Horse hunting

[Grizzly95]

I guess this would belong under "other big game". And I don't want to hear people gettin mad at me for it, I have never done it. My uncle gets paid every few years to go out on the satus and the reservation and gun down wild horses, has anyone else heard of this or been a part of it? At first I was shocked about hearing that people do this, they run them down on quads or sleds and blast them; but then my uncle explained the reason to me. I guess they tried to do a wild horse adoption with little success so now every so many years they do a census on them and thin the herd because they can have a big impact on the deer and elk herds. Remember don't shoot the messenger.

[longstevo]

I don't know too much about this topic, but I know that feral horses are quite the problem in many places.  Shooting them?  I have no problem with it, as long as they are doing something with the meat. 

People get so bent around the axles because horses are always considered "Man's Second Best Friend," and are always personable to people. 

But when it comes down to it, there's no difference between a herd of wild horses and feral donkeys, which do just as much damage. 

[Grizzly95]

He never said anything about the meat, I was just figuring they leave them lay for dog bait.

[dbllunger]

This has been going on for a long time.  These are wild feral horses and they over populate like crazy.  This year is predicted to possibly be the year with the hightest numbers for killing them.   If they don't increase the kill numbers they will totally loose control of the problem.   They started the adoption crap to satisfy the animal lovers, and it has almost financially broke BLM, and it has cost BLM needed programs and money.  I say set it up so that they can round them up and sell them for dog food, glue, or gator bait, but just make some money off them.  Better yet set up some hunts with processors ready to butcher and sell the meat to who ever is the highest bidder and use the remains for dog food. I would shoot them gladly.  What a perfect situation to do some load/bullet testing on elk sized animals.  

[boneaddict]

They knock a bucnh down every year or so over on the Colville.  The cattle guys HATE them.  Compete for food and often run their cattle just for fun.

[mossback91]

I always figured it would be fun to try and catch one of the crazy *censored*s.........

[Grizzly95]

it has almost financially broke BLM

I could see that, a friend of mine has 2 wild horses he got from the BLM program and they send vets out randomly to do check ups on the animals and make sure they are being cared for properly. Now if the state would do that with the children put in foster homes or left with cracked out parents maybe we wouldn't see all the abuse in the news.

[boneaddict]

NO *censored*!

[ThePascoKid]

sounds like a kick in the ass to me

[Grizzly95]

My wife and I adopted our nephew, who was left in state care, and in the 5 years that have past we have never been called by a social worker or child services to check up on him.

[runamuk]

This has been going on for a long time.  These are wild feral horses and they over populate like crazy.  This year is predicted to possibly be the year with the hightest numbers for killing them.   If they don't increase the kill numbers they will totally loose control of the problem.   They started the adoption crap to satisfy the animal lovers, and it has almost financially broke BLM, and it has cost BLM needed programs and money.  I say set it up so that they can round them up and sell them for dog food, glue, or gator bait, but just make some money off them.  Better yet set up some hunts with processors ready to butcher and sell the meat to who ever is the highest bidder and use the remains for dog food. I would shoot them gladly.  What a perfect situation to do some load/bullet testing on elk sized animals.  

OH let me add my two cents....and I am a horse lover

They have now banned selling horses for human consumption in this country....yep horses can no longer be slaughtered.  It used to be only BLM (wild horses) that couldn't be sold for slaughter well when that temporary ban expired the anti's pushed the thing to the extreme.  With the current economy there are areas where people are abandoning horses only adding to the feral herd populations.

You cannot buy horsemeat in this country other than on the black market.  The next step...in your legislatures roll...to ban all export of horses for human consumption.

man I hate the anti's 

[bobcat]

I didn't realize they killed wild horses to keep the population down. That's great! It's too bad they don't sell tags. I would love to go on a wild horse hunt. And yes, I would eat all the meat.

[mossback91]

I didn't realize they killed wild horses to keep the population down. That's great! It's too bad they don't sell tags. I would love to go on a wild horse hunt. And yes, I would eat all the meat.

does it taste good? Always wanted to try some but have never had the chance. think i can get away with hanging a horse up in the backyard?

[Red Dawg]

YA it is illegal to sell horses for anything that has to do with food. Dumbest thing I have ever heard since after all they are just an animal, no different than a cow to me other than you can ride them. The wild horses are growing wildly in the satus/goldendale area. I am now starting to see them up in the timber running with the cattle. They need to kill a bunch of them. Most of the original horses came from charlie shaducks herd and they have just gone crazy. I know a guy very well who goes out and catches them for fun once in a while and this guy has some stories. My uncle lost one of his fingers to one. these horses are mean let me tell you. Someone will get killed one of these years when they hit one with a car. They are fun to look at but now they are getting out of control.

[bobcat]

does it taste good? Always wanted to try some but have never had the chance. think i can get away with hanging a horse up in the backyard?

I have never eaten horse meat but I would guess that it would be similar to elk.  And sure, I think you could hang a horse up in your back yard, no problem! However if it were me I'd bring it home in pieces like I do my elk.