Duke and the buffalos

[LONDONER]

Once a year, a crew of Colorado ranchers rounds up a herd of wild buffalo as part of a unique conservation effort. This film follows the story of Duke Phillips and his team of ranchers as they risk everything to preserve this endangered animal and the rich landscape it inhabits.

[Emiliano]

That was very interesting and had some really beautiful cinematography, thanks for sharing that. I didn't realize wild buffalo were endangered. I wonder what happens to the animals that are sold then... I know some people eat buffalo, right? I'd think if they were endangered, there'd be a lot of protections in place to prevent them from being hunted or consumed.

[Camfer]

Yes, people eat bison. It's always available in the grocery store here. Zapata Ranch is about an hour's drive from my place. While you can't get directly on the ranch without knowing someone, there's lots of public lands nearby, such as Zapata Falls and the Great Sand Dunes National Park. You can see the sand dunes in the background of this video.

I did a favor for a rancher friend of mine and did one all-day cattle drive on horseback from New Mexico into Colorado on the other side of the valley pictured here. I was sore for days afterward. It's really hard work even with domesticated cattle. I've got friends who have to do 2-day drives. That would be even harder.

So [MENTION=24266]Cowboy[/MENTION], if you watch this video, do you still have a fetish for cowboys? This is the real deal in this video.

[Emiliano]

Yes, people eat bison. It's always available in the grocery store here. Zapata Ranch is about an hour's drive from my place. While you can't get directly on the ranch without knowing someone, there's lots of public lands nearby, such as Zapata Falls and the Great Sand Dunes National Park. You can see the sand dunes in the background of this video.

I did a favor for a rancher friend of mine and did one all-day cattle drive on horseback from New Mexico into Colorado on the other side of the valley pictured here. I was sore for days afterward. It's really hard work even with domesticated cattle. I've got friends who have to do 2-day drives. That would be even harder.

So [MENTION=24266]Cowboy[/MENTION], if you watch this video, do you still have a fetish for cowboys? This is the real deal in this video.

I didn't even know buffalos and bisons were the same thing. I guess they made a point to say wild buffalos are endangered, probably the kind you can eat in restaurants are raised specifically for that purpose. Otherwise I can't think of any other endangered animal that is so commonly and non controversially eaten.

Interesting..

And there is something attractive about those men.

[Camfer]

The wild herds are managed too, [MENTION=21558]Emiliano[/MENTION], in order to keep them strong and healthy. When the US eliminated most of the top predators and changed migration patterns, the herbivores were no longer managed through natural means. What you see in the video is an annual roundup to cull out older, sick, or lame animals, which are sent to slaughter and eaten, so that the land has the right number of animals and that it is just the fittest who survive. You can even get a hunting license to take a wild bison in some areas. That also helps keep the population at target levels. Yes, the meat you get in a store or a restaurant was raised for that purpose. If you have a friend who hunts, you can get truly wild meat if the hunter gives it to you, but it cannot be sold: personal consumption only.

[Cowboy]

[MENTION=20941]Camfer[/MENTION] I will always love Cowboys, I met a real cowboy once from Wyoming he looked so weather beaten. He said they were always looking for good strong men, I dont think he knew I was gay. I was tempted to try and do it but Im too wimpy and I dont like eating beef jerky everyday
[MENTION=21558]Emiliano[/MENTION] I dont think buffalo are endangered but rather protected, Ive seen alot of farm buffalo. The wild herds will never be what they once were but really because we are using the land they would live on. I think you can hunt buffalo, but its done by lottery.

[Camfer]

I'm looking very weather beaten today, lol. Better clean up as best I can before the boyfriend comes over. Glad to hear you like the real cowboys and not the Hollywood cowboys!