Unfortunately the fine citizens of Montana were hood-winked last November and we elected a democrat (who ran as a conservative/traditionalist/capitalist!) for Governor!
Things had been going well here for Hunters during the last few Governors (Republicans!) during their terms!
Now we have a democrat and the first thing he does is try to cancel a long planned Bison Hunt! He had two ways he could try to do this, one was just to cancel the Hunt that 8,000 Hunters had applied for ($!) or he could destroy the previously appointed Big Game Hunting Commission! He chose the latter! Today he appointed three (#) new members to the five (5) member commission! Then he postponed the drawing for the ten (10) Bison permits (that were so heavily applied for) until Monday! The "NEW" commission is due to meet tomorrow or the next day and they have the authority to cancel the Hunt! Apparently the governors lawyers did not advise him that he could just outright cancel the long planned Hunt!
FUCKING DEMOCRATIC CHICKENSHIT BASTARD!
So here we have a Hunt that has been planned for, determined to be needed and authorized by the Big Game Commission for two years now and the newly elected demonrat governor just up and whimsically destroys the Commisssion and the Hunt!
My calls and letters have been forwarded already and maybe some more letters to be sent but the lesson here for Big Game Hunters anywhere in the United States is - be careful - VERY careful, who you vote for! My call to the Fish & Game folks left the distinct impression that they are miffed and they do not know if the application fees from both resident and non-resident Hunters will be refunded!
KRIKEY!
I hope the new governor slips on a Buffalo Chip and cracks his noggin!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Here is more on the issue! Patagonia is on my boycott list!

Bison hunt opponents seek license
By MIKE STARK
Of The Gazette Staff

More than 8,000 people have applied to hunt for bison that wander out of Yellowstone National Park this winter.

Some of those who applied, though, don't actually want to shoot.

Members and supporters of the Buffalo Field Campaign, a group that has advocated for protection of Yellowstone bison, have applied for some of the 10 tags. If their application is among those drawn in Friday's lottery, they have agreed not to fill the tag - and clothing company Patagonia has agreed to reimburse their application fee.



Buffalo Field Campaign's Mike Mease said 25 to 30 people in his office applied for a bison tag and other supporters of the organization may have done the same.

"Our e-mail list reaches over 10,000 people so it's hard to judge how many people were motivated to go out and purchase it," Mease said.

Last month, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission approved a bison hunt, allowing 10 animals to be killed between Jan. 15 and Feb. 15. The hunt will happen outside Yellowstone's borders in areas used by bison in the winter.

The bison hunt is the first in Montana since 1990.

About 3,500 applied for the last bison hunt. State officials expected more of the same this time around.

"We knew there was an awful lot of interest," said Ron Aasheim of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

After the application deadline passed earlier this week, state officials counted about 8,200 applicants for the bison hunt, including 305 from out-of-state residents.

Aasheim said there's nothing to prevent anyone - including members of the Buffalo Field Campaign who won't use the license - from applying as long as they meet the basic requirements.

"If they choose not to use it, that's their prerogative," Aasheim said.

Mease said his group doesn't oppose hunting but said a bison hunt in Montana shouldn't happen until there's an established wild herd outside of the park, one that's managed not as livestock but as wildlife.

"It has to be done properly," said Mease, who added that his group probably will document the hunt and seek media attention.

Lisa Pike, director of Patagonia's environmental programs, said the company has supported the Buffalo Field Campaign through small grants and clothing donations since 1997.

Patagonia will reimburse the cost of the bison license - $75 for residents and $750 for non-residents - for anyone who is awarded a tag but doesn't use it, Pike said. The company has not taken a stance against hunting overall but objects to the bison hunt near Yellowstone because it won't be a "fair chase hunt or ethical," Pike said.

"It's not a real hunt in the true sense of the word," she said.

The hunt is not intended to cull the bison herd. Recent estimates indicate there are more than 4,000 bison in Yellowstone.

The bison have been at the center of controversy for years. Some are worried that bison that leave the park could spread brucellosis, a disease that can cause abortions and other problems, to neighboring cattle. Others dispute that claim and say bison should be allowed to migrate outside the park.


Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

I hope everything works out for the best and all ten tags are awarded to hunters. I want to see pictures of these ten buffalo, they should be outstanding trophies. There is the right way to deal with the anti-hunters and then there is the enjoyable way, ticking them off. Sometimes you can't help but pick the latter.

Al

This is what people can't seem to get through their head when it comes to politics. Ok the guys a democrat he is a nice guy, he seems like a nice guy than the republican canidate. the only problem is once the dem gets in office he will tow the party line. what happens if montana needs a senator appointed to serve out a term, you guessed it your pretty boy dem gov is going to appoint another dem. Democrats are democrats, The only way to keep undiserable things from happening even though the dem guy may be a nice guy is to make sure and check one box on your ballot and that being strait republican.

we've got our applications in, and if we draw we will run over all the "bunny huggers" we need too, to get the job done!

I would watch out, as these actions may be a sign of things to come. You should ask him where he intends to stop. He sounds like a gun grabber (like most Dems). Next thing you know he'll say you need to give up your semi-auto shotgun because it is an assault weapon. Best of luck to you.

hmmmmm.....no buffalo hunt? Seems to me the cattle ranchers might have to go back to the 3S system. (shoot, shovel, shut up)

Matt!!!

That is too cool (the three s thing).

Elk have been reintroduced here in the bluegrass state and a "buffer zone" created. The reason: To keep them from getting shot by cattle farmers and to keep bunny huggers from hitting them with the SUV!

I wish you guys the best. I support the straight ticket myself.

A friend of mine drew a bison tag in 1990, the last year they were offered. Like many, he applied many years unsuccessfuly. On the weekend he was called to hunt, his wife went into labor and delivered their second child. He never made it to hunt.

Gary Marbut a Montana gun proponent and someone who works very hard to get pro-gun/hunter legislation passed in Montana will be on NRA News, live tomorrow (Jan 7th) at 2:20 PM to discuss the Montana bison hunt. You can listen online at:

http://www.nranews.com/nra.html

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.org

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Seems to me the cattle ranchers might have to go back to the 3S system. (shoot, shovel, shut up)

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I'm surprised that this approach hasn't become more popular in dealing with the Wolf problem.

quote:

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Originally posted by VarmintGuy:
Unfortunately the fine citizens of Montana were hood-winked last November and we elected a democrat (who ran as a conservative/traditionalist/capitalist!) for Governor! ...
So here we have a Hunt that has been planned for, determined to be needed and authorized by the Big Game Commission for two years now and the newly elected demonrat governor just up and whimsically destroys the Commisssion and the Hunt!...

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Hey VG, Thank you for bringing this to the Board for everyone to see.

I just don't understand how anyone who is a Hunter or Shooter could ever vote for anyone but a Republican. It is as if they choose to ignore all the damage to our Rights the DEMOCRATS have always taken pride in.

Fortunately, another election will roll around and hopefully enough people will remember the damage he does to correct the mess.

Absolutely pitiful.

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For Cummins Cowboy:

In times when one needs a politician, he tends to need a Republican very badly!

The only hope Montana has is three winters in a row with two months of 20 below temps to send the Kalifornicans scurrying back.

Who said global warming didn't have serious consequences? Dutch.

I'm sorry for you, but the old time Dem. like Zel Miller are about as common as passanger pigions. Sure there are some liberal Rep., too (look at Arny, here in CA - I didn't vote for him - sure enough, he's banned .50 BMGs as of Jan.1)

No one believing in the 2nd ammendment and American traditional values votes Dem. Don't even do it if they say they're moderate, or even if they ARE moderate. They are part of a party that ISN'T! They will have legislators and comrades that liberal. The end result will always be the the party standard (liberal, humanistic, socialist/communist) prevails.

I was discussing this very issue with a friend in Montana last night. He is one of the hunting applicants for the Bison liscence. He is pretty miffed that the application numbers have been inflated by non-hunters. He now is faced with 1 in 800 odds to get drawn.

The point is that if they want to take out 10 bison than they should set it as a quota. That way 10 bison get harvested period. Even if the tags are all drawn by hunters the success rate probably ain't gonna be 100%. The quota can always be reached by issuing more tags or extending the hunt dates or both That will put an end to this anti hunter application trend!

This is a prime example of what WOULD have happened nationwide if kerry would have been elected!

DGK

Hmmmm. . . anti-hunters screwing up the draw, inflating the applications, and making the draw unfair to legitimate applicants?

I don't know anything about your new Governor, but if I were Governor and this situation were occuring, I think I'd put some dependable people on the commission and have them re-do the draw to keep the anti's from succeeding. I have no way of knowing if this is what the Governor is intending, but let's not jump to conclusions or be too simplistic about it before we know all of the facts. After all, Montana is "blessed" with this guy for at least the next several years, so it ain't a good idea to piss him off unless you're sure of his intentions. If he's an anti-hunting in a state like Montana that has a large economic stake in hunting, then he's by definition unfit to be governor.

Well there are a couple of options:
1.) Learn from your mistakes (which we in CA are never able to do) put up with it for the next 4 years and make sure this Dem doesn't get re-elected
2.) Start a recall campaign (if it's legal in your state). Hey, it worked for us.

Thanks All: I am still having trouble getting the hang of this new board and I wanted to thank each of the above posters for their sympathies and the commiseration! I can't figure out how to do it individually so I will give blanket thanks for your well wishes and thoughts and suggestions!
It is now official our lunatic democrat governor HAS "officially" replaced three members of the Big Game Commission (five members total) with his personal choices! They meet Monday January 10th at 9:00 A.M. Mountain Time and at that time they WILL vote for closure of the previously authorized Hunt!
Shame this!
There are many other issues that this fink of a governor can put his "green" thumb on that will affect Hunters! I will not take the chance of mentioning them in public now and giving him more "ideas"!
I am saddened that the Berkeley types and the various other "greenies" have sway over Montanas governor!
Like one of the other posters mentioned "another election" will roll along and I have had to deal with that "wait" many times in my life - it is simple and yet sage advice! I will work harder next election.
Like another poster said yes the democrats anymore seem to profess a middle of the road philosophy when running for office but once in power they spiral into socialist, anti-traditional values jihad at the first opportunity! Frustrating to see so many folks fooled every four (or two, or six!) years by these two faced twats!
And to the poster who's friend was drawn for the last Buffalo Hunt but had to miss it for the birth of his babe! I hope some day he is drawn again. And if I ever get drawn for one of these tags in the future he is welcome in my camp and to "come into the field" with "my" tag if he wants!
It turns out 8,300 Hunters put in for these 10 tags and there were 190,000 Hunting licenses sold in Montana last year! There are only 920,000 folks in all of Montana! This governor had better see the light or he will be a one termer!
From the sounds of things in local papers and on the radio here the governor is certainly cutting his own throat! Montanans Hunt!
A recall would be fine with me!
Thanks again all for the commiseration and well wishes!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I am attempting to place a link relating this mess to those interested.
Here goes:

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2005/01/07/news/01bisonhunt.txt

Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Guys:
I fully sympathize with you on your screwing. We too have had our share of Greenies trying to screw us over on our draw hunts. A couple of points though....
1. 25-30 preservationists applying for 10 tags out of about 8000 applicants are not very good odds. The fact the gov. replaced the board with his crony's notwithstanding.
2. Doesn't Montana have a law on the books regarding preservationists, etc., from physically interfering with hunting & fishing? We in Alaska do & I'd urge other states to follow suit.
3. Finally, Don't think for a minute that Republicans are all lily white 'cause they ain't. All one has to do is look at Gov. Pataki in N.Y., Sen. Snow of Maine, or the nation's "favorite" Senator from Arizona. When you vote you just have to be extremely careful that the candidate isn't the proverbial wolf in sheeps clothing.
I can't believe this guy in Montana is gonna have a long career in politics if the above information is true.
Bear in Fairbanks

You can bet the house that if I am drawn for one of the bison I will be going. Wish me luck in drawing a permit.

Oh it is even worse than I thought of the three people he appointed to the commision,two are lawyers and the third a real estate broker,go figure.w/regards

to top this off, you sould have heard his campaign ads, they concentrated on saying what a sportsman he is and how he was going to help the hunters keep their hunting heritage. A real bunch of BS! I'm for starting a recall movement. Get rid of this idiot before he screws things up beyond repair!

I think if you love freedom, and believe in your right to keep and bear arms, you had better start voting Republican. I honesty believe the democrats are going down the socialist path, and they will destroy the soul and heart in our nation if they get their way. Forget the my daddy voted for them and so am I stuff, dems will take our guns when they are powerful enough.

Whats the story on this Schwietzer, It says he is worried about montanas image.

What Image. He sounds like a Pussy.

I dont know the details of Montanas recent political B.S.

Who is Schwietzer ? was he born in montana . Is he a big Bullshiter/conman/sweet talker type?

Where did these votes come from(what town)that elected this guy?

Which town in montana is the liberal area. Im guessing down by yellowstone/jacksonhole wyoming.

He appointed a realestate broker? Greedy worthless scabs.

I just got a realestate licience and have always worked hard in construction.

I have been learning about realestate people. In general R.E. people are the most Ignorant,useless ,full of shit, worthless scabs I have ever known, generaly speaking . Im sure there are a few that are ok people.

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From Bear in Fairbanks:Finally, Don't think for a minute that Republicans are all lily white 'cause they ain't. All one has to do is look at Gov. Pataki in N.Y., Sen. Snow of Maine, or the nation's "favorite" Senator from Arizona. When you vote you just have to be extremely careful that the candidate isn't the proverbial wolf in sheeps clothing.

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Hey Bear, You do make an excellent point. However, if you look past the lies of the folks running against them, they do appear to be better choices than the DEMOCRATS.

Just think back to the moscow bill Impeachment. Every single DEMOCRAT voted to keep him in office. Even Zell Miller, who spoke so well at the Republican Convention, voted to keep him in. Pitiful!

I either saw in this post or heard on the news last night that Califoney's Gov Arnold Schwartzeneger(SP) has outlawed 50cal rifles there. I'd say that effectively stoped any chance of the Constitution being Ammended to allow him to run for President.

here is a link to the Billings Gazatte 1-8-05
Buffalo Hunt debate

I am sorry but we are only talking 10 Bison out of 4200.

Let's be conservative, say, 2100 hundred cows and 25% get's pregnant. That's 525 more bison the next year. These anti hunting idiots are worried that taking out 10 is going to start the herd back on track to extinction????

I got news for these morons. If it was just up to Yellowstone it may be that there would be only 4200 bison in the world. But it is not that way because several future minded landowners saw the value in bison and raised them on their land. Yes you can hunt them on these ranches, that is part of their value. There are now probably more bison outside the park than in it.

Kudu56.

Just a thought from here across the pond.

Why not get a whole pile of pals to take up applicaltions to tip the balance back in your favour, then buy up the un-needed tickets your selves. Or can it be arranged that applications for hunting tickets only come from hunt affiliated groups/members. That way you could say that all finances were being ploughed back into your sport.

Just a thought.

Regards.

Dave.

....

Every man should be allowed to do one thing badly, so long as he doesn't inflict his mistakes on others.
....

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Originally posted by OldFart:

quote:

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Seems to me the cattle ranchers might have to go back to the 3S system. (shoot, shovel, shut up)

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I'm surprised that this approach hasn't become more popular in dealing with the Wolf problem.

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Who knows, maybe it has...

Latest from Billings Gazette:

http://billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&tts=1&display=rednews/2005/01/11/build/state/20-bison-hunt.inc

Between the liberal farmers and the transplanted kalifornia pieces of shit that moved up here, you no this asshole was going to be elected!

No doubt about it, politicians should leave wildlife management to the experts and stay out of the decisions.

What the heck is a "fair-chase" bison hunt anyways?

The hunter must get within 25 yards and not get gored? The hunter must use a speer?