Duck-Slayer
Well-known member
Part of an article: http://montanauntamed.com/hunting/article_25a90e5d-1ca1-555b-b707-260d8d6c33f0.html
Pack goat response
Newly elected Packgoat Association president Curtis King said his organization has worked closely with the Forest Service and bighorn sheep conservation groups to find common ground since filing its lawsuit.
"We've never been a difficult group to work with,but we're somewhat frustrated," King said.
That frustration comes from what King said is the fact that there's never been a disease transmission or bighorn sheep die-off caused by a pack goat coming into contact with a bighorn or mountain goat.
"The science does not support that goats are a danger to bighorn sheep," King said. "I believe the Forest Service is erring on the side of caution, and I understand that."
But he warned bighorn sheep wildlife groups, as well as other national forests across the West, not to take the group's acquiescence as a sign of approval for pack goat restrictions.
"They cannot argue this is a scientific fact, and we've been doing this since 1970," King said.
Pack goat response
Newly elected Packgoat Association president Curtis King said his organization has worked closely with the Forest Service and bighorn sheep conservation groups to find common ground since filing its lawsuit.
"We've never been a difficult group to work with,but we're somewhat frustrated," King said.
That frustration comes from what King said is the fact that there's never been a disease transmission or bighorn sheep die-off caused by a pack goat coming into contact with a bighorn or mountain goat.
"The science does not support that goats are a danger to bighorn sheep," King said. "I believe the Forest Service is erring on the side of caution, and I understand that."
But he warned bighorn sheep wildlife groups, as well as other national forests across the West, not to take the group's acquiescence as a sign of approval for pack goat restrictions.
"They cannot argue this is a scientific fact, and we've been doing this since 1970," King said.
