According to the Great Fall Tribune, an 800 pound bull moose that had taken up temporary residence in Fleshman Creek near Sacajawea Park, Montana was drugged by Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens, had its antlers sawed off and was dragged off on a trailer to a hunting zone where only antlered moose can be shot.
The moose hunting season opens on September 15th. Because the moose was drugged, the meat would not be edible and so officials opted to de-antler the moose and turn him loose in an antlered only moose hunting zone.
An 800-pound moose is a sizable creature as moose go and this one is now turned loose with no antlers heading into rutting season. Did they also give the moose something to control his natural urges to spar with other bull moose for mating rights? They do tend to get a bit frisky you know. Perhaps they sent him off to the woods with a hand written note hanging around his neck reminding him he couldn’t fight because he didn’t have any horns.
Am I missing something here? Somebody jump in and tell me that this moose, now bald atop the head, can manage just fine with the other testosterone laden bull moose in his new digs. Couldn’t they have just spray-painted him hunter orange or something?
Just asking!!
Tom Remington
