DNR, Hmong debate how to spread respect in wake of shootings

Shawano Leader ^ | 12/8/2004 | AP

[PjhCPA]

MADISON (AP) -- Hmong leaders pleaded for more help from the state to educate Hmong hunters on regulations, as they brainstormed Tuesday on ways to defuse racial tension and help their people earn respect in the aftermath of the North Woods slayings.

The session was held a week after Chai Soua Vang, 36, from St. Paul, Minn., was charged with shooting six white hunters to death and wounding two others Nov. 21 after Vang trespassed on their land in Sawyer County.

Kou Xiong, the state Department of Natural Resources Hmong liaison, told a group appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle to handle Hmong immigration he is the only one in the agency that deals directly with the Hmong and he can't educate the approximately 14,000 Hmong hunters that take to Wisconsin's woods.

"I can't do it alone," he said.

Thai Vue, a task force member and associate executive director of the La Crosse Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, shook his head. He said the DNR has to pump more resources -- especially more bilingual staff -- into educating his people on hunting regulations.

"I'm scared," he said. "You can't reach out to people to this degree."

Doyle appointed the Hmong Resettlement Advisory Task Force earlier this year to help the state absorb about 3,000 new Hmong refugees expected to arrive by spring. The task force's meeting Tuesday was its first since the slayings, which came on the second day of the nine-day gun deer season.

Chai Soua Vang allegedly told police the hunters he killed hurled racial slurs at him and fired a shot after they found him in their tree stand and ordered him off their land. All eight hunters who were shot were white.

[appalachian_dweller]

Thanks for the ping Iowa Granny. I'm following this story with much interest.

Most of my hunting buddies think this is just a fluke. All I can do is hope they are correct.

Hunters are all about safety first (at least the ones I hunt with). No of us would ever think of being deliberately shot by another person while out hunting.

[Iowa Granny]

I am following the story closely, too.

Most of my hunting buddies think this is just a fluke. All I can do is hope they are correct.

The trespassing part is not a fluke. Just this week my husband had to throw the same hunting party off our property 3 times.

The 3rd time I'm afraid Hubby was quite stern, to put it mildly. I shook when my oldest son recounted the exchange of words.

Where ARE these people when it's time to pay my property taxes?

[appalachian_dweller]

I agree that the trespassing part is not a fluke. I've seen problems where I hunt too. My hunting friends were referring to the shooting, not the trespassing.

One of my hunting buddies is going out of town for the holidays, asked me to hunt (read: WATCH) his property for him while he and his wife are away. I have the time and agreed I would.

As far as the trespassing hunting party you referred to, do you think it would be possible to get their IDs or at least a tag number of the truck? Asking for IDs could be potentially dangerous, but if you could find where these jerks park, you could get the tag number.

[Iowa Granny]

It's not necessary to get their vita. It was a neighbor. He knew he was trespassing

[appalachian_dweller]

A neighbor? That's so lame! Can you report him? Must be something you can do.