Posted on 05/04/2008 10:31:21 AM PDT by jazusamo
In a breach of the local code of ethics -- and possibly the law -- 32 are killed after straying onto a neighbor's land.
FAIRPLAY, COLO. -- This is not a place where buffalo are welcome to roam.
When 32 bison lumbered across a fence that separated their owners' vast, wind-swept expanse of land from a neighboring ranch in March, they ended up dead.
Some fell where they were shot. Others scattered, galloping for miles before they succumbed in the snow.
They were victims, contend the bison's owners, of a murder plot hatched by the neighbor, a Texan frustrated by what he called the repeated trespassing of the herd onto his land.
Law enforcement officials are closemouthed, saying only that they are investigating.
At issue, said Park County Undersheriff Monte Gore, is whether the culprit violated Colorado's century-old open-range law, which says livestock may go pretty much where they please.
Throughout the West, many states still adhere to the open-range principle, a throwback to the 1800s that says it is not a rancher's responsibility to keep livestock fenced in -- it's everyone else's job to keep them out.
If you don't want someone else's cow on your land, the law goes, build a fence. If the cow crosses your fence, you can lock it up until its owner retrieves it, and you can sue the owner for damages. But you can't kill it, said Rick Wahlert, Colorado brand commissioner.
In Colorado's high country, transplanted city dwellers often don't understand, Wahlert said.
"They ask why should they have to fence their property?" he said. "I say, 'OK, fine. You lived in town. Say you had a swimming pool. Did you let the neighbor kids run through? How did you keep them out? You put up a fence. It's the same concept.' "
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Hah! Hawn might be forking out for some unforeseen expenses pretty soon for the people he hired selectivly for specific skills in Colorado!
“The posting of comments is really messed up today for some reason, I keep having to hit refresh to make posts reappear.”
That’s a relief, I was thinking maybe it was the moonshine (hickup, grin).
Jeff Hawn, chairman, president and CEO, Attachmate
As chairman, president and CEO of Attachmate, Jeff Hawn is responsible for corporate direction as well as business and acquisition strategies.
Since 2004, he has been an operating partner with JMI Inc., where he leads the firm’s private equity acquisition and operating activities, focusing primarily on the mainframe software markets. Previously, Hawn was a senior vice president at BMC Software, holding a variety of strategic positions during his tenure. He additionally spent time as a partner at McKinsey & Company, a global consulting company.
An active member on several boards, Hawn serves as a director of Applimation, Pervasive Software and Vignette. He holds a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Methodist University and a master of business administration degree from the University of Texas.
Jeff Hawn, Director
Jeffrey S. Hawn has served as a Pervasive director since 2003. Hawn currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Attachmate, a position he assumed in May 2005. He remains an Operating Partner of JMI Inc., a private equity firm based in San Diego, California, a role he assumed in April 2004. Hawn previously served as Senior Vice President of Operations for BMC Software, Inc. from January 2002 to March 2004, where he was responsible for overseeing the finance, corporate planning and development, information technology and business operations. Hawn earlier served as senior vice president, BMC Ventures through January 2002, where he was responsible for identifying, developing and managing BMC’s emerging technologies and new business opportunities. From 1990 to 2000, Hawn was employed by McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm, where he was a partner from 1995 to 2000.
Hawn also serves on the board of directors of Vignette Corporation, a content management software company (NSADAQ: VIGN). He received his Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Texas at Austin and his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Methodist University.
LOL! That's okay, when you're feeling poorly the moonshine definitely has medicinal value and when FR is not functioning properly we all feel poorly. ;-)
Critics said the shootings were wasteful.
the shooters shouldn’t be described as hunters because they left the animals to rot.
Has anyone seen my little dog muffin ?
LOL.
Those beautiful “forces of nature,” coyotes, are causing real problems in the outlying areas of Nashville TN right now, I’ve been chuckling reading about it in statewide newspapers. Lots of expensive little “designer” dogs are becoming the buffet of choice.
Problem is, coyotes are not native here, but when they thrive on the plentiful deer herds (and designer dogs), they sure do expand their territories.
In addition, we now have alligators in west TN, and they are certainly not natives (Reelfoot, Memphis).
And those wild European/feral hogs in the Smokies.
Not the moonshine (hickup, grin).
This Hawn really gets around, sounds like a hotshot. If he hired those guys like was said in the article it’s going to bring him down a notch or two.
This carpetbagger doesn't look like he belongs up there in those parts. Reminds me of the wealthy swells that used to buy up ranches to set themselves up a Barons =
Fish outta water - he'd best go back to the city before he gets eaten alive.
The Muffins and Fifis of Colorado are just doing their part for the environment by sustaining the local willife population then fertilizing the beautiful prairie. :)
I think fish outta water pretty well sums him up in CO country.
Here is the intro from the county primer where I live:
Expectations are a key to successful living in the Gilpin part of paradise. If a
newcomer’s expectations are urban, disappointment and grief will follow. The rural mountain
setting is neither better nor worse than rural flatland, suburban or urban settings. But the high
country is different and requires one to want to live here. The elevation ranges from 1 1/3 up to
2 1/2 miles and the 13 days of summer are followed by a long, long winter...forget the three
days of spring or fall. It takes effort, tenacity, a sense of humor and some preparation to enjoy
living in rural Gilpin County. Folks who like it up here often consider city conveniences and
amenities to be nuisances or worse. Some new residents only see a wonderful, idyllic, rural,
summer mountain setting. So, they may be shocked a bit later when a bear destroys the BBQ
grill on the deck, deer munch the marigolds, a coyote lunches on the cat, and the driveway
disappears under 52 inches of snow...then, they become disenchanted and expect someone else
to “do something” about it. Thus, the Primer is intended to touch on some key notions to help
prospective or new residents match Gilpin County Reality with Expectations.
Jeff Hawn likely thinks that he is a hot shot from Austin who can ignore the locals. He may have a harder time ignoring the sheriff, CBI, BLM, USFS, FBI...
This has been on the slow boil since mid-March. The locals are not happy.
The state and the feds are involved, so a criminal investigation is started.
This civil litigation will loosen up some tongues from these shooters.
“In Maine, we need to give new coming flatlanders an advice sheet that includes, “...if you buy and build next door to a dairy farm, do not call us if it stinks.””
In the area where I just bought 5 acres, they do give out warnings like that! Didn’t stop my urbanite neighbor.
I’d been wishing for the country since I was old enough to remember, dust, smell, and livestock included! My neighbor is already trying to stop me from planting my orchard, raising my critters, and especially hunting on my own land!
Urban refugees, moving to the country to escape all the things they brought with them.
Maybe those shooters and the landowner both should be sentenced to repay the cost of the animals by working for the farmer . . at the equivelent of $1 a day.
Or maybe the rich guy’s land could be given to the rancher as his part of the payment. Still need something deviously appropriate for the poachers though.
Number 27
Jeffrey S. Hawn Senior VP of Operations BMC Software
Total compensation: $4,897,806
http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/special/04/100/charts/exec3.html
Don't give in!
Come the day, if things hit the fan and the trucks don't roll (there's only enough food in the super markets for 2 days - and with what's happening to the truckers with diesel averaging $4.50 (at 300 gallons a pop) they are starting to go belly up.) Your flatlander neighbors will be the first to come to you for food...
BTW, rabbits make great suppers... ;o)
“BTW, rabbits make great suppers”
Can’t wait to see the look on that neighbor’s face when he finds out I’m also a licensed fur trapper :p
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