North American Hunter Whitetails Columnist Mark Kayser put it best: “Regardless of whether your quarry is elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer or turkeys, there’s a reservation waiting to host your hunting adventure.”
Tribal reservations are often misconstrued as “off-limits” hunting areas, when in reality a majority of reservations welcome hunters with open arms. Do your research and you’ll find that there are untapped, game-rich native lands waiting for you to take your game to the next level. You’ll likely find opportunities you never thought existed, and regulations that will change the way you plan your next season of hunting. Check out the following resources to begin your journey into Indian country.
Bureau Of Indian Affairs
Find a regional office for the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to gain information about specific tribes and reservations across the United States. This is a great starting point for trying to plan a hunt on tribal land.
Nine Tribes Of South Dakota
South Dakota is known for giant whitetails and muleys, abundant turkeys, piles of ducks, and a booming pheasant population—in general, it’s a game-rich state. Learn more about the nine tribes of South Dakota and how to contact them for more hunting information, regulations and resources.
Fort Belknap
Montana is often viewed as the Western staple of big game hunting. For booking a tribal hunt, the Fort Belknap Fish and Wildlife website is a great starting point. The Fort Belknap Indian Reservation welcomes hunters with open arms.
Indian And Northern Affairs Canada
Don’t rule out Canada when considering a North American big game or waterfowl hunt. Find out more about Canada’s tribal hunting opportunities by visiting the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada website.
Start there. A bit of reading, a few phone calls and an e-mail or two and you’ll be penciled in for a “special reservation” hunt. You might fill your freezer or kill that buck-of-a-lifetime, but either way you’ll create special memories that others won’t, simply because they overlooked the potential of hunting tribal lands.