CSKT depredation hunts target female deer, elk for population control
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News from CSKT Natural Resources
Flathead Reservation — It is September, hunting season is upon us.
A reminder that CSKT tribal members can now harvest female deer and elk as of Sept. 1. CSKT Wildlife Management would like to encourage those of you hunting for subsistence needs to consider harvesting female animals this year. Our deer and elk populations throughout the reservation have reached an all-time high; in an effort to reduce complaints valley-wide, we need to focus efforts on population control. The harvest of female animals is the only way to achieve this goal.
The Tribal Wildlife Management Program has a Depredation Hunt Program that pairs CSKT tribal members with Flathead Reservation private landowners to grant access to private land for big game harvest. The program is often mutually beneficial.
Landowners may be experiencing a loss of crops or damage to their property as a result of deer or elk pressure. Currently, our only tool for relieving this pressure is tribal member hunter access.
Tribal members participating in depredation hunts are asked to be respectful while hunting on private property. Private property owners may set preference of harvest on their property. Rules on private land may include: harvest of a particular sex either cows/does only, or bulls/bucks only. Please understand and follow what the property owner prefers. They can report any infractions to tribal game wardens.
Please see the hunting, fishing, and recreation regulations for tribal members for general harvest and hunting rules. They apply while hunting on tribal, private, or aboriginal lands.
While hunting on private property, remember to leave it as you found it. If a gate is closed, reclose it after going through. Do not leave trash behind, “pack it in, pack it out.” Do not go off road to retrieve game animals unless you have specific permission to do so. Treat the land as if it were your own.
We appreciate our tribal member hunters assistance in this program, but please consider, a couple of bad acts can leave a lasting impression for all tribal hunters, so treat these properties with respect and you may have a place to hunt for years to come.
Gather up your kids, nieces and nephews and show the younger generation where their food comes from. Consider mentoring a non-family tribal member who wants to learn how to hunt. Don’t forget to reach out to your tribal elders who could use some meat for their freezer with cold months ahead.
For any questions, contact Whisper Camel-Means, Tribal Wildlife Management Program Manager at 406-883-2888 ext. 7224 or to sign up for the Depredation Hunt Program contact Shannon Clairmont, Tribal Wildlife Biologist at ext. 7242.
