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Show Antelope Island buffalo roundup far 'y'v-';v- -. ftfy ; t o . " : 4 . VV ' - m ' I; J I . "" '' I o By JOHN W. CANNON Outdoor Editor ANTELOPE ISLAND -- The earth shook and the roar of the enraged beast echoed across the island as yet another massive bull j buffalo was clamped into the holding stall for his yearly checkup. This year's annual buffalo roundup on Antelope Island was considered a tremendous success. The animals were weighed, checked for general health, blood tested; cows were pregnancy checked, weanable calves were branded and tagged and the bulls had their horns measured for growth. . The buffalo, North America's largest native animal, were rounded up by volunteer cowboys and helicopters and then allowed to rest for several days in large corrals before being worked through the shoot. According to Mitch Larsson, State Park superintendent, the wait between the roundup and working of the animals was implemented to to reduce the stress on the animals. This was a wild West rodeo like none I'd ever seen before. Having grown up on a farm I was used to what I thought were ornery Hoi stein bulls, but let me tell you they seemed seem-ed like tame pussy cats when compared com-pared to a raging wild buffalo bull. The ponderous strength and size of these prehistoric monsters sent chills up my spine. Their ferocious anger at being manipulated was clearly evident as they expended great energy trying to destroy the people and walls enclosing them. It is one thing to see them at a distance calmly munching some grass; it is an entirely different situation to see them up close, angry and annoyed, their massive muscles quivering with adrenaline as they prepare for a fight. And fight they would, every inch of the way. The ground would shake as they would lower their heads, their tails pointing straight in the air, and with all their might and strength slam into the heavy steel walls of the working corrals. Some of the bulls would leap high into the air crashing into the walls in an attempt to be free. Others, after being released from the working stall would turn and paw the ground, preferring to stay and fight their tormentors than run off to freedom. They were serious, and not about to be pushed around. The island has some of the most heavy-duty handling and corral facilities I have ever seen and yet they seemed almost inadequate for these mammoth bison. The rugged cowboys and wildlife officials who worked the buffalo seemed like David against Goliath. These are not faint-hearted men, and they have to know what they are doing to prevent serious injury to themselves and the uncooperative un-cooperative animals. Truly, the working of the buffalo was a spectacular and impressive event. These wild and defiant creatures won my admiration with their determined ferocity. In a world increasingly domesticated by man, it's good to see something so wild. Go ahead - make my day! This irate bull buffalo was not to thrilled about his annual checkup. Some of the big bulls, weighing up to 1600 pounds, got downright nasty about it. : I f r-: f , : " r X " ' i " ' 1 : X V. . ...... ! X , '...) j .MfHMlHHM(rftfH A f ' immnnrt'i X .. 1 i gmtt f ( mtniuuttttti Ait . tauftaii: (n, J ' : J 1 The buffalo are worked through a series of shoots into a hydraulic hydrau-lic stall that firmly clamps in on the sides of the animal so that he can't move while he is examined. A buffalo can be hearded anywhere he wants to go. Consequently a tractor with a large gate mounted on a front end loader is used to move the animals where they need to go. I This big bull takes a flying leap and rams the State Park sign, the bottom of which is over 1 0 feet off the ground. A wildlife officer offi-cer tries to make sure that the shoot door stays closed. |