A case of illegal sales of hunting licenses on Ute Tribal land by an unrecognized tribe is gathering national attention. An article released Friday by Law360, a publication out of New York, highlights the case. The United States Attorney’s Office of the District of Utah filed the complaint earlier this month against the self-called “Uinta Valley Shoshone Tribe” for selling hunting and fishing licenses on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. According to the complaint, Ute Fish and Wildlife Officers and Utah DWR officers began receiving information in late September regarding the illegal selling of hunting and fishing licenses. Some individuals that received licenses from the Uinta Valley Shoshone Tribe had even used them to take deer, elk, and fish from the Ute Tribal Lands, passing “No Trespass” signs. The civil action filed asserts that these licenses are null and void. The article in Law360 states that the Ute Tribal Business Committee has put their support behind the U.S. Attorney Office’s efforts.
