The Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks Department was first created in the early 1990’s; it was first funded by surplus Monies from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks Department, Washington D.C. the Tribe had to apply every year for the funding. Before this time all Wildlife matters were handled by the Tribal police under a 638 contract. Then on October 4, 1996 the existing Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks Ordinance was passed, the next year (1997) was when the Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks Department went under the consolidate, 638 contracts. By creating the Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks Ordinance #08-96 it provided for:

1. Creation of a Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks Department
2. Appointment of a Director, employee’s, organization, duties, and powers
3. Created a Deer Task Force Committee, later changed to “Wildlife Committee”
4. The general management of all Big Game Wildlife and setting up rules and regulations for hunting on the Reservation.

This Ordinance was revised on February 17, 2011which added provisions for updating old laws and adding new one’s which strengthened the Ordinance.

A Grant from the US Fish & Wildlife Service (Tribal Wildlife Grant) initialed Wildlife Management Program: Building Capacity through Training and Education (US Fish and Wildlife Service’s – 2006 to 2008):

The Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks Department was in cooperation with Michigan State University and Northern Arizona University, to develop a wildlife management plan for mule deer on the Kaibab Paiute Reservation. This collaborative effort was central to capacity building for the Kaibab Paiute Wildlife Department. Two Tribal Wildlife Technicians were hired and were trained in the process assisting this Department in resource management activities. Training tribal members in wildlife management was central to this funded project. Additionally, this Department worked with tribal elders to promote and preserve Kaibab Paiute Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK).

The Kaibab Paiute reservation has a very large seasonal population of mule deer that migrate onto the reservation from Utah. These deer are culturally and economically important to the tribe. Kaibab Paiute tribal members hunt these populations for subsistence and hunts offered to the public should assist in funding the Wildlife Department. The Wildlife Department has enlisted the support of Northern Arizona University, Michigan State University, Arizona Game and Fish, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to assist in the planning and implementation of this project. The mule deer population is being assessed to establish base line populations, sex ratio and age class. An assessment of the Bats population along with the survey of the flora and fauna was undertaken with an emphasis on deer habitat as a part of the study. The culmination of this work will result in the adoption of a management plan for mule deer on the Kaibab Reservation. This information is critical to the on-going professional management of mule deer and other reservation resources. This Grant was completed in 2008 and we are now (2011) looking to apply for another grant.