As a legal battle rages over whether Native Americans may hunt and fish on tribal land without a state-issued license, the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma says such activities are prohibited by anyone— tribal citizens or not—on properties it owns, and violators are subject to arrest.

On Nov. 18, the Chickasaw, Choctaw and Cherokee Nations filed a federal lawsuit alleging Governor Kevin Stitt is violating tribal sovereignty by calling for the prosecution of tribal members who hunt or fish on tribal lands without a license. Since the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, nearly half of Oklahoma is considered tribal land.

Friday, the Seminole Nation issued the following statement: “No one, including Tribal Members, are permitted to hunt, fish, trap or generally access/use lands owned by the Seminole Nation. Seminole Nation tribally owned properties are not open for hunting, fishing, or any other use. Due to liability issues and potential for damages, hunting and fishing on these properties are currently prohibited. Until the General Council approves access to these tribally owned properties for hunting and fishing, anyone found on properties owned by the Seminole Nation will be cited or arrested for criminal trespassing. Furthermore, once access is approved, the Nation will establish a regulated schedule of use to ensure that safety remains our highest priority and to prevent injury or loss of life among participants. Under Section 36-8-809 of the Seminole Nation Code of Laws, entering Nation-owned lands without authorization and engaging in activities such as: taking fish or game, using firearms, bows, or other weapons; hunting, fishing, or trapping is considered trespass and subject to criminal enforcement.”

The Seminole Nation’s land holdings include approximately 372 acres of federal trust land, 53 acres of fee-simple land, and another 35,443 acres of allotted land, scattered throughout Seminole County. The tribal complex is located in Wewoka at the junction of Highways 270 and 56. The nation also owns the Mekusukey Mission and has several facilities on that property.