Free: Contests & Raffles.
QuoteEdit: For the record, I don't believe Hoppe's original intent was to infect the bighorn sheep herd. I fully believe his original intent was to create a wolf conflict, which it did, and which blew up bigger than he anticipated. I believe that the bighorn sheep were just collateral damage incident to his primary agenda. His willful indifference and refusal to work with WSF (who BTW covers the cost of these projects) is what I find appalling.You really should have said that in the first place! But I still think you may be wrong because if Hoppe was trying to bait the wolves or if he didn't care about the wild sheep coming close, why would he put bells on his sheep? It seems he wanted wildlife to avoid his sheep by putting bells on them, we do that with our hounds to try and deter wolves and it seems to work most of the time. Either way, I really doubt Hoppe intended for the sheep to get sick and die if in fact that was caused by his sheep. I honestly don't see any mention in the articles of what the WSF proposed and what Hoppe refused to do? I've got a lot of friends who are ranchers, most have a real concern for the land and the wildlife and take better care of the land and wildlife than what agencies do with our public lands.http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/wildlife/bighorn-sheep-mingle-with-gardiner-domestic-sheep/article_67966a20-5baf-11e3-a220-0019bb2963f4.htmlQuoteHurley, a Wyoming Game and Fish bighorn biologist for 30 years, said the ram was initially startled by the sound of the bells on Hoppes sheep. But the urges of the breeding season caused the ram to get within about 6 feet of the sheep.http://fwp.mt.gov/news/newsReleases/fishAndWildlife/nr_0713.htmlQuoteIn the Gardiner area, bighorn sheep have experienced a small number of pneumonia cases each of the last few years, but not to this extent. It is not possible to detect the exact source of this pneumonia outbreak.Pneumonia outbreaks have occurred in bighorn sheep populations with no known contact with domestic sheep (or goats). However, research has shown bacteria can be transmitted from healthy domestic sheep (or goats) to bighorn sheep, causing pneumonia in the wild sheep. There are currently domestic sheep flocks in the area.
Edit: For the record, I don't believe Hoppe's original intent was to infect the bighorn sheep herd. I fully believe his original intent was to create a wolf conflict, which it did, and which blew up bigger than he anticipated. I believe that the bighorn sheep were just collateral damage incident to his primary agenda. His willful indifference and refusal to work with WSF (who BTW covers the cost of these projects) is what I find appalling.
Hurley, a Wyoming Game and Fish bighorn biologist for 30 years, said the ram was initially startled by the sound of the bells on Hoppes sheep. But the urges of the breeding season caused the ram to get within about 6 feet of the sheep.
In the Gardiner area, bighorn sheep have experienced a small number of pneumonia cases each of the last few years, but not to this extent. It is not possible to detect the exact source of this pneumonia outbreak.Pneumonia outbreaks have occurred in bighorn sheep populations with no known contact with domestic sheep (or goats). However, research has shown bacteria can be transmitted from healthy domestic sheep (or goats) to bighorn sheep, causing pneumonia in the wild sheep. There are currently domestic sheep flocks in the area.
QuoteEdit: For the record, I don't believe Hoppe's original intent was to infect the bighorn sheep herd. I fully believe his original intent was to create a wolf conflict, which it did, and which blew up bigger than he anticipated. I believe that the bighorn sheep were just collateral damage incident to his primary agenda. His willful indifference and refusal to work with WSF (who BTW covers the cost of these projects) is what I find appalling. I honestly don't see any mention in the articles of what the WSF proposed and what Hoppe refused to do? I've got a lot of friends who are ranchers, most have a real concern for the land and the wildlife and take better care of the land and wildlife than what agencies do with our public lands.
http://bighornhealth.org/a-unique-approachHere is some light reading on pneumonia and bighorn sheep. "Hoppe refused to allow his sheep to be tested, so there is no way of ever knowing if the strains matched and came from his domestic sheep."
Do you have a special license to be the judge and jury? Or is it just your unbiased opinion?
Quote from: bearpaw on August 01, 2016, 09:09:18 AMQuoteEdit: For the record, I don't believe Hoppe's original intent was to infect the bighorn sheep herd. I fully believe his original intent was to create a wolf conflict, which it did, and which blew up bigger than he anticipated. I believe that the bighorn sheep were just collateral damage incident to his primary agenda. His willful indifference and refusal to work with WSF (who BTW covers the cost of these projects) is what I find appalling. I honestly don't see any mention in the articles of what the WSF proposed and what Hoppe refused to do? I've got a lot of friends who are ranchers, most have a real concern for the land and the wildlife and take better care of the land and wildlife than what agencies do with our public lands.They offered to help him find alternative pastures and/or install double fencing (this was PRIOR to any lamb predations). After that, Hoppe wouldn't even return their phone calls.
So.... No comment?
Quote from: JLS on August 01, 2016, 09:37:51 AMQuote from: bearpaw on August 01, 2016, 09:09:18 AMQuoteEdit: For the record, I don't believe Hoppe's original intent was to infect the bighorn sheep herd. I fully believe his original intent was to create a wolf conflict, which it did, and which blew up bigger than he anticipated. I believe that the bighorn sheep were just collateral damage incident to his primary agenda. His willful indifference and refusal to work with WSF (who BTW covers the cost of these projects) is what I find appalling. I honestly don't see any mention in the articles of what the WSF proposed and what Hoppe refused to do? I've got a lot of friends who are ranchers, most have a real concern for the land and the wildlife and take better care of the land and wildlife than what agencies do with our public lands.They offered to help him find alternative pastures and/or install double fencing (this was PRIOR to any lamb predations). After that, Hoppe wouldn't even return their phone calls.I certainly want to see sheep herds grow, but I have to wonder what exactly was said to cause that to happen? Too often people try to shut out ranchers or tell them what they have to do, if that happened that was probably the wrong approach.
Quote from: jackelope on August 01, 2016, 09:06:33 PMSo.... No comment?I'm not exactly sure if you are directing your question to me, since you posted twice right after I did I'll assume you are?I think most involved hunters know the info you posted, I assumed you were posting it for the benefit of those who don't know? Are you looking for something else?
Quote from: bearpaw on August 01, 2016, 09:09:18 AMQuoteEdit: For the record, I don't believe Hoppe's original intent was to infect the bighorn sheep herd. I fully believe his original intent was to create a wolf conflict, which it did, and which blew up bigger than he anticipated. I believe that the bighorn sheep were just collateral damage incident to his primary agenda. His willful indifference and refusal to work with WSF (who BTW covers the cost of these projects) is what I find appalling.You really should have said that in the first place! But I still think you may be wrong because if Hoppe was trying to bait the wolves or if he didn't care about the wild sheep coming close, why would he put bells on his sheep? It seems he wanted wildlife to avoid his sheep by putting bells on them, we do that with our hounds to try and deter wolves and it seems to work most of the time. Either way, I really doubt Hoppe intended for the sheep to get sick and die if in fact that was caused by his sheep. I honestly don't see any mention in the articles of what the WSF proposed and what Hoppe refused to do? I've got a lot of friends who are ranchers, most have a real concern for the land and the wildlife and take better care of the land and wildlife than what agencies do with our public lands.http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/wildlife/bighorn-sheep-mingle-with-gardiner-domestic-sheep/article_67966a20-5baf-11e3-a220-0019bb2963f4.htmlQuoteHurley, a Wyoming Game and Fish bighorn biologist for 30 years, said the ram was initially startled by the sound of the bells on Hoppes sheep. But the urges of the breeding season caused the ram to get within about 6 feet of the sheep.http://fwp.mt.gov/news/newsReleases/fishAndWildlife/nr_0713.htmlQuoteIn the Gardiner area, bighorn sheep have experienced a small number of pneumonia cases each of the last few years, but not to this extent. It is not possible to detect the exact source of this pneumonia outbreak.Pneumonia outbreaks have occurred in bighorn sheep populations with no known contact with domestic sheep (or goats). However, research has shown bacteria can be transmitted from healthy domestic sheep (or goats) to bighorn sheep, causing pneumonia in the wild sheep. There are currently domestic sheep flocks in the area.Hopefully you're not implying that domestic sheep are not the cause of all these pneumonia outbreaks in the wild sheep? I'm pretty sure you're not implying that, but just wanted to make sure. We lost a few entire herds of bighorns in Washington because they were infected by domestic sheep. The Hell's Canyon herd has been compromised. I'm sure there are lots of others.