Federal judge overturns night deer hunt ruling

My inner voice is doing its negative forecasting again.

I get word from The Associated Press and Outdoorhub.com that some Native American tribes are involved in another legal battle in federal court.

A federal judge has denied an effort by Native American tribes to open a spotlighting season for deer in their ceded territories.

The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) voted in late November to authorize night hunting for deer by tribal members. To participate, tribal members had to pass a marksmanship test and apply for a night hunting permit. While 74 passed the test, none had applied for a permit for a hunt scheduled to begin after Thanksgiving, according to The Associated Press.

Federal judge Judge Barbara Crabb said the GLIFWC overstepped its authority when it quietly authorized Chippewa tribal night hunting in the northern third of the state. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources filed suit seeking to stop the night hunt for fear of “the short amount of time to notify the public, the circumvention of court oversight and past rulings on night hunting for deer, and public safety,” according to Cathy Stepp, secretary of the DNR.

Fishing report:Lake Michigan: Lots of brown trout being taken in southern Wisconsin harbors. In Chicago, the perch action slowly continues with smaller fish being taken from Navy Pier.Fox Chain: With the anticipated drop in temperatures, ice anglers could kick off the season on the back channels this weekend.ŸContact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, and catch his radio show 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM and live-streamed at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.