Business calls and on Friday of this week I will be boarding an airplane headed for Idaho Falls, Idaho to meet with many owners of the Idaho Elk Breeders Association. As many of you probably are aware of, over the past several months I have covered the story that began in August, when several elk escaped the ranch of Dr. Rex Rammell. Then Gov. Risch ordered the elk to be shot on sight.
The event has touched off a series of events that I have followed closely for several reasons, the biggest being an infringement on property rights and hunting ethics.
On Saturday, March 31, 2007, the Idaho Elk Breeders Association will be holding its annual conference and they have invited me to come and speak to the group. Their future looks to be a busy one as a couple different groups have vowed to begin a voter initiative for the November 2008 general election. This initiative, they vow, will put an end to all elk ranching as well as ranch hunting.
To fight this attack against them, the IEBA is mounting a campaign to educate the public with the truth about elk ranching to counter the lies and scare tactics used by those in opposition. I hope that I can add to their conference and let them know that they are not alone in their battle.
While there, I will be be visiting a couple of elk ranches. On Friday, I will a guest of Tom and Mavis VanWitbeck of Toma Enterprises, LLC in Rigby. Saturday will be the convention and on Saturday night and all day Sunday, I will be a guest of Billy Rasmussen, Thunder Mountain Elk Ranch in Soda Springs. Billy runs a ranch that also provides hunting opportunities. I am anxious to visit a hunting ranch.
I am truly honored to have been asked to participate in their convention and I look forward to my adventure.
While I am away, Steven has arranged for a number of guest bloggers to fill in for me. He will be posting an announcement here shortly that will fill you in on the excitement he has lined up for the Black Bear Blog.
Tom Remington
