Mont. Holds First Bison Hunt in 15 Years-(PC funny)

yahoo ^ | 11.15.05 | GARDINER, Mon

[Flavius]

GARDINER, Mont. - Montana's first bison hunt in 15 years opened at sunrise Tuesday, with a 17-year-old boy bagging the first buffalo within 90 minutes.

The hunt, aimed at thinning out the bison population near Yellowstone National Park, came after years of protests from animal rights activists.

State and federal officials say the hunt will help manage a population that has grown to an estimated 4,900 animals, more than some fear the area can support. Some ranchers are also worried some diseased bison could spread illness to cattle.

George Clement, a teenager who took the day off from school, killed the first bison near Gardiner.

Montana's last bison hunt was in 1990. Other hunts since then were canceled because of protests over the way wardens would lead each hunter to an animal, which was then shot at close range, often while peacefully grazing.

This year, there are new limits. For example, wildlife officials cannot tell hunters where bison have wandered outside the park, and no more than 50 bison overall can be killed during the three-month season.

Fifty hunting licenses — entitling hunters to kill one bison each — were made available.

[Clemenza]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't most of the Bison in the U.S. actually "Beefalo" ie a mixture of cows and buffalo?

[RichInOC]

...mmmmm...buffalo fajitas...

[girlangler]

EXACTLY!!!!

I had a coworker once who tried to tell me Indians were non-violent, in tune with nature, types and I had to "enlighten" her.

[girlangler]

I stayed a week in Gardiner last June. Lots of local tame buffalo.

Buffalo is good eatin.

[girlangler]

Uh, HELLO.

There used to be a lot more animals and a lot less people, housing developments, concrete parking lots, etc.

What do you propose -- exterminating people so the animals can roam the earth in their former glory again?

[oh8eleven]

Don't forget, the best part of the animal are the "bison" wings.

[girlangler]

And how do you obtain your beef and chicken?

Leather furniture, car seats, briefcase? Shoes?

[nuconvert]

Read the headline again, then read my comment.

[Godzilla]

What they should do to thin the herds is hold a drawing to give the limited permits to full-blood Indians.

That is already done on the National Bison Range in NW Montana. But then why should we descriminate?

[girlangler]

Sorry,

Maybe I do this hit and run (in a hurry) posting too fast, don't read the posts carefully.

Not good.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I repeat, I am not against hunting. I used to hunt. I just don't call it a sport with the battle so one sided in favor of the hunter. Bow hunting is a fairer battle than rifles with scopes but it is still not equal. You are free to call it anything you want but I don't see it as sport.

[junta]

Thanks for squaring that up.

[junta]

Wildidea customer myself, good stuff.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Yes, I used to hunt and yes, I know how difficult it is to track and kill game, even rabbits and squirrels. Hauling out a deer is not that difficult but the bigger game are definitely a challenge.

Still, considering what the prey is doing, usually grazing, and considering that you are far away with a scope and high powered rifle, it is an ambush pure and simple. No different than terrorists or other guerrilla warfare participants except that the animals mean us no harm.

I am a meat eater. I have no problem with growing animals for food. I have no problem with growing animals for their fur or using them in scientific research. I have no problem with harvesting animals when there is over population. I have no problem with you killing an elk or anything else that is legal to kill. I just don't see it as sport.

Now, I define sport as a competition. The more nearly equal the competitors the better the competition. Hunting is greatly weighted against the game and in favor of the hunter, therefore it is not a sport. It may be entertainment but it is not a sport.

[billhilly]

"Estimates of the pre-European herd size vary from 30,000,000 to 70,000,000 animals and they ranged over most of North America.
4,900 animals... Sad."

There aren't that many bedbugs left.

[Grampa Dave]

I was able to have Buffalo Prime Rib 3 times this year, and in each restaurant it was excellent.

[tet68]

If a hunter were to chase down a deer and kill it in hand to hand combat I would call that a sport. Otherwise it is just thrill killing.

I always wanted to drop down on one with a knife, now
THAT would be a thrill kill.

[festus]

Whats next cowboys and indians ?

[Trteamer]

You know nothing about bison. Are you an anti-hunter?

[VeniVidiVici]

Oh and the deer was peacefully browsing when I ambushed him.

I hope he was at least using Firefox and not IE.