Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Elk Harvest Held Oct. 19th

by Lonnie Barber, LCO Newsletter

On Saturday, October 19, 2013, designated hunter’s from each member Tribe of the Voigt Intertribal Task Force met at the Day Lake Boat Landing near Clam Lake for a Pipe Ceremony and Instructions ½ hour before sunrise.Also on that day, there was a Inter-Tribal Deer Hunt meeting at the LCO Harvest Camp for that day's Hunt.

For this year's Ceremonial Elk Hunt, George Morrow, Sr. was chosen to represent Lac Courte Oreilles. He immediately named his long time hunting partner and friend Ricky (Beanie) Barber as his fellow Hunter. Personally, I was happy to see these men together hunting and being honored in this way. As you remember, Stony Larson and Bill Cadotte were our representative's last year, and harvested the one Elk that was allotted. I (Lonnie Barber) was given permission to ride along in this Hunt as George and Beanie would be allowed to hunt from their vehicle(Disabled).

Anyway, on our way to the Day Lake Boat Landing Meeting, we had the good luck to see one young Elk standing in the ditch. George could not take a shot because the Hunt did not officially open yet. We went to the Meeting and Pipe Ceremony, picked up George's Elk Permit and instructions for the Hunt. We were pretty excited, knowing that, hopefully, the young Elk would still be close to the Meeting site. Sure enough, he was still standing in the ditch. We were not allowed to shoot across the road, so, we drove a short distance and turned around. As we came back to him, he walked into the brush a little ways. We stopped and George could see the Elk, but was not sure of where his shot would hit. We had time to talk over the situation, and were going to move our vehicle a ways for a better shot. At that time, the Game Warden's lights and horn went off. This was the sign to not shoot. Somebody else had taken a shot and we had to assume there was an Elk down. We could not believe it. George could have taken a shot. But, knowing that George was not sure of his shot and not taking a wild shot and possibly only wounding it. I am very proud of George and Beanie not taking an unsure shot. Lac Courte Oreilles can be proud of the hunting decisions they made. Two year's in a row for LCO would have been great, but, as they say, that's the way it goes. I would have had video of the year, but it was still a great honor and experience I will never forget.

And, just to let you know, Mole Lake had the shot, but, the Elk was never found. Tribal leaders present decided that the Hunt was over. This was a Ceremonial Hunt and not for sport. To all of the Hunters, organizers and Conservation involved “Miigwech” for a well run and safe Ceremonial Elk Hunt.