HOOK AND FUR By Bob Brown It is a rare occasion when Washington tribes air their differences with the non-tribal community, and when it does happen, it usually is the result of an intricate and complicated issue. Presently, there is an ongoing dispute between the Suquamish and Tulalip tribes over fishing rights in Puget Sound. Reel News, a sport fishing publication, reported in its September edition the the Suquamish feel they have the right to fish the same Puget Sound waters the Tulalips fish. The Tulalips don't think so and reportedly don't want to share the wealth with another tribe. Jim Goerg, Reel News publishing editor, wrote, "Back in 2005, the Tulalip Tribe asked the courts to find the Suquamish Tribe's usual and accustomed fishing area was limited to the west side of Puget Sound, not the east side the Tulalips claim harvest rights to. The Boldt decision identified the usual and accustomed fishing grounds for each tribe. This has often been contested by different tribes in different areas as they all want a share of each others dollar fishGÇôpie.GÇ¥ In this particular case, a federal district court directed the Tulalips to show the marine areas or named bays not part of the Squeamish fishing grounds. The Tulalips failed in doing so and disagreed with the ruling and appealed the ruling to higher courts. A three judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court said, "We hold that the Tulalip did not satisfy its burden to show Judge Boldt intended to exclude the eastern contested waters from the Suquamish's usual and accustomed area.GÇ¥ Goerg also said the Boldt decision, often contested by recreational and non-tribal commercial fishermen, is now causing discord between neighboring tribes. Could this mean a fish war is brewing? I am wondering the same thing. " The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have lifted drought restrictions for most Puget Sound rivers. Water flow and temperatures are back with the normal range for this time of the year for most rivers prompted the action. A list of rivers where restrictions have been lifted can be found on the department's website. " Wildfires in eastern Washington have burned more than 300,000 acres, destroyed over 100 homes, killed three firefighters and scorched an estimated 25,000 acres of wildlife lands managed by WDFW. This on top of last year's fires has put wildlife in north central Washington between the rock and the hard place. WDFW is assessing the situation and scrambling to find a viable solution. With winter just round the corner, the outlook for deer and elk populations and other wildlife species in those areas are facing a bleak and difficult futurity. Matt Monda, WDFW regional wildlife manager, said, "We know we need to align deer and elk herds with available habitat. Archery seasons are now under way, and WDFW may draw from its existing list of special GÇô hunt applications to increase the number of modern -firearm permit hunts in October.GÇ¥
Bob Brown lives in Roy and is a freelance outdoors writer. He can be reached at robertb1285@centurylink.net
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