CHAPTER 18-8
BIG GAME HARVEST REGULATIONS

18-8-1 General Big Game Provision.

It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt, take, harvest, or pursue any big game animal by any method other than prescribed in this title and/or section.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020)

18-8-2 Tribal Member Hunting Season; No License Required.

(A)    A tribal member may hunt big game at any time throughout the year.

(B)    A tribal member shall not be required to acquire or possess a license to hunt big game.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2012-223, October 5, 2012; amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020)

18-8-3 Number of Big Game Permits Available.

The number of big game harvest permits available for harvest in each big game unit pursuant to this title for each twelve (12) month period commencing January 1st and ending December 31st shall be limited to the number established by the Fish and Wildlife Division. Except tribal members, no person who has not obtained a permit shall hunt on Reservation lands or big game units of the Reservation lands for which the maximum number of permits have been issued.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020)

18-8-4 Big Game Permits/Tags.

(A)    Except for tribal members, no person shall hunt big game on the Reservation pursuant to this chapter without possessing a valid big game license or permit approved by the Nation.

(B)    Except for tribal members, no person shall hunt big game without possessing a valid carcass tag, except as provided in Section 18-8-12 (Group Deer Hunting).

(C)    The Tribal Police Fish and Wildlife Division shall not issue more than two (2) tags at one (1) time to a person. No big game permits shall be considered valid for any big game unit or Reservation lands:

(1)    Which is shown to be closed.

(2)    For which the permit is marked as invalid.

(3)    On which any big game permit unit or Reservation harvest number has been slit, punched through or otherwise crossed out in any fashion.

(D)    No person shall move or field dress any big game animal before affixing to it a valid carcass tag; except that members of the Nation are not required to place a carcass tag on their big game unless transporting big game off the Reservation.

(E)    No person shall hunt or harvest big game without their valid license(s) and tag(s) in their possession.

(F)    No person designated to harvest big game for a senior citizen or disabled person shall fail to deliver the validly tagged carcass to such senior citizen or disabled person.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020)

18-8-5 Accomplishment of Big Game.

It shall be unlawful for any big game permittee to transport any big game without being present with the carcass until such time as the carcass is processed. Nor shall anyone knowingly accept for and transport another’s big game without the valid license holder present or written permission from the person providing the game or parts thereof. This section shall not apply to any authorized enforcement persons who in the course of their duties transport any such seized big game, or to senior/disabled citizens.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020)

18-8-6 Reserved.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020. Formerly 18-8-7)

18-8-7 Permissible Methods.

No person shall hunt big game animals except by use of a firearm or bow and arrow, the use of which is not prohibited by this title.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020. Formerly 18-8-9)

18-8-8 Firearms Restrictions.

No person shall hunt big game animals:

(A)    With a .22 caliber rimfire long rifle, 5mm rimfire rifle, or a .17 caliber rifle to include any equivalent caliber or smaller.

(B)    With any handgun except a handgun which is leaded with .357, .41, or .44 magnum caliber handgun chambered or commercially manufactured cartridges which produce a minimum muzzle energy of one thousand (1,000) foot-pounds and which has a minimum barrel length of six (6) inches measured from the muzzle of the firing pin with the action closed.

(C)    With a shot shell containing shot of any size less than a slug.

(D)    With a shotgun with a barrel less than eighteen (18) inches.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020. Formerly 18-8-10)

18-8-9. to 18-8-10

Reserved.

18-8-11 Bow/Cross Restrictions.

No person shall hunt big game:

(A)    With a bow having a pull strength less than thirty (30) pounds or using an arrow that does not have a broadhead.

(B)    With a crossbow unless the crossbow:

(1)    Is fired from the shoulder.

(2)    Has a minimum draw weight of one hundred (100) pounds.

(3)    Has a stock of not less than thirty (30) continuing inches in length.

(4)    Is used with arrows and bolts of not less than fourteen (14) inches with a broadhead.

(5)    Has a working safety.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020. Formerly 18-8-13)

18-8-12 Group Deer Hunting.

As used in this section:

(A)    “Contact” means visual or voice contact with or without the aid of any mechanical or electronic device.

(B)    “Group big game hunting party” means two (2) or more persons lawfully hunting big game in a group under this title.

(C)    Any person of a group big game hunting party may kill big game for another person of the group if the following conditions exist:

(1)    At the time and place of the kill, the person who kills the big game must be in verbal contact with the person for whom the big game was killed.

(2)    If the person for whom the big game is killed is not a tribal member, he or she must possess a valid big game license and carcass tag for the unit or Reservation lands in which the big game is killed.

(3)    A person who kills a big game animal must ensure that, without delay a person of his/her big game hunting group attach a valid carcass tag prior to field dressing and moving the animal. No big game killed under this provision shall be left unattended until after it is properly tagged.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020. Formerly 18-8-14)

18-8-13 Transportation.

All big game animals must be properly tagged before transporting, except that tribal members are not required to place a carcass tag on their big game unless transporting the big game off the Reservation.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020. Formerly 18-8-16)

18-8-14 Hunting on Certain Lands Prohibited.

No person hunting under a tribal big game permit shall hunt on any designated tribal, Federal or State wildlife refuge unless permitted by law with appropriate license or required permit.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020. Formerly 18-8-17)

18-8-15 Sale of Big Game and Big Game Parts.

(A)    No person shall sell, purchase, barter, or trade any big game animal or meat from any big game animal.

(B)    Nothing in this title shall prohibit the sale of hides, bones, heads, or dried antlers from a legally harvested big game animal or the trading of such parts for use in traditional or religious ceremonies. Dried antlers that have been naturally shed or dropped by big game animals may be sold, purchased or traded.

(C)    Nothing shall prohibit the sale of big game managed by the Nation or Tribal Police Fish and Wildlife Division for management and financial purposes to further develop their respective programs.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020. Formerly 18-8-18)

18-8-16 Removal and Retention of Tags.

(A)    No person who kills big game pursuant to this title shall remove a carcass or registration tag from that big game animals until such time as the carcass is butchered or processed for consumption.

(B)    No person who kills big game animals pursuant to this title shall dispose of the carcass tag until all the meat is consumed. All packaged meat must have the hunter’s name, year of kill and license number clearly printed on each package.

(C)    Any person who receives meat from another as a gift is exempt from the carcass tag provision but must clearly print the date received on each package and initial each package.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020. Formerly 18-8-19)

18-8-17 Deer Stands.

(A)    Deer Stand Permit. The Tribal Police Division of Fish and Wildlife is authorized to issue a deer stand permit which shall be required by any person who hunts on land owned by the Nation and who wishes to erect and/or maintain a deer stand on land owned by the Nation.

(B)    Limit.

(1)    Non-members and Non-Indians. The Division of Fish and Wildlife shall issue no more than two (2) deer stand permits per hunting season for non-members and non-Indians who hold a valid tribal hunting license.

(2)    Tribal Members. The Division of Fish and Wildlife shall issue no more than two (2) deer stand permits per year.

(C)    Permit Information. The permit shall contain the following information: name, address and enrollment number of sponsor; name, address, date of birth and physical description of individual being sponsored.

(D)    Definitions.

(1)    Deer Stand. A deer stand may be one (1) of the following:

(a)    Ground Blind – Any structure that is constructed or placed on the ground, including structures elevated on posts or legs, for the purpose of sheltering or concealing person(s) engaged in hunting, photographing, or observing wildlife.

(b)    Tree Stand – Any structure that is constructed or placed in a tree for the purpose of supporting and/or concealing person(s) engaged in hunting, photographing, or observing wildlife.

(E)    General Rules.

(1)    Any ground blind or tree stand placed on tribal-owned land must have attached to it the permit provided by the Tribal Police Division of Fish and Wildlife.

(2)    Driving, screwing, or otherwise placing nails, screws, lag bolts, spikes, or any other metal objects into trees located on tribal-owned lands, for the purpose of constructing a ground blind or tree stand, is prohibited and unlawful.

(3)    Tree stands placed into trees located on tribal-owned lands must be portable, removable, and not damaging to the tree that they are placed into.

(4)    (a)    Tribal members may leave a tree stand in place for no more than one (1) year.

(b)    Sponsored non-members and non-Indians may leave a tree stand in place no longer than the period of sponsorship.

(5)    A ground blind that is constructed of natural materials, untreated sawn lumber, untreated manufactured wood products similar to plywood or wood flakeboard, cloth made of natural fibers, and cord or rope made of natural fibers, and whose exterior dimensions do not exceed four (4) feet by eight (8) feet may be placed on tribal-owned lands, but must be completely removed from those lands when the owner of that blind no longer intends to use it. Use of any plastic, fiberglass, tar paper, roofing materials, carpeting, glass, wood that is painted and/or treated with preservatives, or other manmade materials, in the construction of ground blinds placed on tribal-owned lands is prohibited, and unlawful, except when done in compliance with this section.

(6)    Ground blinds that contain material prohibited by this section and that are designed to be portable may be placed on tribal-owned lands if removed from those lands on the same day they are placed on them, except during the time period of September 1st through December 31st when they may be left in place without daily removal.

(7)    Steel nails and fasteners may be used in the construction of ground blinds on tribal-owned lands except that placing those nails or fasteners into trees is prohibited and unlawful. Use of stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or other non-ferrous metallic fasteners and wire in the construction of ground blinds placed on tribal-owned lands except for those used in compliance with this section is prohibited and unlawful.

(8)    All materials and objects deposited on tribal-owned lands by persons utilizing tree stands, and ground blinds shall be completely removed from those tribal-owned lands in compliance with this section.

(9)    The penalty for violation of subsections (E)(1) through (9) of this section shall be no more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each incident, and the Tribal Police Division of Fish and Wildlife is authorized to enforce these regulations.

(10)    The Tribal Police Division of Fish and Wildlife is authorized and directed to remove and/or destroy ground blinds and tree stands placed on tribal-owned lands in violation of these regulations.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2012-223, October 5, 2012; amended by PBP TC No. 2017-335, October 26, 2017; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020. Formerly 18-8-20)

18-8-18 Big Game Interference.

(A)    No person shall willfully obstruct or impede the participation of any individual in the lawful activity of taking or attempting to take big game, or engage in an activity specifically intended to harass or prevent the lawful taking of big game.

(B)    The provisions of this section shall not apply to the actions of law enforcement officers and personnel of the PBPN government in the performance of their official duties and shall not obstruct or impede the legal rights and normal activities of landowners or tenants including, but not limited to, farming, ranching and the right to limit trespass.

(Amended by PBP TC No. 2018-286, October 10, 2018; amended by PBP TC No. 2020-123, April 8, 2020)