White Mountain Apache Tribe

WILDLIFE & OUTDOOR RECREATION DIVISION

TROPHY ELK HUNT - WOUNDING POLICY

Wounding of game is an unfortunate aspect of big-game hunting.  It is a requirement at White Mountain that every effort be made by both guide and hunter to avoid wounding game altogether by being properly prepared.  Knowing your game, weapon and, above all, your shooting ability (and limitations) are obvious requirements to preventing these situations. In the event an animal is wounded, it is a further requirement that both hunter and guide work diligently together to retrieve the animal. 

While working to provide clients every reasonable opportunity to take a trophy at White Mountain and uphold our program’s strong tradition, we ask for a conscientious effort from everyone involved to 1) maintain the overall integrity of the program and 2) promote the highest standards of hunting ethics.  Accordingly, the following applies to all clients:

All hunters are expected to make sure that the weapon they use on the hunt is sighted-in for optimum accuracy and is otherwise in sound operating condition.

All hunters are expected to conform to the highest standards of gun safety while participating in the hunt.

All hunters are expected to promote and practice the highest standards of hunting ethics while hunting on White Mountain.

Wounding and failure to recover game is considered, at the least, an economic loss to the hunting program at White Mountain.  As a result, every reasonable effort must be made by guide and hunter to retrieve wounded game.

In a situation where game has been wounded, the hunt is temporarily suspended pending completion of the following:

  • Guides and hunters (and any other helpers from camp) are required to invest a minimum of one 24 hour period conducting intensive search for any animal that has been wounded.

  • If wounding occurs during a morning hunt, a minimum of the remainder of the day and the following morning must be spent searching for the wounded animal.

  • If wounding occurs during the evening hunt, a minimum of the following morning and the next evening must be spent searching for the wounded animal.

After 24 hours, if the search effort fails to retrieve the animal, or it is decided that the wound is superficial and not likely to result in death of the animal, then guide and hunter may resume their hunt – as determined by the Camp Boss.

Wounding of a second animal will automatically end your hunt.

Blatant disregard of gun safety and hunting ethics shall be grounds for the termination of the hunt.

 

FOR ADDITIIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT  THE W&ORD OFFICE (928)338-4385.