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.

[Trteamer]

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.

You know nothing about hunting. You call it "just thrill killing". What a load of BS. You go out and show us all how it's done there pal. I'll put my money on the deer.

Believe it or not, most of us hunt for the meat. Pure, clean, fresh meat. As Ted Nugent says, "Track em and whack em, pack em and stack em".

[nuconvert]

"You know nothing about bison."

Really? And how would you know?

[Mind-numbed Robot]

You go out and show us all how it's done there pal. I'll put my money on the deer.

You make my point, thanks. I assume by now you have read my other post to this thread.

[Troublemaker]

This year, there are new limits. For example, wildlife officials cannot tell hunters where bison have wandered outside the park..

This shouldn't be too difficult as there are always a number roaming town (West Yellowstone) or Hwys 20 & 191, including 1 or 2 that usually sit under the porch at Blue Ribbon Flies. I really wouldn't call the officials silence on location a real limit.

[Trteamer]

You go get ten feet from a bison, I dare you. That's why I say you know nothing about bison. The bison ranchers I know have a deep respect for the fact that they are a dangerous animal. They will stomp you in the ground if you get too close.

Now for my second question. Are you an anti-hunter?

[Trteamer]

No different than terrorists or other guerrilla warfare participants

Is that what you think of hunters?

So you say you are a meat eater, do you kill your own meat?

[nuconvert]

No.
You see that picture in #14? Does it look like that buffalo is stomping anyone? You ever been to parks with roaming buffalo?
Can they be dangerous? Yes. Have I ever been 10ft (or less)away from one, yes.
Do I think that walking up to an animal who has no fear of you, no instinct to escape, because it's been around people all its life, and then shooting it, is considered hunting? NO

[Cold Heart]

OK, you are wrong. :)

These are true wild bison, and they are not the only herd in the US.

There are Commercially raised beefalo as well as buffalo. Some of the buffalo are raised for private hunting.

[wildbill]

I'm not sure that inventions or casinos should be the standard here.

We took away the Plains Indians culture that had developed in tandem with the buffalo with our inventions. A little nostalgia and humility wouldn't be amiss.

Personally, I'd love to see a young Comanche on horseback trying to bring down a running bull with an arrow or lance the way his forebears did.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

So you say you are a meat eater, do you kill your own meat?

Yes, I have cooked a few steaks to death.

You seem to have a macho man complex. Talk to someone else about it. I have had my say and have no more to add.

[wildbill]

Lets not talk for all the Plains tribes. Who knows what they might say if the permits were offered?

[Vince Ferrer]

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.

That's just one herd. And if you'd like to increase their numbers, you can do your part by eating them. Then people will be motivated to raise them, so that you can eat them, and they will once again be as plentiful as cattle.

[wildbill]

historical connection" Do you mean a pointed rock tied onto a stick?"

Funny thing about or acceptance of 'historical connections' and ethnic culture. We don't blink an eye when an American of Scots descent celebrates his heritage with a bagpipe, kilts, and a dagger in his sock. Why not give them a chance to reconnect with their roots?

I'm no misty eyed weirdo that wants to turn America back to the Indians. I had too many relatives in Texas that fought damn hard to steal their land. We stole it fair and square and then the banks and Yankees stole it from us.

[wildbill]

I'm glad to hear it. Since there are so few permits why not discriminate and give them to people for whom the buffalo were part of their religion.

All we ever did was massacre the buffalo assembly line style.

[paul544]

Uh Hello to you...
No, just making a comment on such a massive drop in numbers, most of which is attributed to "hunting" in the 1800s, not to loss of habitat or such.
If you can't see the shame in such a mass extermination of one of America's wild icons, so be it.

[Personal Responsibility]

I think the question should be "Do the young comanches want to hunt down bison with arrows and spears?" My guess is not anymore than the kid who bagged the first bison wants to shoot with a rifle from the 19th century.

[Trteamer]

You two are completely ignorant of the purpose of the hunt. Have you ever heard of the term "carrying capacity"?

Let me enlighten you on a few things. The most important thing to remember is that the park can only support so many head of bison (or any other animal) before the ecosystem starts to deteriorate. Overpopulation leads to habitat destruction. Habitat destruction means mass die offs due to starvation and disease. It also means the park cannot support even a fraction of the previous numbers of many kinds of wildlife.

Is that a wise use of a natural resources? No. Is that wise and responsible management of our National parks? No.
The Park Service is guilty of destroying the very natural resource that they are entrusted to protect. By having a policy of hands off, let mother nature do her thing, they are being completely irresponsibly to a level that is almost criminal.

Case in point: Rocky Mountain National Park has 8,000 head of elk due to their policy of "non-management". The carrying capacity of the park is 800 head. The elk are destroying the park. Once pristine stands of aspen are now deforested as high as the elk can reach. One day we will have a severe winter and these elk will starve to death. Then the habitat in the park will be so bad that the population of elk the park can support will be down around 100. Not only that, but the habitat will be so destroyed that the park will take 80 years to recover.
That is exactly why we taxpayers have to feed the elk a Jackson Hole.

Frankly I don't give a rats a** what you pansies think, go hug a tree.

[nuconvert]

You're not telling me anything new.
Keep calling it a hunt, if you like.

[Trteamer]

Would the term "harvest" be more acceptable to you?

[junta]

I wish I could afford it, it sure sounds great. I did have a chuck roast cooked up in my crock pot the other day, and that was a treat.