Having spent almost 10 years involved with the buffalo I thought I had seen it all - until a buffalo was poached on Dale Koelzer's land. I have witnessed the Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) leave supposedly disease-ridden buffalo guts out in the fields; the same fields where holy cows graze during the summer. I have watched Native Americans, at the command of the MDOL, use their bare hands to gut buffalo in the Madison river.

MDOL have traumatized hundreds of elk and buffalo while hazing buffalo. Last year while trying to haze 50 buffalo back into the Park the MDOL hazed over 100 surrounding elk. The animals were forced over a barbed wire fence and several elk could not make the jump, tripping, becoming tangled, falling on their heads. The final disgusting act by the MDOL last year happened when they rounded up 69 buffalo at the Horse Butte capture facility. The buffalo were transported to the Duck Creek facility to join 2 others already captured; all were kept in the facility overnight. By morning 4 of the severely confined buffalo had been gored to death. Of the 22 that tested negative for brucellosis and were released, 2 died from injuries sustained while confined. I witnessed two horse trailers carrying 10 buffalo off to slaughter, five of which were so severely gored they probably would have died anyway if released.

These facts are all recorded on video-tape, a source that is hard to argue with. If the MDOL had rounded up 71 cows and had 4 die over-night would those MDOL agents still be employed? Why on earth do we let this continue? The MDOL has admitted to having no experience in handling wildlife and yet we continue to do nothing as they destroy our national treasure - the last remaining herd of truly wild buffalo. People from around the world are voicing their outrage about what is occurring here in Montana.

It is time it came to a halt. At the Church Universal and Triumphant land exchange ceremony Governor Racicot stated "..don't blame the MDOL, blame me..". Despite the opportunity for political advancement under the Bush administration our Governor is paying no heed to the peoples voice. The buffalo issue will haunt him every step up the political ladder and I personally will make sure the rights of buffalo are seen and heard around the country. As for the poaching incident I don't care how old you are or how long your family has lived in Montana, if you break the law you pay the consequences. At first Koelzer told the Fish and Game warden he didn't do it. Then in newspaper interviews he admitted he "just got mad" so he "shot the buffalo...behind the ear" to prevent it from harassing his truck.

At his arraignment he plead not guilty and asked for a jury trial! I say give it up and quit wasting taxpayers dollars.

And what about his accomplices(s)? He admits to having had help from a neighbor... Koelzer further admitted in the papers that he dragged the carcass to the edge of a grizzly closure area so that bears could eat it. Baiting with carcasses or other foods, even on private property, is called "artificial congregation" in the words of a MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks official - and is illegal. His actions endangered human lives by encouraging bears to frequent his and his neighbors property in search of food, also the lives of a protected species. Shouldn't he and his accomplice(s) be accountable for all their actions?

Koelzer receives your tax dollars from his contract with the MDOL that allow the operation of the Duck Creek capture facility on his land, also from renting his basement for their out-of-town employees. If he were only fined for the poaching offenses and allowed to continue his relationship with the MDOL the taxpayers will be paying his debt anyway.

I urge everyone to apply pressure upon the State of Montana to have the Duck Creek capture facility taken down. When our tax dollars continue to support people who break the law what message are we sending to the public and our children? Our wildlife is our heritage in Montana and catching poachers is one of the hardest things to do. If Koelzer has his truck harassed again I suggest he call the MDOL, local game warden or Buffalo Field Campaign, any of which would gladly rescue him and his truck from a buffalo. We wouldn't want to let him know that it's OK for him to get away with....murder.

Michael S. Mease; Campaign Coordinator Buffalo Field Campaign

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