’60 Minutes’ To Air A Report on Scimitar Horned Oryx
A 13-minute segment that will air at 6 p.m. CST on Sunday, January 29, 2012, will give a balanced report on the controversial issue of being able to hunt or sell the endangered African antelope on Texas ranches. David Bamberger, award-winning conservationist, will share his passionate – yet pragmatic – views on the topic and the potential fate of the oryx’ long-term survival.
He has written a wonderful book about the ranch called - Water From Stone - about reclaiming the ranch land from cedar, among other things.
FYI Bamberger Ranch segment tonight
Sure do wish I had seen this earlier would like to have seen it
You can probably view it on the 60 Minute website tomorrow. It was good. Bamberger didn't have much time, but he did say that without allowing hunting, the oryx will be extinct. 'That the ranchers can't afford to keep them without getting at least some compensation. If they restrict the hunting there will be no incentive for the ranchers to keep feeding them. There was also an animal rights woman who was sending oryx to Senegal (I think) to start a herd there. It was a fairly balanced segment.
Saw the program and know a little about the game ranch position. Were it not for the exotic hunting access in Texas, many ranchers/ranches and endangered species would not be around today. Even though Bamberger is a conservationist, he admits that with the new federal law (the oryx and 2 antelope on the show), they would likely be extinct in a few years.
If there is no economic incentive for a rancher to keep them around, they will switch the focus to other economical and huntable species. It takes a lot of improved land and expensive high fences to keep these animals. A high fence is very expensive to construct - many thousands of dollars per quarter mile (1200' ft +/-).
The U.S. govt has gotten involved and is prepared to trump state law with a prohibitively and difficult permit process to hunt these animals. Unfortunately, I agree with what Bamberger said at the end of the show. Take the economics of keeping them on the range out of the equation, both sides will lose, mainly the animals. The buffalo restoration story is a success, primarily because the meat is commercially viable and very good eating.
While restocking the African plains where they used to inhabit in great numbers is highly desirable, it is also idealistic. The poaching, vanishing habitat and drought stricken environment over there is severely limiting the re-establishment of these animals in the wild. The Texas success has thousands of these animals now, while they are practically extinct in their native habitat.
The animal rights people don't see it that way so the species will be depleted in Texas in 5-10 years if the economics of hunting is not allowed for these three species. Most of the meat on these animals is very good eating as well, so it's not just about the trophy horns and hides. It does not go to waste on these ranches.
As an avid hunter I personally would never hunt in that type of situation but from a enviromental standpoint it sounds like he is performing a valuable service...I see some very large whitetailed deer on some of the hunting ranches and if that is stopped the poachers will find a way to kill a huge amount of the available deer...What ever happened to a person using his land to do whatever he wants as long as it is legal
You might be surprised at hunting on some of these game ranches. It's not as easy as it sounds on the larger spreads where the animals are fairly wild and it can be a challenge to stalk them. Stalking any wild game on a 3,000 acre game ranch is not easy. The high fence is more to protect the investment in raising wild game. Yes, I agree some game ranches make it easier due to the ongoing feeding programs, but in high and thick South Texas brush, it's often hard to even see deer without bringing them out with corn.
A lot of people with low fences complain about the neighbor with a small place attracting their animals with feeders. For any trophy longevity and genetics play a major part in the quality. Search on the video of Minnie, a phenomenal whitetail taken in 2010. Shows the progression of horns from early to age 7. The biggest problem is people taking young bucks like nice 8-10 pointers that are only three and four years old. If they had any patience, at 5-6 years of age they are prime trophies.