Native American Reservation access

[crobbyison]

Does anyone know where I can go looking to find Native American tribal land laws? I drew a tag that borders tribal land and I am not sure if it is legal to drive on the roads or hike a little bit on tribal land to access BLM and national forest. I have not been able to find anything in my research.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

Does the tribe have a website or phone number?

 

[Legend]

Good luck. You will likely get passed around to many departments/people and never find a final answer. Not many things are black and white when it comes to interacting with tribal government.

 

[11boo]

All depends on the tribe.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Does anyone know where I can go looking to find Native American tribal land laws? I drew a tag that borders tribal land and I am not sure if it is legal to drive on the roads or hike a little bit on tribal land to access BLM and national forest. I have not been able to find anything in my research.

Some have websites if you really dig, almost all are far from user friendly. Getting any information at all will be difficult. Best option is to find the number for a game department and start calling every day. I’ve hunted on two reservations, one being a more well known one, even as a tag holder with multiple in person visits I could not find out information I needed. Turns out I broke a few access laws that I spent 3 months and 50+ phone calls trying to figure out.

 

[def90]

Call the specific tribe in question and after speaking to someone be sure to get it in writing.

 

[roadrunner]

Some reservations have a resolution with adjacent feseral land agencies to access these lands across tribal lands. Others don't. I would begin with the non tribal agencies first such as BLM and USFS. They will be the least likely to give you a run-around.

Most of these access points are road only, no foot traffic.

Keep in mind that reservations are still federal property, tribes are the trustee of the land. That's why it's a 4th degree felony if you are caught trespassing on tribal (federal) ground.

 

[MuleDeerMike]

Call tribal police then follow up with an email to get it in writing, print that and bring it with you on your person. Maybe keep a second copy in your glove box...

 

[Gutshot007]

Don't think I would go "hiking around" tribal land particularly if you have a weapon and it's hunting season. Different situation ,but had a non- resident land a plane with skis to icefish and didn't realize he was on a reservation lake .Plane was confiscated for a time and he was in serious trouble. Fines the works.

 

[mmac]

Agree with GutShot, most reservations control hunting and weapons on the reservation. Driving through with a weapon can be a problem in most places and hiking with one would be an invitation to problems in the southwest.

 

[tdhanses]

I know the one close to where I hunt has a $25 access permit to cross over to federal land, not sure if this is common.

 

[tradman]

I'm a tribal member of a Northern AZ tribe (not the big one everone assumes.) On our reservation, for your situation it's frowned upon. Not only law enforcement will pester you but also local residents. Most of the time they will ask you what you are doing. In some I instances I've seen outsiders escorted off the reservation by tribal rangers/police.

 

[Biggie]

Call their office. I'd hate to get thrown in tribal jail as I'm yelling "BUT SOMEONE ON ROKSLIDE SAID I COULD!"

 

[Theringworm]

If only you were a WKR…..so many privileges to be had!

Joking aside, if you don’t have something in writing I wouldn’t even think about it. Entirely different ballgame on Reservation land.

 

[Dos Perros]

Aren't tribal laws only applicable to tribal members?

 

[KurtR]

Aren't tribal laws only applicable to tribal members?

yes and no its a gray area that i have found better to avid all together. I live right beside two of them.

 

[PRC_GUY]

Be aware of being jail in those tribes, I wouldn’t go there.

 

[tradman]

yes and no its a gray area that i have found better to avid all together. I live right beside two of them.

That is correct. Since the land is under the Dept. Of the Interior. Some tribes have federal police alongside tribal police.

 

[Seth]

Best to know what tribe you are potentially dealing with. Some have really clear access rules, including crossing permits, others stringently enforce their boundaries. Even if you eventually come out ok, it can wreck a hunt dealing with something you should know ahead of time.

 

[Gutshot007]

Where I live there are a couple reservations. Some are open with non-tribal members owning land in a patchwork of properties. There is also a "closed "reservation with very specific boundaries and considered a "sovereign nation". Non tribal members do not own land there. There are specific laws and seasons for hunting and fishing that differ from state laws . It is really variable from area to area. Have seen reservations in us/Canada that charge fee and offer guide service for non member hunting or fishing. Personally I would never cross property lines hunting unless I had a tribal member with me. As described above your looking for problems even with paperwork depending on who you run into things in some of the areas are left up to "interpretation "