Posted on 10/09/2004 9:01:33 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - On a spring day in 1990, there was chaos near the border of Yellowstone National Park. Bison were running. Hunters were facing off with activists who were trying to keep them from killing the bison. And D.J. Schubert was in the thick of it, leading the protesters.
Cameras captured it all, igniting a public outrage that Schubert believes ultimately led the state a year later to halt bison hunting. Today, the wildlife biologist and his fellow activists promise the same craziness - including more bad publicity for Montana - if the state allows hunting to resume this winter, as planned.
"Once again, you're going to give the state of Montana and hunters a black eye," Schubert, of The Fund for Animals, said Friday. "It's going to be an embarrassment for the state and hunters."
Mike Mease of the Buffalo Field Campaign agrees. He's planning to document the hunt himself.
"I can guarantee you lawsuits. I can guarantee you public outcry," Mease said. "These animals are sacred to a lot of people."
The controversy heats up each winter when the bison leave Yellowstone in search of food. Ranchers in Montana worry the bison will transmit brucellosis, which can cause cattle to abort. Scientists counter that there's no proof that bison can spread the disease to cattle in the wild.
Several state and federal agencies allow bison that wander out of the park to be captured and tested brucellosis. Bison that test positive are sent to slaughter.
Some hunters believe they should have the opportunity to take a rare trophy if bison are to be killed anyway. Wildlife commissioners agree - barely, voting 3-2 this week to allow bison hunting to resume for a monthlong season tentatively set to start in January. Future hunts would go from mid-November to mid-February, with the number of permits varying each year.
About 670 bison were killed in hunts in the 1980s - most in the winter of 1988-89. The hunts drew outrage in part because of the way they were conducted. Wardens led each hunter to a bison, peacefully grazing when it was shot at close range.
Just 18 were killed the following two winters, the department said, but the hunts stayed in the news. Many felt the negative publicity hurt Montana's tourism industry.
Montana lawmakers stopped the hunting in 1991, changing it from sport to a disease control program implemented by state and federal officials.
This time around, promises Pat Flowers of the state wildlife department, the hunt will be a true hunt.
"In order to re-engage sportsmen in managing bison," Flowers said, "I think it's important to offer them an opportunity to hunt bison."
Though interest is bound to be high, support is not unanimous among hunters. Some such as Craig Sharpe of the Montana Wildlife Federation fear the hunts could hurt their image.
"The hunters of Montana don't want to be caught in this whirlwind and be the bad guy," Sharpe said.
And Mease of the Buffalo Field Campaign vows his group will scrutinize the hunts.
"This," Mease said, "is no longer a little slipped-under-the-carpet Montana issue."
Good ads with this.
"These animals are sacred to a lot of people."
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O.K. who is it out there worshipping the buffalo?
(I happen to like mine medium well.)
Ping
To each his own, but hunting Buffalo basically consists of (A) Find a herd of Buffalo; (B) Walk up and shoot one.
Basically about the same as hunting cows.
I hope they allow bear and wolf hunting too.
I agree on the medium well comment
I've had bear meat. It is oily and really good.
Buffalo burgers are the best! A friend of mine harvested one here in NM (Ted Turner ranch near Socorro), so we have been sharing the bounty. We even roasted the tongue. It looked strange, but tasted just like a really good beef roast.
I am incensed and hopping mad over this. There is no registration forms or license enrollments so that I can kill my "sacred" bison.
Read George Catlin's book on the North American Indians for some really good accounts of Indian buffalo hunts. Illustrations included.
They already have buffalo hunting here in WY. It's not quite as easy as you make it out to be. I have some friends who drew the permits and harvested the buffalo.
The enviro-whackos would do better to worry about the declining elk and moose herds due to the protected wolves and grizzlies.
Actually, this year, things are fundamentally different. Bison have come back as a species in Montana, to the point where they're overpopulated. Hunting is the most economically productive method of population control (deer hunting alone puts several billion dollars into state coffers along the northern tier).
As for the "sporting" nature, bison hunting tends to attract traditionalists who are in it for the connection to the history of the Old West. The firearms used are typical of what was available more than a century ago -- Sharps 45/70 Government or Winchester 1894 in 45 Long Colt, also muzzleloaders. No scopes, just iron buckhorn sights, and from 50-100 yards away from the herd.
(Pow! Right between the eyes! Full bellies tonight!)
They're also very tasty.
Watch out for ricochets.
BTTT!!!!!!!
Ya? I think the buffalo has been replaced by casino $$$.
There's an initiative on the ballot to make hunting and fishing a constitutional right. I love Montana!
I may have to look into a Browning falling block in 45/70, beautiful rifles, heavy octogonal barrel, folding rear peep-sight.
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