Longshot349
Active Member
- Messages
- 160
This may be a can of worms to open, but I'd like to hear how others feel about Cattle on Public lands. I've personally owned cattle for over 40 years, so I feel somewhat qualified to speak about it. However, I run cattle on my own private land.
I've hunted Wyoming and Colorado and nearly always run into alot of cattle in the high country. This year I could count 10-50 cows from any place I wanted to glass for elk, and that was late October in a drought year.
Here's some questions to ponder; 1. How many more elk and deer could there be if grazing was stopped?
2. I realize these cattlemen are some great people and some long standing traditions, but is it really fair to cater to a select few, while the rest of us cattlemen have to buy our own land and compete? And is it fair to folks that reply on public land to hunt, when it's full of cows?
3. Would there be a dramatic increase in elk and deer if grazing stopped or is that myth? I do know that every historical game wintering valley in Colorado is now filled with cities and towns. Roll the calendar back 150 years and the game had those place to winter, but nowadays, the national Forrest is a full time home.
4. Is the cattle grazing all about taxes and Colorado economy? Are the politics such that this practice will never end? I'm not for ceasing immediately, but couldn't it be phased out over maybe a 30 year period?
5. Or, is cattle grazing a non issue that has little too NO effect on game? What are the pro's and cons?
I'd just like to hear what thoughts others have on this issue?
I've hunted Wyoming and Colorado and nearly always run into alot of cattle in the high country. This year I could count 10-50 cows from any place I wanted to glass for elk, and that was late October in a drought year.
Here's some questions to ponder; 1. How many more elk and deer could there be if grazing was stopped?
2. I realize these cattlemen are some great people and some long standing traditions, but is it really fair to cater to a select few, while the rest of us cattlemen have to buy our own land and compete? And is it fair to folks that reply on public land to hunt, when it's full of cows?
3. Would there be a dramatic increase in elk and deer if grazing stopped or is that myth? I do know that every historical game wintering valley in Colorado is now filled with cities and towns. Roll the calendar back 150 years and the game had those place to winter, but nowadays, the national Forrest is a full time home.
4. Is the cattle grazing all about taxes and Colorado economy? Are the politics such that this practice will never end? I'm not for ceasing immediately, but couldn't it be phased out over maybe a 30 year period?
5. Or, is cattle grazing a non issue that has little too NO effect on game? What are the pro's and cons?
I'd just like to hear what thoughts others have on this issue?