Night Deer Hunt On Hold

A federal judge in Madison hasgranted the state the authority to prevent Ojibwe tribal members from hunting at night on tribal ceded territory. In a ruling yesterday, Judge Barbara Crabb effectively suspended an order issued last week by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, which allowed tribal members to use lights to hunt deer after dark. Judge Crabb scheduled a hearing for December 12th when attorneys for the tribes and the state will present arguments for and against tribal night hunting rights. A spokesperson for the tribal Commission says it has suspended issuing permits until after the hearing. The state claims hunting deer at night is dangerous, but the tribes point to state regulations that allow night hunting for fox and coyote, and claim tribal hunters have to meet strict safety requirements to get the new night hunting permits.