Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

32 Bison Shot to Death in Colorado

State authorities investigating possibly illegal hunt

By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 21, 2008 9:12 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Hunters shot to death more than 30 bison on a Colorado ranch, and state authorities are  investigating whether they had the right to do so, the Denver Post reports. It's legal in the state to hunt bison on private land with the owner's permission, but the scope of the carnage has raised suspicion. "There are just hundreds of acres with carcasses laying out there," said the local sheriff. "There are carcasses and hides."

Investigators are untangling the legalities and the boundaries involved, and both the hunters—a group of 10— and ranch owner are reportedly cooperating. Another bison rancher said he doubted any rancher would sanction the killing of 30 of the animals. If it turns out to be unauthorized, it's an "egregious slaughter," he said. The state has about 14,000 bison, most of them privately owned.

A cowboy rides along a buffalo herd during the 39th annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup in this Oct. 4, 2004, file photo taken near Custer, S.D.
A cowboy rides along a buffalo herd during the 39th annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup in this Oct. 4, 2004, file photo taken near Custer, S.D.   (AP Photo/Doug Dreyer, File)
A bison grazes in this Feb. 6, 2002 file photo.
A bison grazes in this Feb. 6, 2002 file photo.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
Cowboys on horseback move a herd of buffalo across the hills of Custer State Park, Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, near Custer, S.D.
Cowboys on horseback move a herd of buffalo across the hills of Custer State Park, Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, near Custer, S.D.   (AP Photo/Dirk Lammers)
Bison in Genesee, Colo., are shrouded in afternoon fog in this 2007 file photo.
Bison in Genesee, Colo., are shrouded in afternoon fog in this 2007 file photo.   (AP Photo/Peter M. Fredin)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Owner of property not necessarily owner of bison
The Flume

 
hunting • Colorado • bison • illegal hunting • Wild West

More Newser Stories

Hunters Take Aim in Wyoming
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne