Colville Tribes approve wolf hunting season on former reservation in Washington

Tuesday, August 8, 2017  

Leaders of the Colville Tribes approved a wolf management plan that allows hunting on its former reservation in Washington.

According to The Spokesman-Review, tribal citizens will be able to hunt up to three gray wolves per season. But the quota will be lowered if the wolf population drops, The Tribal Tribune reported.

The hunting will occur on an an area known as the North Half of the reservation. The tribe ceded the land to the federal government in 1892 but retained hunting and fishing rights there.

The area extends from the northern border of the current reservation to the Canadian border.

The gray wolf is an important part of Colville society -- the animal is featured prominently on the tribe's seal. Chairman Michael Marchand told The Seattle Times that tribal leaders used to keep them as pets.

Read More on the Story:
Colville Tribe expands wolf hunting off reservation while pro-wolf groups wail (The Spokesman-Review 8/7)
Colville tribes to open hunt on wolves near Canadian border (The Seattle Times 8/5)
CBC set to vote on North Half wolf hunting season, Thursday (The Tribal Tribune 8/2)