Dec. 13–A federal judge has sided with the Department of Natural Resources and rejected plans by Chippewa tribes to use lights to hunt deer at night on ceded territories of northern Wisconsin.
The tribes had planned to embark on night hunting last fall, but the DNR objected and said a 1989 federal court ruling had established the agency’s authority to control the practice of shining deer on non-tribal lands in northern Wisconsin, where Chippewa Indians have special rights to gather, hunt and fish.
In a brief statement, DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp said the agency will review the decision by Judge Barbara B. Crabb over the next few days.
“Upon initial review, the department is pleased that Judge Crabb has clarified the law, reaffirming that night hunting of deer by members of the Chippewa Tribe is not a treaty right,” Stepp said.
“An issue of this magnitude justified a close review by the court. The department felt it necessary to defend state interests and in doing so, public safety has been protected.”
A spokeswoman for the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission declined to comment because staff had not had time to review the ruling.
The tribes’ move arose after the Legislature authorized the state’s first sanctioned wolf hunt in 2012 in state history. The tribes oppose wolf hunting.
Crabb earlier agreed to a request by the DNR to stop the night hunting until she could render a decision.