MT Gov. Opposes Bison Hunt

[BigHornRam]

I knew this guy was a phoney when his propaganda had him holding a gun with his finger on the trigger. At least his handlers could have informed him that the only time you should be touching the trigger is when you are planning to shoot.

Can't find a link to this mornings Missoulian article. It about made me want to puke. Can anyone find a link to any other paper?

 

[1_pointer]

Just heard about it on the radio. Sounds pretty spineless. The report I heard is that he is either planning on putting a moratorium on all hunting licenses or will be replacing the higher up in the F&G.

 

[Point Creep]

He's afraid that the buffalo hippies might have a fit....

Link to article in Billings Gazette

 

[MarvB]

"Schweitzer said he hopes to find a way to postpone the season for a year by either ordering the department to not issue any licenses or by filling vacancies on the Fish and Game Commission with new members who would reverse the commission decision of Dec. 16."

Now that's some heart warming news :MAD What an ass clown!

 

[sra61]

Guys,
Write this backstabber a letter. It probably won't do any good, but at least we will have tried. Here's a copy of the letter I sent this A.M.:
[email protected]
Hello,
Congratulations on your inauguration. I thought it might take as much as a year for you to totally alienate all of us who thought we'd give you a chance! Obviously your supposed bi-partisan appearance was nothing more than a show. In the first _week_ of your new administration you have aligned yourself with the tax and spend radical environmental movement. For all the good it will do I want you to know that I _strongly_ support the Bison Hunt. Why do you as a Montanan care one whit about what these antihunter radicals think? Especially considering the big push you made in your campaign to show yourself walking around the woods with a rifle, talking about your supposed heartfelt concerns about hunters' rights. Apparently that was nothing more than a smoke screen to get your foot in the door. There are many reasons that there hasn't been a democrat in the governor's mansion for 16 years. You, now are reminding all of us what those reasons are, and I for one will try to make sure people who enjoy the outdoors, and pay taxes are aware of exactly what your agenda appears to be. I am a lifetime member of the NRA, and will be sure to let them know how your first few days in office have shown us all your true colors.
Sincerely,
Stephen R. Ayers
Kalispell, MT
This buttwipe in a few short days appears to be one of the most radical libs we've ever seen. There is a reason we haven't had one of his kind in Helena for 16 years!
Let's let him hear our voices.
Steve Ayers

 

[BigHornRam]

Steve,

Here's my letter.

Dear Governor,

I read about your thoughts on the Yellowstone Bison hunt, and your plans to stop it in this mornings paper. I am not pleased with your views on this issue. I can only hope you develope more of a spine when and if we get the wolves delisted. That issue will be even more contensious than this one, and I hope you make the right call when the time comes. Forgive me but I am begining to have some doubt.

One other comment. Next time you do a photo shoot of you holding a rifle, in an effort to inform us what a serious Montana Sportsman you are, keep your finger off the trigger. Even twelve year olds have been taught in hunter education that the only time you touch the trigger is when you are preparing to shoot.

Sincerely,

Paul Cockrell
Hamilton Montana

 

[Point Creep]

News from the Buffalo Hippie Website: click here

My favorite part: Don't Let Your Guard Down ****
Even with the good news of Schweitzer's position, we still have to be prepared for the hunt to proceed. We have rented a place and are preparing to establish a second camp, near Gardiner, to document and lead media tours of the hunt. With patrols running in both West Yellowstone and Gardiner, our equipment will be stretched thin. We are in particular need of 2-way FM radios and Sony mini DV video cameras. If you want to make a difference for the buffalo, and help us document the hunt, please consider donating today. We couldn't be here without you.


Ok, find their frequecny, and you won't even have to scout for your bison. Just tune in, don your chicken suit, and move in for the kill. Be sure to thank the hippies for all their help and have them pose (teary-eyed) with your kill.

 

[1_pointer]

What are the laws in MT regarding hunter harassment?

 

[MattK]

I would like to get a bison permit for the meat. It is really good eating and for $75, you can't beat the price. I feel there are too many bison in the park and too many get outside the park. I also understand the desire for ranchers in the area not wanting bison and cattle mixing.

With that said, I also understand the political nightmare that is the "bison hunt". I would not consider this to be much of a hunt but that is just my opinion. BHR says get a spine. While I agree Switzer may be delving to public opinion, I wonder which "public" he is swaying toward. Most in Montana either don't care or like the prospect of a new hunt.

It is a very unpopular hunt around the nation and creates problems by simply being. I wonder why people are getting so excited about 10 permits. What kind of token gesture is this? What good does it really do? Does it really control the population or provide relief for the problem? I think if you want to put up a fight for something, at least make it worthwhile. This seems to be the same attitude Brian Switzer has. I don't completely disagree with him.

 

[Point Creep]

10 permits was at least a start. It's a bummer to have somebody play into the hands of radical animal rights groups instead of wildlife managers and sportsman. No matter when or what type of bison hunt is proposed, the local hippies will whimper and ensure the media is here. Who should determine what a "canned" hunt it anyway? It won't be nearly as easy as many antelope or deer hunts. Good thing the hippies and media don't convince the Governor that we shouldn't hunt other species. And what a bargain for a load of good meat, even at the non-resident price tag. Why are the hippies concerned that sportsman get 10 permits, when the DOL usually takes a few hundred a year? There's a little revenue for the state.

I'm thinking this 1st hunt would be an absolute gas! Dressed in a giant chicken suite (400sq inch fluorescent orange beak), and accompanied by a friend in a gorilla suit pushing a wheelbarrow with block and tackle, another friend dressed up as leatherface, carrying a chainsaw, meat cleaver, and assortment of ginsu knives. The final hunting partner would be in a SWAT outfit, sporting a semi-automatic paintball rifle.. crowd control. You wouldn't need a cameraman, somebody else would have that covered.

 

[MattK]

Greenhorn- I agree it would be blast. And it was a start. I still think there could have been more permits given. I think it could be a viable hunt if done correctly. The 10 permits to me makes it somewhat of a joke. I don't like the fact so many are killed by employees and given to the native americans. Instead of the state paying for people to exterminate them, they should make money on the deal (even the small amount they charge).

The animal rights activists will create a problem that the governor probably doesn't want...not to say this is good or bad.

 

[sra61]

BHR,
Awesome. If I was lucky enough to draw, I'd for sure have my horses. I'd like to see them keep up with me on horseback. Maybe I just don't understand, why do we think I would be hunting my buffalo on the side of the road? How dedicated are these Bunny-huggers? My experience is that they are more talk than anything. I believe they win by incrementalism. Baby steps. We can't let them win one battle. What's more I truly don't give a rat's rear what someone around the nation thinks. I'm not going to try to tell them how to live, thank you kindly for let me live. When the state slaughters these buffalo, and gives them to some native americans, do the Buffalo hippies march? It makes sense to me to allow the rest of us to have the opportunity to harvest a free ranging, wild buffalo from a historic herd, especially when the State stands to collect dollars instead of dollars going out. I understand that a buffalo might not be a great challenge to hunt. What does that really have to do with anything? Every species has it's own habits and habitat. To me the ability to participate would be a big deal. I believe that the hunter harassment laws would protect the hunter anyway. There is a way to protect the hunter, if the state wanted to. I suspect their hearts aren't in it.

 

[BigHornRam]

MattK,

Where do you get this pile of dung?

"Most in Montana either don't care or like the prospect of a new hunt."

The Buffalo hippie website Greenhorn posted?

I'm glad we have dedicated hunters like you out there sticking up for our sport.

How do you expect Switzer to react when the wolves get delisted when he doesn't even have the nuts to stand firm on this. This hunt isn't half the "political nightmare" our first wolf shoot will be. If you have to ask "what good does a bison hunt do", then one could also ask the same for a elk hunt, a sheep hunt, a deer hunt, a wolf hunt, and so on, after all more people don't hunt in Montana than do. Good thing old Switzer is a hunter too, and looking out for the rest of us hunters. This just the first time this phoney is going to sell us out.

 

[MattK]

BHR- It seems to me that most of the people on the "buffalo website" are not from Montana. I think a better fight would be for wolves. They tend to be a greater problem at this time. If they only give out token permits, forget it. Treat all the wildlife the same. If the numbers need to be controlled...manage the permits to control them. I'm not against the buffalo hunt as I would not be against a wolf hunt, but it should be done to be effective not as a token. I understand the "getting it started". I just feel the best biology should be used to put up quotas not "feeling". Either do it correctly or don't do it at all.

 

[MattK]

SRA61- I agree with all your comments. As to how dedicated are the "bunny huggers"? How many grizzly permits have there been in Montana in last few years? How many buffalo permits?

They are very dedicated and have won many battles. One of the main reasons I am for the Buffalo hunt is because of this. I don't want them to get an upper hand in any way. However, taking that away from the picture, I feel this is a token gesture and should be treated as such.

 

[MarvB]

I don't (not being a MT res) have as big a dog in this fight as the rest of you but what really galls me is when politicians step over the top of game management. The numbers need to be reduce, a plan is devised to "begin" reduction (and perhaps gain a bit of revenue from it...not a bad thing IMHO), and then some chicken shit politico sudeenly know more than the professional employees being paid to make such decisons?

I don't care if its a bad PR problem, animals "rights" problem, or what...the biologists that supposedly know whats best for the herd, habitat, carrying capacity, whatever...saying that the numbers need to be reduced and that plan should be carried out!

We get the same crap EVERY year here in this foresaken state. Fish and Game will propose to add some anterless deer hunts to get the buck/doe ratios back into shape and change the overall herd numbers and dynamics. They will do heli counts, range reviews (always fun running plot points...ugh), etc., and then model the whole fuggin enchilada to get a target objective for the hunt. Then at the very last minute BAR NONE, the hunt will be cancelled because the "County Board of Supervisors" thinks that there might be a public outcry for shooting "girl deer"??????

So how much money is spent on this kind of "game management" and who ultimately benefits? Its not the herd, its not the range/habitat, its not the hunters...oh, yeah- its the "politically correct" members of the politico. And before anyone spouts off with the "you elected these folks" rhetoric- hunters will always be in the voting minority in this state even when the Fish & Game themselves (can anyone say Mt. Lion) is siding with the hunting populous.

I surrender my soapbox.........

 

[BigHornRam]

Well said Marv.

MattK I have no idea what the hell you are rambling on about. The only thing I can think of is that your trying to make excuses for your governors major screw up and lack of backbone. Have fun trying to cover for 4 more years of this shit.

 

[BuzzH]

Hey Paul,

Just a question for you....

Where were you when REPUBLICAN MONTANA GOVERNOR STAN STEPHENS, stopped the first bison hunt in Montana for the same reasons as Schweitzer?

Thats what I thought, thanks for all the support. While you were passed out with a bong beside you, we were losing our right to hunt bison. I cant wait for your excuse that will cover Stan Stephens Conservative Republican ass for stopping the bison hunt to begin with.

If it wasnt for that ten-watt Republican dimwit we wouldnt have to RESTART the bison hunt.

 

[Nemont]

If it wasnt for that ten-watt Republican dimwit we wouldnt have to RESTART the bison hunt

Buzz,
I say amen to that one. Stan Stephens was an idiot and the FWP were idiots for the way they ran those "hunts".

The problem I have is that the Govenor just gave every other anti hunting group a blueprint on how to stop more hunting in Montana. If the pols cave in and stop the hunt what does it say about who is going to hold sway on the issue? I understand the political fallout and the perceived negative impact on tourism but I can't imagine the killing of 10 bison would have such a huge impact. It also makes all the work the previous legislature and FWP commission as well as public comments come to naught.

It doesn't matter if it is Republican or Democrat what matters is it is selling out to anti hunting groups. I wonder if Montana hunters will have long memories or not.

Nemont

 

[sra61]

I guess the thing that really gets me is the state is going to slaughter however many buffalo come out of the park anyway. They pay the employees to go out and shoot them, process them and transport them, and then donate them to the Native American tribes. I propose to actually pay them for a tag, and then as a bonus, cut it up and transport it all at no charge to the State! Or is this something only for the tribal members? I also wonder how many of the Buffalo hugger hippies are out there following those state officials when they slaughter those buffalo? If you look at the Buffalo Field Campaign website they show the past counts of how many bufflao have been killed. Since the hunt was stopped in "89", they have slaughtered 3,155 head of Bison!