In another slap in the face to the Native American tribes of Wisconsin, DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp told the Wisconsin Chippewa that they can “harvest” half of the wolf quota, but they are not allowed to protect them. This is just begging for another lawsuit to be added to the one filed last week to stop the use of dog packs against wolves in Wisconsin. From the article:
“Last week, Zorn sent a letter to Stepp saying a commission task force that deals with hunting rights passed a motion opposing killing any wolves and laying claim to all the wolves in the ceded territory.
“The Tribes’ goal is for all suitable wolf habitat to be fully occupied, thus enabling wolves to perform their appropriate ecological and cultural function on the landscape,” Zorn wrote.
“The State does not have unfettered discretion to exercise its management prerogatives to the detriment of the Tribes’ treaty reserved rights,” he wrote. “It proceeds at its own risk if it moves forward with its current harvest scheme, which will drive down the population and diminish the Tribes’ right to the presence and function of ma’iingan on the landscape.”
Stepp replied that she understands a wolf hunt presents a difficult situation for tribal members, but she contended the treaties give the tribes harvest rights, not preservation rights. She said the DNR would follow the treaty and reserve 85 wolves for tribal hunting, but anything more would infringe on the state’s responsibility to manage the animals.”
So it is perfectly okay to kill these animals in every way imaginable, but it is absolutely wrong to try to protect them? What is wrong with this state, and it’s so-called “leaders?” I have a sneaking suspicion that last week’s lawsuit is just the beginning, and Rep. Scott Suder (R-ALEC), George Meyer, and the bear hounders have awoken a sleeping giant. This insanity is going to hurt their cause far more than it is going to help it.
gannonned
August 16, 2012 at 10:11 pm
So backwards.
Bobette Traul
August 16, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Good God,what is going on. It’s like this state has been taken over by killer aliens. What will the Tribes do now rali? This has to affect the Northwoods some how.
Pete Braun
August 16, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Time for a revolt in the Badger State!
Billy Angus
August 17, 2012 at 3:51 am
Agreed and well put, Pete. 🙂
I would go a step further and revoke Winsconsin’s statehood status,
and 86 that repressive state (along with ID, MT, WY, and MN) from the U.S.A.
and prosecute Gov. Walker on charges of high treason.
Dominique Gutierrez
August 17, 2012 at 2:01 am
Oh my god…My home state is going crazy…..
Billy Angus
August 17, 2012 at 3:48 am
It’s time for our tribes to rise up in rebellion
against these sadistic wolf-hatin’ skullywags,
just like Chief Sitting Bull and his warriors
took on Gen. Custer and his gang.
Native Americans revere wolves very sacred
and they shall always be revered as such,
for they are our brothers.
Mary Nelson
August 17, 2012 at 7:09 am
I am not a member of the tribe but this wolf hunt is just really- really -really WRONG !!!! I hope the tribe fights this with all they have to save this beautiful and scared animal !!!!!!
birdpond
August 17, 2012 at 9:17 am
State-sponsored extinction in the works – And it won’t just be wolves, it will be ANY SPECIES that powerful special-interest lobbies (exploiters) deem ‘inconvenient’.
It’s time to draw a line in the sand NOW and tell these tyrants we’ve had enough and our wildlife is not to be a sacrificial lamb for welfare ranchers and hunters/trappers.
chance123
August 17, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Why should we question Cathy Stepp’s qualifications to run the DNR. After all, she is a Walker appointee who worked in real estate of constuction…I’m sure she can tell the difference between a wolf and a deer. I wonder if the real estate guy who was appointed to the NRB Board is her next door neighbor. The other two appointee’s were a farmer and an outfitter…….Good grief-political cronyism at it’s worst
Bonnie Brumbalough Carlson
August 18, 2012 at 1:28 pm
My word is there no end to the idiots who are chopping at the bits to start killing these magnificent, intelligent animals with the blessings of our greedy politicians?
dani
August 19, 2012 at 11:36 am
This government is the best at making things indigenous, extinct. The Duwamish tribe of Washington state, just to name human victims. Problem here is—-we’re still alive. I am here. I am not dead or extinct. And I am Duwamish, The original home of Chief Seattle-or better know to us his descendants as Si’al.
wolf brother scott
August 20, 2012 at 11:18 am
i h8 politics. they think they are right about everything