Did anyone go to the OFW meeting?

[willametteriveroutlaw]

I was wondering if any of you went to the tb meetings In PDX on feb 20? And if so could you be so kind as to indulge me with a synopsis?

[XXL]

WRO,
It went to the one in La Grande. The ODFW Biologist and one of the state Vets did a pretty low key presentation. There were only about 20-30 people in the audience. Most of the time was monopolized by one irate elk rancher wannabe who saw a conspiracy at all levels. He finally left before the program was over after having his say....on and on and on...
The cliff notes version is they don't know where the TB came from for sure. They want to buy the herd from the Hermens ranch but have a bottle neck with the USDA. They can't kill a statistically significant number of wild elk and deer for testing in the amount of time left before green up and herd dispersal. They were looking at about a 15 mile radius from the ranch where the elk are locatedto do aerial gunning but state law and public opinion have prevented that. They are going to try a longer term approach with possible hunter check stations, special damage hunts, and checking road kill. The Hermens son Levi was in the audience and the local rag reported he thought the presentation was pretty balanced. This has the potential to be an ongoing problem. It was pretty clear that some elk ranchers at least think the ODFW, Oregon Hunters Ass. and maybe some other groups are out to get them. Personally, I come down on the side of no elk ranching, no high fence hunting. I think our wildlife are common property for us all to enjoy and the relationship between hunter and hunted is demeaned by domesticating them and shooting them in a pen....no matter how big the pen is.
XXL