2008-09 TRIBAL MEMBER REGULATIONS

The following regulations and procedures apply to all Tribal-members and to Non-Members who have been granted hunting rights by the Tribal Council of the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

R1.    METHODS OF LEGALLY TAKING GAME

A.            BIG GAME, except Elk may be legally taken with the following weapons:

i.              Center fire rifles, muzzle-loading rifles, and all other rifles using black powder or pyrodex.

ii.             Center fire handguns and handguns of a caliber not less than .44 Magnum.   

iii.            Shotguns shooting slugs.

iv.            Bows having a standard pull of forty or more pounds, using arrows with metal broadheads no less than 7/8-inch width cutting edges.

v.             Javelina may additionally be taken with .22 rimfire magnum rifles and 5mm Rimfire rifles.

 

B.            ELK  may be legally taken with the following weapons:

i.              Center fire rifles having a caliber of .243 or greater.  Illegal calibers include but are not limited to the following: .22, .22 Magnum, 5mm, .222 and/or .22/250.   

ii.             Bows having a standard pull of 50 or more pounds using arrows with metal broadheads having no less than 7/8-inch width cutting edges. Mechanical broadheads of any type (broadheads having hinged/rotating blades) are prohibited.

iii.            Center fire handguns and handguns of caliber not less than .44 Magnum.

 

C.                            SMALL GAME (EXCEPT MIGRATORY BIRDS, BLUE GROUSE AND QUAIL) may  be legally taken with the following weapons:

i.              Any firearm, bow and arrow, pneumatic weapon, or sling shot not prohibited in section R2.B. (below).

                               

D.            MIGRATORY BIRDS and UPLAND GAME BIRDS may be taken only with the following weapons:

i.              Shotguns NOT larger than 10 gauge shooting shot.  Waterfowl hunting requires the use of shotguns NOT larger than 10 gauge shooting non-lead shot only.

ii.             Bow and arrow not prohibited in section R2.B. (below).

E.             PREDATORY AND FUR-BEARING MAMMALS may be legally taken with any firearm, bow & arrow or trap not prohibited in section R2.B. (below).

F.             OTHER MAMMALS AND BIRDS  may be taken during the season by any means not prohibited in section R2.B., except for foothold traps.

 

R2.    HUNTING REGULATIONS

 

A.            HEADS of all big game species must remain attached to the hide and be transported with the game carcass at all times, for field identification purposes.

B.            PROHIBITED WEAPONS, AMMUNITION and DEVICES:  The following devices and ammunition are prohibited for the taking of any wildlife on the Reservation and may not be possessed in the field while hunting.

i.              Fully automatic firearms, including firearms capable of selective automatic fire.

ii.             Tracer ammunition and full metal-jacketed bullets.

iii.            Shotguns larger than 10 gauge; shotguns capable of holding more than two shells in the magazine, unless plugged with a one-piece filler incapable of removal without disassembling the gun.

iv.            Semi-automatic centerfire rifles with a magazine capacity of more than five shells.

v.             Contrivances designed to silence, muffle, or minimize the report of a firearm.

vi.            Poisoned arrows, or arrows with explosive tips.

vii.           Crossbows and other bows having devices attached to hold to bow in drawn position are prohibited.

viii.          The use of artificial light to spotlight wild animals or birds is illegal.

ix.            Rifles and shotguns having total barrel length less than 24 inches. 

 

C.            TIME PERIODS FOR THE TAKING OF GAME

 

i.              Big game, wild mammals, and birds may be taken only during daylight hours, DEFINED AS: ½ hour before sunrise through ½ hour after sunset.

ii.             Migratory game birds may be taken only at such times as authorized by Tribal and Federal Laws.

iii.            Nongame mammals, predatory and fur-bearing mammals permitted under Tribal trapping regulations may be taken by trap day or night.

 

R3.    SPECIAL REGULATIONS

A.                  NON-MEMBERS (anyone who is not a registered member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe) may not be in the field with Tribal Members during any of the Special Draw hunting seasons. Exempt from this regulation are immediate, non-member relatives of tribal-members such as husband, wife, children, brother or sister (immediate family).

B.                  DEFINITION OF A JUNIOR:  To qualify for a junior permit the individual must be a bonafide tribal member, between the ages of 10 and through the calendar year of their 16th birthday and successfully complete an approved hunter education course.  

C.            BLAZE ORANGE At least one (1) of the following items of blaze orange clothing must be worn at all times by all tribal members participating in any of the Tribal Member Big Game hunts: Hat, Bandanna, Vest, Pullover, Jacket, Coveralls, & Pants. Blaze orange is not required for the following hunts: 1F., 2A., 2H. ARCHERY and 5B

D.            JUVENILES The minimum age requirement to obtain a Tribal hunting tag or permit of any kind is 10 years old, subject to the Juvenile’s mandatory successful completion of an approved hunter education course. All hunters under the age of eighteen (18) years must be accompanied by an adult while in the field.

E.             HUNTER EDUCATION COURSE REQUIREMENT: Tribal-member hunters born after December 31, 1980 may apply for all big game draw hunts and raffles, but must present a certificate or other proof of successful completion of an approved Hunter Education Course in order to obtain any Tribal Big Game permits.

F.             ALL BIG GAME HUNTING PERMITS must be validated, by signature, prior to entering the field and conducting any hunting activities on the reservation.

G.            GUIDING OR OUTFITTING FOR: TROPHY ELK/BIGHORN SHEEP/ANTELOPE/TURKEY/BEAR/MOUNTAIN LION on the Reservation is strictly prohibited without proper registration/licensing through the White Mountain Apache Tribe W&ORD office.  

H.                  WHILE THE TROPHY ELK HUNT IS IN PROGRESS (SEPTEMBER 1, 2007 THROUGH OCTOBER 5, 2007), ALL UNITS EXCEPT UNITS 8 & 10 ARE CLOSED TO ALL TYPES OF HUNTING.

I.                     UNIT 8 IS NO LONGER CONSIDERED PART OF ZONE 1. UNIT 8 IS ONLY OPEN TO PERSONS HUNTING UNIT 8 TROPHY ELK, UNIT 8 TROPHY DEER, GENERAL ELK, FALL TURKEY, SPRING GOBBLER, BLACK BEAR and MOUNTAIN LION. UNIT 8 IS CLOSED TO ALL OTHER BIG GAME HUNTING.

J.                   SPOTLIGHTING OF ANY TYPE IS PROHIBITED.

K.                  ALL BIG GAME MUST BE TAGGED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE KILL in accordance with the instructions on the tag.

L.                   ONLY THE PERSON WHO’S NAME IS ON THE VALID HUNTING TAG MAY PURSUE, KILL AND/OR ATTEMPT TO KILL BIG GAME.  You may not hunt with someone else’s tag.

M.                 PORTABLE TREE STANDS are allowed for archery hunts only. Stands must be completely removed by the hunter at the end of the season for which the stand is being utilized. Permanent stands of any form are strictly prohibited.

N.                  ALL FORMS OF BAITING and BAITING CONTRIVANCES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. 

HUNT APPLICATION and TAG/PERMIT PURCHASE  INFORMATION

 

H1.    TAG/PERMIT INFORMATION

 

A.            ALL HUNTING TAGS MUST BE PICKED-UP IN PERSON AT THE W&ORD OFFICE IN WHITERIVER* (Office hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday). 

                I.              A Tribal I.D. card or Affidavit of Tribal Membership (from B.I.A. or Tribal Council Secretary) must be presented at the time of application, or when tags are purchased.

                II.*          Tribal Members attending school off of the reservation and Tribal Members employed off of the reservation may send a substitute to purchase big-game tags in their place, HOWEVER, the substitute must present the W&ORD with a letter from the appropriate institution verifying the student’s enrollment, (Tribal Higher Education Department, etc.), or a letter from the Tribal Member’s immediate supervisor, on official stationary/letterhead, verifying employment off of the reservation and that the person is unable to purchase their tags in person due to school/work obligations. The substitute must also present all documentation pertaining to Tribal enrollment and Hunter Education course completion, (if applicable), for the person they are purchasing the tag(s) for.

 

B.            PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND SENIOR CITIZENS (55 and older) will be issued permits for the following hunts free of charge: General Elk (2B), Fall Turkey (5A) and Black Bear (7). Physically handicapped and senior citizens are eligible for a 50% discount on all Special Draw hunt permits.

C.            DUPLICATE TAGS WILL NOT BE ISSUED. It is your responsibility to take care of your tags.

D.            TRANSFER OF TRIBAL-MEMBER HUNTING TAGS IS NO LONGER ALLOWED.

E.             MULTIPLE ELK TAGS: Tribal Members may only hold one (1) elk tag per calendar year.

F.                                                                             MULTIPLE DEER TAGS: The successful 2007 SUPER MULE DEER TAG raffle tag winner is also eligible to hold the following Mule Deer tag combinations:

1. SUPER MULE DEER TAG and a Zone Mule Deer tag (1.C.). OR 2.  SUPER MULE DEER TAG and a Unit 8 Trophy Deer tag (1.D.).

OR

3. SUPER MULE DEER TAG and a 55+ Deer tag (1.E.).

OR

4. SUPER MULE DEER TAG and an Archery Deer tag (1.F.).

 

G.            HUNTER QUESTIONAIRES must be completed from the previous year by all 2006 big-game tag applicants and new 2007 applicants before any 2007-2008 Big Game applications will be accepted and processed.

 

H2.    HUNT APPLICATIONS AND DRAWINGS

                A.            EXHIBIT I All draw hunts (hunt numbers: 1B, 1C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3 and 4).

1.                    1C - MULEDEER – 165 tags issued by draw, 55 in Zone 1, 80 in Zone 2 & 45 in Zone 3B.

2.                    1D-TROPHY DEER UNIT 8  - 20 tags issued by draw, Unit 8 only.

3.                    2D – FALL BULL ELK ZONE 1 – 75 tags issued by draw.

4.                    2E – FALL BULL ELK ZONE 2 – 65 tags issued by draw.

5.                    2G – FALL BULL ELK ZONE 3B – 35 tags issued by draw.

6.                    2H - TROPHY BULL ELK UNIT 8 – 18 Rifle tags issued by draw, 23 archery tags issued over the counter, Unit 8 and the area between Carrizo Creek and the Amos Wash road (R-9) and north of the Black & Salt Rivers in Unit 10 only.

7.                   3 – PRONGHORN ANTELOPE – 5 tags issued by draw, 2 tags in Zone 1 & 3 tags in Zone 2.

 

                                                EXHIBIT II The Super Mule Deer tag will be issued through a Special Raffle, hunt number 1.B.

 

                B.            APPLICATION & DEADLINE INFORMATION         

             Beginning June 18, 2007 applications will be accepted for draws for all hunt drawings. The close of business on August 24, 2007 is the deadline to return all draw applications. Successful applicants may purchase their tags beginning September 14, 2007. All other non-draw hunt tags may be purchased beginning September 14, 2007 unless otherwise indicated herein.

 

C.                  DRAW TAG PURCHASE DEADLINE INFORMATION

The deadline to purchase all draw tags, except Super Mule Deer, Unit 8 Trophy Bull Elk Rifle and Pronghorn Antelope, is the close of business Friday, October 12, 2007.

 

D.            HUNT DRAW METHODS

All hunt tags issued through Draw (hunt numbers: 1B, 1C, 2D, 2E, 2G, 2H Rifle and 3) are conducted through a live random draw of hunt applications that are mailed or hand-delivered to the W&ORD office in Whiteriver on/before applicable hunt application deadline dates. All draw applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable $5.00 application fee, which is due at the time of application. The drawing will be held on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at the Veteran’s Building in Whiteriver. Applicants need not be present to be drawn. The drawing will follow the following order: Pronghorn Antelope, Unit 8 Trophy Elk, Unit 8 Trophy Deer, Fall Bull Elk and Mule Deer. A list of all successful applicants and alternates for each respective draw hunt will be posted outside the W&ORD office in Whiteriver on Monday, September 3, 2007. 

E.             UNCLAIMED/LEFTOVER SPECIAL DRAW TAGS will be issued by a alternate draw list for

each hunt, not on a first-come-first-served basis. The amount of time an alternate or group of alternates has to pick up their tags will be determined by the number of unclaimed/left over tags and the number of alternates for a particular zone. If all available tags for a particular zone hunt are not sold before the first day of the season to all successful applicants and alternates for that zone hunt, alternates from other zones for that particular hunt may purchase any available tags. Hunt applications will be required at the time of purchase of alternate draw hunting tags and will include a $5.00 fee.

F.                   Only ONE (1) application will be accepted for any special draw hunt, i.e., you may not apply for all three zones for the Bull Elk and Mule Deer draws.

G.                  If you are successfully drawn for a Fall Bull Elk and/or a Mule Deer permit YOU MAY NOT SWITCH ZONES! 

H.                  SUPER MULE DEER RAFFLE TICKET AVAILABILITY AND DEADLINE INFORMATION

Raffle tickets for the Super Mule Deer tag will be available beginning July 9, 2007 at the W&ORD office in Whiteriver and at the Hon-Dah Ski & Outdoor Sport shop. Tribal Members may purchase as many raffle tickets as they wish. The raffle will be held on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at the Veteran’s Building in Whiteriver. Applicants need not be present to win. One alternate will be drawn for this hunt.  The winner of the Super Mule Deer tag is subject to the Hunter Education Course Requirement (Section R3.E.) The Deadline to pick up the Super Mule Deer tag is close of business September 14, 2007.

This booklet is a synopsis of the White Mountain Apache Tribe hunting regulations and does not contain all of the laws and regulations relating to hunting, fishing and recreation. For complete laws and codes, consult the White Mountain Apache Tribe Game & Fish Code or contact the White Mountain Apache Tribe Wildlife & Outdoor Recreation Division Law Enforcement Department. These regulations apply to all enrolled members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe and those non—members who have been granted Tribal Member hunting rights by the Tribal Council of the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

 

Visit us at: www.wmatoutdoors.org

 

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED !!!

POACHERS STEAL FROM US ALL. IF YOU SEE A HUNTING VIOLATION PLEASE REPORT IT.  YOUR INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IF YOUR INFORMATION LEADS TO AN ARREST.

 

REPORT-A-POACHER (928-338-1023)

HOW YOU CAN HELP    

The following is a list of information to look for and make a note of. Often by the time an officer reaches the scene of the crime, the perpetrator has fled.

*How many suspects?

*Physical description of suspect(s), height, weight, clothing, etc.

*Description of suspect’s vehicle:

          License plate.        

          Make.

          Model.

          Body style.

          Color.

*Time incident occurred.  

*Exact location where the incident occurred.      

Call 928-338-1023 as soon as possible after witnessing a violation. The more information you have and the fresher it is, the more likely a case can be made.

 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT EVALENE TULENE AT THE W&ORD OFFICE (928)338-4385 EXT 234.