Tribes Argue Night-Hunting Of Deer Is Safe

A federal judge is hearing arguments in the dispute over whether Wisconsin’s Indian tribes can legally hunt deer at night in the ceded territory.

A group of tribes organized under the umbrella of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission recently amended their hunting rule to allow for thespotlighting and hunting of deer at night.They took that action after the State of Wisconsin allowed for the hunting of wolves at night.The tribes argue both activities are similar.

The state objected, saying a 1990 court decision let it establish hunting safety guidelines, and that the tribes violated that.Testimony this morning centered on the development of hunting rules.The tribes’ latest witness is an expert hunter, who is expected to say the tribes’ night hunting rules are safe.