UPDATED Wednesday, November 28, 2012 --- 4:11 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A federal judge has blocked Wisconsin's Chippewa tribes from hunting deer at night for at least the next two weeks.

State Department of Natural Resources attorney Quinn Williams tells The Associated Press in an exclusive interview U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb made the decision during a telephone status conference with state and tribal attorneys Wednesday.

He says Crabb ruled the state can enforce its ban on hunting deer after dark on tribal members until she holds a hearing on the issue on Dec. 12.

The commission that oversees the Chippewa's off-reservation rights last week authorized tribal hunters to kill deer at night beginning this past Monday. The move set off a legal battle with the DNR, which has long banned night deer hunting out of safety concerns.

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UPDATED: Friday, November 23, 2012 --- 2:25 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A Chippewa tribal commission has until mid-week to respond to state wildlife officials' demand to block tribal hunters from going after deer at night.

The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission on Wednesday authorized tribal hunters to hunt deer after dark across much of northern Wisconsin beginning Monday.

The Department of Natural Resources says night deer hunting is too dangerous. The agency asked U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb on Wednesday to block the authorization, triggering an automatic five-day period for the commission to respond. That makes Nov. 28 the deadline.

DNR officials say they hope Crabb will schedule a hearing before then. They've asked tribal leaders not to issue any night hunting permits until the matter is settled, but a GLIFWC spokeswoman says night hunting is justified.

Copyright 2012: Associated Press

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POSTED: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 -- 4:25 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A commission that oversees Wisconsin's Chippewa tribes' off-reservation rights has quietly authorized night deer hunting across most of the northern third of Wisconsin.

Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission spokeswoman Sue Erickson told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview that the commission issued the authorization Wednesday. The state's six Chippewa tribes must sign off on it.

The Chippewa tribes run their own deer hunt, which generally lasts from September until early January. Erickson said the commission felt it was justified allowing night deer hunting because state legislation permits wolf hunters to hunt at night.

Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp says the agency plans to file a federal lawsuit blocking the order. She says the agency is worried night deer hunting is too dangerous.

Copyright 2012: Associated Press