other biological work that will go
a long way to ensure game numbers on the Olympic Peninsula remain stable for
years to come.
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