The tribe has a robust history of ELK hunting and carries that tradition on today

The Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe received a $200,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Tribal Wildlife Grants (TWG) program (CFDA 15.639), effective July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. This award supports wildlife conservation initiatives focused on elk population management within the tribe's ceded territories under the Treaty of Point No Point. The project addresses critical challenges facing three regional elk herds totaling fewer than 150 animals, including inbreeding concerns, treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD or elk hoof rot), vehicular collisions, and habitat threats from proposed development.

The grant funds the development and implementation of conservation programs designed to benefit elk and their habitats—species of significant cultural and traditional importance to the tribe's hunting heritage. Through this funding, the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe will conduct activities that may include population monitoring, habitat protection, research, and conservation planning to support the long-term health and recovery of these elk herds. The project aligns with the TWG program's core objectives to increase fish and wildlife populations, provide sustainable hunting opportunities, and build tribal capacity for wildlife resource management on tribal lands and adjacent areas.

However ELK populations in the area ceded under the treaty of point no point are currently small and tribal access is severely limited there are three ELK herds totaling less than 150 ELK within 50 miles of the reservation that are on land accessible to tribal hunters several major concerns for the longterm health of these herd exist including inbreeding several cases of treponeme associated hoof disease tahd or ELK hoof ROT vehicular collisions killing up to 10 of one herd each year and the proposed development of a golf course within one herds home range.