Comments on: Tool of the Week: Gary Bassett of Missoula Montana http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2010/02/02/tool-of-the-week-gary-bassett-of-missoula-montana/ ...your public lands. This blog is wind powered and carbon neutral. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:05:51 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jim http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2010/02/02/tool-of-the-week-gary-bassett-of-missoula-montana/#comment-55951 Jim Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:53:17 +0000 http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/?p=7032#comment-55951 You have indicated in previous posts that you are on property owned by your familty for 140 years and that is a legacy in itself. My family has had the same property for 105 yeears. We act responsibility for our families, our finances, our communities and our resources, both wild and natural. Those who don't respect the rights of what property owners do in their own back yards, providing one isn't breaking the law, have no say at all. You have indicated that you are trying to get those who hunt wolves, etc. to manage these resources wisely, as well as local elk herds. Then be assured that you are tempered in your actions and trust that those enacting and following wildlife management laws do so also. You have indicated in previous posts that you are on property owned by your familty for 140 years and that is a legacy in itself. My family has had the same property for 105 yeears. We act responsibility for our families, our finances, our communities and our resources, both wild and natural. Those who don’t respect the rights of what property owners do in their own back yards, providing one isn’t breaking the law, have no say at all. You have indicated that you are trying to get those who hunt wolves, etc. to manage these resources wisely, as well as local elk herds. Then be assured that you are tempered in your actions and trust that those enacting and following wildlife management laws do so also.

]]> By: Jim http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2010/02/02/tool-of-the-week-gary-bassett-of-missoula-montana/#comment-55949 Jim Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:54:28 +0000 http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/?p=7032#comment-55949 Don't post them. Rip them up--that's all their worth. Life goes on. Don’t post them. Rip them up–that’s all their worth. Life goes on.

]]> By: Greg Farber http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2010/02/02/tool-of-the-week-gary-bassett-of-missoula-montana/#comment-55942 Greg Farber Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:20:49 +0000 http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/?p=7032#comment-55942 I am sitting here looking at the death threats left me, and others, who merely wish to fight for our lives, and lands, and our wild animals, and our pro management of wolves views. I don't think I should post them any where, they are sick and horrible, threats against our wives, children, containing explicit sexual threats and death threats. I have them in a file, get them every day. I can hardly read them. I am sitting here looking at the death threats left me, and others, who merely wish to fight for our lives, and lands, and our wild animals, and our pro management of wolves views.

I don’t think I should post them any where, they are sick and horrible, threats against our wives, children, containing explicit sexual threats and death threats.

I have them in a file, get them every day. I can hardly read them.

]]> By: Greg Farber http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2010/02/02/tool-of-the-week-gary-bassett-of-missoula-montana/#comment-55941 Greg Farber Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:04:21 +0000 http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/?p=7032#comment-55941 The problem with not managing the wolves is simple, the wolves will remove all prey from and area in a seven to ten years time span and then leave that area. They then find a new area with prey and do it again, then they return to the area the left and repeat the cycle. In the meantime hunting opportunity for me is ruined. If you do not wish to hunt for meat, ok.. Cool. Just don't be a dictator and force me to live life your way. manage the wolves, so we all can share the prey base together, you guys keep spouting how we must learn to live with the wolf. Ok Fine, I am doing that, please stop telling me i must quit my way of life for you, and this dog, I paid for in the first place, by funding hunting opportunity and purchasing guns and ammunition. And if there are other taxes involved, I paid those to. I want the wolves here, I want the wolves here, I want the wolves here, But a population which fits the hunt units, and prey base, not one that burdens it with over domination of it-the prey base.. That is the fact of the matter. This evolution science bunk is all theoretical, period, it is false science, it is BS, it is not working and it never will work.. If this keeps on like this, hunting will in fact will be closed in Idaho, in five to eight years. We have had 50% tag reductions in controlled hunt opportunity now. Several units in Southern Idaho should be closed to hunting now. I live Here Jim, I see what the truth is. You people are so blinded with wolf lust, you cannot see the forest for the trees. I supported a capture and release program versus hunting the wolf, and those could be placed in Utah, Colorado, etc. etc. But please explain to me what we are to do with SURPLUS wolves, historically all managed game has a SURPLUS which must be removed. Canada has less people and more game, and they remove 1200 wolves annually. Man is keeping the balance. The problem with not managing the wolves is simple, the wolves will remove all prey from and area in a seven to ten years time span and then leave that area.

They then find a new area with prey and do it again, then they return to the area the left and repeat the cycle. In the meantime hunting opportunity for me is ruined. If you do not wish to hunt for meat, ok.. Cool. Just don’t be a dictator and force me to live life your way.

manage the wolves, so we all can share the prey base together, you guys keep spouting how we must learn to live with the wolf. Ok Fine, I am doing that, please stop telling me i must quit my way of life for you, and this dog, I paid for in the first place, by funding hunting opportunity and purchasing guns and ammunition. And if there are other taxes involved, I paid those to.

I want the wolves here, I want the wolves here, I want the wolves here, But a population which fits the hunt units, and prey base, not one that burdens it with over domination of it-the prey base..

That is the fact of the matter. This evolution science bunk is all theoretical, period, it is false science, it is BS, it is not working and it never will work..

If this keeps on like this, hunting will in fact will be closed in Idaho, in five to eight years. We have had 50% tag reductions in controlled hunt opportunity now.

Several units in Southern Idaho should be closed to hunting now. I live Here Jim, I see what the truth is. You people are so blinded with wolf lust, you cannot see the forest for the trees.

I supported a capture and release program versus hunting the wolf, and those could be placed in Utah, Colorado, etc. etc. But please explain to me what we are to do with SURPLUS wolves, historically all managed game has a SURPLUS which must be removed.

Canada has less people and more game, and they remove 1200 wolves annually. Man is keeping the balance.

]]> By: Jim http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2010/02/02/tool-of-the-week-gary-bassett-of-missoula-montana/#comment-55939 Jim Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:54:57 +0000 http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/?p=7032#comment-55939 Yes Bob, I realized that. I didn't intend to direct any of my verbiage towards you directly. My apology! You were speaking candidly and clearly to the points which I feel are valid. As a general rule, people still follow diverse (and often impractical) idealogies on wildlife control which are usally more tactical than strategic in nature. I think that the federal government was trying to relieve itself of the burden of blanket protection of a species that was eradicated on a state, regional or local basis. As a general rule, the federal government in a pure form, as our founding fathers envisioned, should primarily concern itself with national matters--not issues that should be determined by state and local governments. That is one reason why our federal government is so large--it's trying to take care of business for which it was not intended. Now that many states have control of their wolf populations, they need to plan long-term strategies of animal (not just predator) control. Deer and raccoons in urban areas can be a problem as well, one can cause car accidents and the other is a rabies vector. Both are cute creatures but can be nuisance or problematic to humans. Predators can be a problem to our pets, children, and sometimes adults. What I see are people still clinging to either the bambi protection mentality or the only good predator is a dead one thought process. State governments must also build trust with all parties involved and follow sane managment practices--not pandering to one group or the other. The last few days since the poor cat met an untimely demise (not to mention the other death on which I shall not comment) I have read some negative words which I would not expect to see in a public forum that is meant to be focused on the preservation of wilderness, animals, and our right to enjoy outdoor recreational activities. I hope readers have had a chance to refocus their thoughts on the purpose of this blog site and how we can use it as a means of positive exchange of ideas on this topic of nature on which we all have passionate feelings. Yes Bob, I realized that. I didn’t intend to direct any of my verbiage towards you directly. My apology! You were speaking candidly and clearly to the points which I feel are valid. As a general rule, people still follow diverse (and often impractical) idealogies on wildlife control which are usally more tactical than strategic in nature. I think that the federal government was trying to relieve itself of the burden of blanket protection of a species that was eradicated on a state, regional or local basis. As a general rule, the federal government in a pure form, as our founding fathers envisioned, should primarily concern itself with national matters–not issues that should be determined by state and local governments. That is one reason why our federal government is so large–it’s trying to take care of business for which it was not intended. Now that many states have control of their wolf populations, they need to plan long-term strategies of animal (not just predator) control. Deer and raccoons in urban areas can be a problem as well, one can cause car accidents and the other is a rabies vector. Both are cute creatures but can be nuisance or problematic to humans. Predators can be a problem to our pets, children, and sometimes adults. What I see are people still clinging to either the bambi protection mentality or the only good predator is a dead one thought process. State governments must also build trust with all parties involved and follow sane managment practices–not pandering to one group or the other.

The last few days since the poor cat met an untimely demise (not to mention the other death on which I shall not comment) I have read some negative words which I would not expect to see in a public forum that is meant to be focused on the preservation of wilderness, animals, and our right to enjoy outdoor recreational activities. I hope readers have had a chance to refocus their thoughts on the purpose of this blog site and how we can use it as a means of positive exchange of ideas on this topic of nature on which we all have passionate feelings.

]]> By: Bob http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2010/02/02/tool-of-the-week-gary-bassett-of-missoula-montana/#comment-55937 Bob Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:00:45 +0000 http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/?p=7032#comment-55937 Jim -- you realize that my comments were directed towards Gline, not you. You always present a reasonable view that takes both sides into account. In the case of the wolf, that's important -- it shouldn't be held up as sacred, nor should it be crucified as evil. Thank you for your well thought out responses. Jim — you realize that my comments were directed towards Gline, not you. You always present a reasonable view that takes both sides into account. In the case of the wolf, that’s important — it shouldn’t be held up as sacred, nor should it be crucified as evil. Thank you for your well thought out responses.

]]> By: Jim http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2010/02/02/tool-of-the-week-gary-bassett-of-missoula-montana/#comment-55936 Jim Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:29:45 +0000 http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/?p=7032#comment-55936 I wouldn't say wolf hunters are the most violent people that I know. Some of the most violent people, we know,usually go after other humans. Fortunately, many are in jail where they belong. Yup, it's a problem because humans, their pets, their livestock, etc., now live in areas that only used to be inhabited by the native americans and the native wildlife. Well, we can't all move back to europe or wherever we came from and most of us wouldn't give up our homes. It's called balancing the use and management of our resources, wildlife, agriculture, livestock, lifestyles, etc., etc. I am against killing wolves but we are in a situation where due to a lack of strategic, balanced control, humans and wildlife now exist in close proximity to each other. For years all wolves were eliminated, and then protected, now we are in a period where our old predator (wolves are not game animals because you can't eat them unless you have a strange diet)management practices don't work. That is my point. It seems like fish and game people in Idaho and Montana are out of control and are practicing once again the extermination method. Of course wolf advocates will be up in arms. Each group needs to be accountable to the other and not be so busy pointing fingers at each other from their polarized perspectives. My point also is if they intended to remove x number of wolves, then they should stick to that number, not all of a sudden exclude wolves killed by other means than the officially licensed hunters. This only creates distrust. In a couple of years they will say oh my, we mistakenly killed too many wolves. We get this crap from politicians all the time. Oh my, we're sorry there weren't any weapons of mass destruction to be found. Gee, sorry we have lost over 5000 of our soldiers to find out. No, I haven't talked about Minnesota or Michigan, my home state, because each region will need to develop a different wildlife management method (hopefully extermination will be the last resort)to keep a balance between the wolf and human populations. As I have said before, we all need to dialog (which is what we are now doing) and create a compromised plan that will sustain our wildlife and our lifestyles so we all live as harmonious as possible. If we don't plan, no one will be happy. What kind of a legacy to we want to leave our kids? I wouldn’t say wolf hunters are the most violent people that I know. Some of the most violent people, we know,usually go after other humans. Fortunately, many are in jail where they belong. Yup, it’s a problem because humans, their pets, their livestock, etc., now live in areas that only used to be inhabited by the native americans and the native wildlife. Well, we can’t all move back to europe or wherever we came from and most of us wouldn’t give up our homes. It’s called balancing the use and management of our resources, wildlife, agriculture, livestock, lifestyles, etc., etc. I am against killing wolves but we are in a situation where due to a lack of strategic, balanced control, humans and wildlife now exist in close proximity to each other. For years all wolves were eliminated, and then protected, now we are in a period where our old predator (wolves are not game animals because you can’t eat them unless you have a strange diet)management practices don’t work. That is my point. It seems like fish and game people in Idaho and Montana are out of control and are practicing once again the extermination method. Of course wolf advocates will be up in arms. Each group needs to be accountable to the other and not be so busy pointing fingers at each other from their polarized perspectives. My point also is if they intended to remove x number of wolves, then they should stick to that number, not all of a sudden exclude wolves killed by other means than the officially licensed hunters. This only creates distrust. In a couple of years they will say oh my, we mistakenly killed too many wolves. We get this crap from politicians all the time. Oh my, we’re sorry there weren’t any weapons of mass destruction to be found. Gee, sorry we have lost over 5000 of our soldiers to find out.

No, I haven’t talked about Minnesota or Michigan, my home state, because each region will need to develop a different wildlife management method (hopefully extermination will be the last resort)to keep a balance between the wolf and human populations.

As I have said before, we all need to dialog (which is what we are now doing) and create a compromised plan that will sustain our wildlife and our lifestyles so we all live as harmonious as possible. If we don’t plan, no one will be happy. What kind of a legacy to we want to leave our kids?

]]> By: Bob http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2010/02/02/tool-of-the-week-gary-bassett-of-missoula-montana/#comment-55935 Bob Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:41:32 +0000 http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/?p=7032#comment-55935 "Wolf hunters are amongst the most violent people I know." You base that statement on what? Personal experience? How many wolf hunters do you actually know that you can make such a parochial statement? And you don't address the fact that there are regions -- Minnesota and Wisconsin, for example, that wolves have reached a saturation point in "wolf habitat" and are expanding their range into more populated areas in those states. So there are more wolf-human conflicts? What's a person to do when wolves are becoming more brazen in the presence of humans? Look the other way while their pet is carried off or not allow their children to play outside? This isn't pre-European times and wolves don't exist in a vacuum. There has to be some control at some point -- which will undoubtedly include lethal methods...like hunting. Get a grip. “Wolf hunters are amongst the most violent people I know.”

You base that statement on what? Personal experience? How many wolf hunters do you actually know that you can make such a parochial statement?

And you don’t address the fact that there are regions — Minnesota and Wisconsin, for example, that wolves have reached a saturation point in “wolf habitat” and are expanding their range into more populated areas in those states. So there are more wolf-human conflicts? What’s a person to do when wolves are becoming more brazen in the presence of humans? Look the other way while their pet is carried off or not allow their children to play outside? This isn’t pre-European times and wolves don’t exist in a vacuum. There has to be some control at some point — which will undoubtedly include lethal methods…like hunting.

Get a grip.

]]> By: Jim http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2010/02/02/tool-of-the-week-gary-bassett-of-missoula-montana/#comment-55934 Jim Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:40:49 +0000 http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/?p=7032#comment-55934 Check out this website, it mentions a lot of factors besides just wolves having a decimating effect on elk. And it brings up several different arguments. In conclusion, it also indicates that further study is needed. This site is typical of what you can find and poses different viewpoints. Hunting is only part of the picture. http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/HTML/articles/2002/wolvesvselk.htm It used to hunt also. It was great fun to go rabbit hunting with a 22 in the winter when the snow would melt. You have to be blind not to hit the sitting white bunnies--just hope you get them in the head otherwise they will scream at you. The following year rabbit hunting usually sucked because we overkilled the previous year becauue of the winter thaw. The concept is controlling wildlife--not decimating it in a couple of years. One time I was skinning out a coyote and it reminded me of one of my beloved, pet huskies I just put to sleep. That's the last time I ever killed an animal on purpose. Check out this website, it mentions a lot of factors besides just wolves having a decimating effect on elk. And it brings up several different arguments. In conclusion, it also indicates that further study is needed. This site is typical of what you can find and poses different viewpoints. Hunting is only part of the picture.

http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/HTML/articles/2002/wolvesvselk.htm

It used to hunt also. It was great fun to go rabbit hunting with a 22 in the winter when the snow would melt. You have to be blind not to hit the sitting white bunnies–just hope you get them in the head otherwise they will scream at you. The following year rabbit hunting usually sucked because we overkilled the previous year becauue of the winter thaw. The concept is controlling wildlife–not decimating it in a couple of years. One time I was skinning out a coyote and it reminded me of one of my beloved, pet huskies I just put to sleep. That’s the last time I ever killed an animal on purpose.

]]> By: Greg Farber http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/2010/02/02/tool-of-the-week-gary-bassett-of-missoula-montana/#comment-55931 Greg Farber Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:48:25 +0000 http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/wsblog/?p=7032#comment-55931 I shall post a blog showing the death threats very soon.. Coming from the nuts out there worshiping the wolf just a little a to much.. All of us who are responsible people should be doing what ever we can to stop the violence being threatened from both sides of the less responsible and over emotional unreasonable participants of this dispute. Posting addresses of hunters to make it easy for some nut case to harm a family is and act of violence and is irresponsible. I shall post a blog showing the death threats very soon.. Coming from the nuts out there worshiping the wolf just a little a to much..

All of us who are responsible people should be doing what ever we can to stop the violence being threatened from both sides of the less responsible and over emotional unreasonable participants of this dispute.

Posting addresses of hunters to make it easy for some nut case to harm a family is and act of violence and is irresponsible.

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