It’s time to get your name in for the Elk Draw

Posted on by heathersthomson

The Lands, Resources and Infrastructure Department is happy to announce that the Nation has been allocated one Elk for this season and is offering a Lottery to qualified HFN citizens for the 2016-17 hunting season. The harvest area will be in the Klanawa Watershed which is within the Maa-nulth Wildlife Harvest Area, Elk Hunt Zone 1- 03B-Klanawa.
Applications will be accepted September 19th to 26th, 2016 (closing at 4:00 pm) at both offices (PAGO & AGO) and by e-mail. The HFN Elk season will run September 27, 2016 to March 31, 2017. Application forms will be available at both HFN Government Offices where licenses and certificates can also be brought in for copying. Click here for the form: Huu-ay-aht Elk Draw Form 2016
Criteria for eligibility for this draw are:

  • Must be a Huu-ay-aht Citizen enrolled in the Maa-nulth Treaty,
  • Must have a current Possession & Acquisition License (PAL) or FAC,
  • Must have a valid Huu-ay-aht Harvesting Card,
  • The Maa-nulth Harvesting card must be checked off for hunting,
  • You must have passed and have a certificate for the B.C. Hunter Training Program. If you were over the age of 19 on the Effective Date of Treaty (April 1, 2011), you are exempt from this requirement.

As outlined in the Maa-nulth Wildlife Harvest Plan, all Maa-nulth Nations have signed off on a “herd growth” approach to management (as opposed to a herd reduction or herd maintenance approach). This means the target will be ‘spike bulls’ since about 50% of spike bulls survive their first winter when they leave the protection of the cows. Bulls generally lead solitary lives in the winter, while the cows stay together and protect the young.
The successful applicant of this lottery must also agree to:

  1. Fill out a Maa-nulth Wildlife Harvest Form, which includes information such as effort, date of harvest, location & sex
  2. Collect and provide to the HFN the front incisor tooth from the killed elk, for age and condition assessment.
  3. Gift one hind quarter to the HFN and drop off at custom cut game processor for butchering, with the Tayii Ḥaw̓ił receiving a prime cut (roast).

The winning hunter must also understand that a wounded animal which is not recovered is considered a kill and the hunt is over. This measure is designed to ensure responsible harvesting and promote the growth of local elk herds.

We would like to remind all HFN citizens to report the date, location and sex of all elk sightings to help us understand the local population.

Respectfully,

Christine Gruman
Lands and Resources Specialist
Huu-ay-aht First Nations

For a digital form of this letter, see: Elk Draw 2016 Final

One thought on “It’s time to get your name in for the Elk Draw”

  1. Just inquiring about the new criteria for the eligibility of this years elk draw, as it states last years winner will not be eligible. Does this mean as of this year the previous winner will not be selected or does this mean last years winner as in me who will not be eligible for the elk draw ?

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