Needlittle help in Montana

I have asked the Dept FWP for new species on my game farm license.  Didn't look like a big thing to me as I have all North American sheep on it now.  I asked for Transcaspian Urials and Asian sheep ( Marko Polo ).  The FWP asked the commission to place these sheep on the prohibited list because of nose to nose contact and escapes.  The wild bighorns were at risk from these sheep from disease and hybrids if they got away.  We are now in the public comment period and I believe like usual the deck is stacked against me by the Wildlife Federation and other puppets giving bad Comments.  I thought I'd ask my fellow game farmers to comment on my behalf.   <ahttp://fwp.mt.gov/home/publicComments.html</a.


Thanks so much.  I will also give my responce to them for you to get an idea what is going on.


FYI  I want ND, MO, PA , IA to know I have always made time to comment when they asked for comments or articles when they needed help.  Just looked again and see almost 300 people viewed this request and only two comment have been made so far.  Not the responce I was hoping for.


The pictures are of pen enhancements and show the double fence with the space between fences planted with trees for wind breaks.  I made these double pens for the safety of the stock in these pens from nose to nose contact with my other sheep as all wild sheep have little to no immune system from domestic sheep diseases.

calibriRequest for exotic Asian sheep facts.


'book antiqua', serifI was very much surprised to see the review committee put my request for Asian sheep and Transcaspian Urials on the prohibited list as I thought I had mitigated the Review Committee concerns for Asian sheep and Transcaspian Urials so they could be put on the controlled list for game farms to raise. I have waited a year now for that answer as I requested these animals be reviewed last April 2013. I don’t know any private business that has to wait that long for an answer to conduct their business.


'book antiqua', serifThese animals are being requested as game farm animals on the controlled list not public animals to raise without any control on how they are fenced, contained or sold.


'book antiqua', serifThe requirements are:


 
margin-left:39.75pt 11.5pt 'times new roman', serifA. the environmental impacts caused by the animal if it is released or escapes from captivity, including ecological and economic impacts;
margin-left:39.75pt 
margin-left:39.75pt 11.5pt 'times new roman', serifB. the risk the animal would pose to health or safety of the public, wildlife or agriculture; and
margin-left:39.75pt 
margin-left:39.75pt 11.5pt 'times new roman', serifC. the ability to readily control and contain the animal in captivity.
margin-left:39.75pt 
margin-left:39.75pt 'times new roman', serifMy response to A is: 11.5pt 'times new roman', serifthe environmental impacts caused by the animal if it is released or escapes from captivity, including ecological and economic impacts;
margin-left:39.75pt 


calibriI have been approved for all North American sheep and Rocky Mountain Goats by the Fish & Game with only one eight foot fence containing these animals. I have been in the business for almost thirty years and have on any given year 400 head of alternative livestock. I have had wild sheep and goats for twenty years and have had no escapes or disease issues from them. In that time I have not had any accidental escape of sheep or goats with only one fence required to contain them.   My mitigating response for Asian sheep was to put them in the core of my facility in double fence pens. Actually with the perimeter fence these animals would have a minimum of three eight fences to go through before they would escape.  One must remember that the same environmental impacts would be produced from any domestic sheep or North American sheep loose in bighorn country.   We are under the control of the Fish & game that check my outer fence one time a year for structural integrity. I have never received a warning or ticket for anything from the Fish & Game. I believe this speaks well for my facility. We are also under the DOL who check our inventory with their Veterinary one time a year to see all animals are accounted for. I also have never had a ticket or warning from them as we work with both departments and abide by the game farm laws. I believe with the help from both these department over seeing us we have mitigated escapes from this facility. I also stated I would sell all Asian stock out of State and not sell these animals in Montana.    I would contend that there is no difference between North American sheep and Asian sheep in their containment or ecological and economic impacts for the State of Montana and as they such should be placed on the controlled list for game farms to raise with the stipulations I have mentioned which are double fenced and my being responsible for expenses of recapture if they escape.
margin-left:39.75pt 'times new roman', serifMy response to B is: 11.5pt 'times new roman', serifthe risk the animal would pose to health or safety of the public, wildlife or agriculture; and
margin-left:39.75pt 'times new roman', serifThese sheep would not pose any more risk to health or safety of the public, wildlife or agriculture than any domestic sheep or North American sheep would. 'times new roman', serifThe wildlife issue was that if released


'times new roman', serifAsian sheep would breed with the bighorns of Montana. This is true as all sheep domestic or wild because all sheep will interbreed. We have domestic sheep and domestic goats in bighorn country but as they are private property there isn’t much the FWP can do to stop those sheep from interbreeding or causing disease. Here on this game farm we have mitigated the risk these Asian sheep pose with putting these sheep in triple fence pens. In triple fence enclosures I believe this had mitigated those risks to nil and as such these Asian sheep should be put on the controlled list for game farms. Any animal that would ever get away from me would be darted or shot and killed. The Asian sheep like open terrain so would be easy to see and control by above methods if they would escape which is not likely.


 
margin-left:39.75pt 'times new roman', serifMy response to C is: 11.5pt 'times new roman', serifthe ability to readily control and contain the animal in captivity.
margin-left:39.75pt 'times new roman', serifMy facility is set up to contain and control Rocky Mountain Bighorns, the fact I have had bighorns and rocky mountain goats for twenty years without escapes proves I can control and contain these animals with only one eight foot fence. All pens have an alley way that leads to the handling facility for animal care, shots and worming.   I contend sheep kept in and behind three eight foot fenced pens are in my total control and present no risk. As the Fish & Game have authorized my keeping All North American wild sheep and Rocky Mountain goats the facility has proved it will control and contain that animals in captivity. The fact I have not had an escape proves that. The Asian sheep would be the same as they are the same body size but will be kept in a much tighter pen control situation and as such I request they be put on the controlled list for game farms.  We are not asking for these sheep to be made available to the general public but added to the list of what game farms can have.
margin-left:39.75pt 'times new roman', serifReasonable minds would have to admit that Asian sheep or Transcaspian sheep would have no more effect than other domestic sheep or North American sheep to the above requirements.  One would also have to admit that a triple fence would mute all FWP Review concerns of escape or nose to nose contact.  With that said I would hope reasonable minds would have to place these animals on the controlled list for game farms to raise.
margin-left:39.75pt 'times new roman', serifThank you.
margin-left:39.75pt 'times new roman', serifJack Schubarth
margin-left:39.75pt 'times new roman', serif785 1<supst</sup Road South
margin-left:39.75pt 'times new roman', serifVaughn, MT 59487

Go to Commission top catagory hit that/ then go to Public Notice- arm rules and hit go /scroll down to proposed amendements to exotic species classification hit that and make comments there.  Comments have to be made by Friday May 30. 


Please email me your comments as I'm collecting all information as I will take these guys to court if they don't put these animals on controlled animals for game farms as their issues don't exist after mitigation.  Thanks Josh


 


I wouldn't bother everyone but I'm the only deer farmer in the State.  I did ask the NAEBA president to write a comment as he is one of the last elk guys also left in Montana.  I also asked Shawn Shaffer from NADEFA to comment on my behalf.


 


On a happy note the goat pictured in my avatar had two nice healthy kids this morning.

Thanks Barry.

Travis,


I tried to email you on this site but it wouldn't work.  Kim Kafka tells me your a real go getter so please send in a comment on my behalf with the above information as reference.  Please send me an email so I can put you in my contact list.   Thanks so much. 

Here is a comment from one of our game farmers.  I appreciate this very much.  Thanks so much for the help.  Jack


 


It's disappointing to hear the FWP would outlaw Asian sheep. It's my understanding that the federal government allowed domestic sheep to run free with the bighorns which is why the herd is much smaller then in the 1800's. To now outlaw a species that would be strictly controlled by a game farmer does not seem to make sense.

Is there a plan to outlaw the bison/bovine hybrid because it may escape to breed with wild bison? Or do the people that raise bison have to keep them in an 8 ft fence enclosure to keep them from breeding with wild bison?

I would be very interested in purchasing Asian sheep from your game ranchers. It is something that not many ranchers do and I can see where it would bring money in from outside Montana.

I do understand concerns to keep the wild bighorn population safe but if precautions are taken and they are regulated by the same people that regulate elk,deer, and any other game animal then their should be no issues.

calibriOnly three more days and the public comment period will be closed.  If you are thinking of helping me on this please do so soon.  Thanks so much.

Thank you Shawn for the comment.  I really appreciat it.  Jack


 


Commissioners


 


I was shocked to learn a livestock state with such a rich heritage in the sheep industry would move to prohibit Argali and Transcaspian Urial sheep! These breeds have been raised in many states throughout North America and there has never been one instance of them escaping and cross breeding with a wild sheep, or spreading a disease to a wild sheep.


Is it the intention of the Fish and Wildlife Commission to ban the ownership of domestic sheep within the state of Montana as well?


I would ask you to please reconsider this proposed amendment -


 


12.6.2215 LIST OF PROHIBITED SPECIES


 


(4) The following mammals are classified as prohibited species:


(a) Argali sheep – Ovis ammon;


(a) through (i) remain the same but are renumbered (b) through (j).


(l) Transcaspian urial sheep – Ovis aries vignei; and


 


Shawn Schafer


Executive Director


North American Deer Farmers Association


651-212-1315


[email protected]

calibriHere is another comment which might help you place yours or give you ideas on a comment.  Almost 400 views and only five comments.  Please put in a comment.  Friday is the last day and comments close.  Please help me on this.


 


calibriIt is my understanding with the proposed stipulations Mr. Schubarth placed on keeping these sheep the concerns of the review committee in reality don’t exist and as such these animals should be placed on the controlled list for game farms.


'times new roman', serifI would ask you to please reconsider this proposed amendment of prohibited and place these sheep on the controlled list-


 


'times new roman', serif12.6.2215 LIST OF PROHIBITED SPECIES


 


'times new roman', serif(4) The following mammals are classified as prohibited species:


'times new roman', serif(a) Argali sheep – Ovis ammon;


'times new roman', serif(a) Through (i) remain the same but are renumbered ( through (j).


'times new roman', serif(l) Transcaspian urial sheep – Ovis aries vignei; and

Thanks Barry and Hotrod I really need some comments so the FWP will know people are watching and on my side.

Thanks you Josh much appreciated.


Guys don't forget tommorrow is the last day you can comment, please get a comment in for me.


Jack

Thanks so much for the comment WThollow.


Please get some more comments in as this is the last day to comment.  With more comments I might be able to get FWP to allow me to raise these beautiful sheep.


The commission will make their decision in July and I will give the outcome then.


Again please give a comment today as it is the last day to comment.  Thanks so much guys and gals.