Feral Horse Cull?

[gloszz]

I was eating at a restaurant not long ago while on a hunting trip when I overheard a few ranchers talk about the horse cull. They were having a heated debate on whether it is right or wrong. Now a few of them said they hunted the horses and ate them, which isn't surprising as I ate horse meat in Europe. I also understand the taboo that exists here with eating it.

Now, the question is if the horse cull is still going on or has it been eradicated? I have not been seeing any wild horses roaming around when I look for my quarry, and if I do see horses, I always assume they are someones.

[Don K]

Every time we went out west this year north of Ghost we saw them. Something needs to be done...

[BackPackHunter]

I'd try a backstrap , if I was to take one

[nube]

They need to get rid of them. I would think they could make money doing so. Horse Draw?..... I am sure a lot of guys would put in for it

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by BackPackHunter

I'd try a backstrap , if I was to take one

If it were legal to take one, would you only take the backstrap and leave the rest?

If it were a legal requirement to recover all the edible meat would you still want to take one?

[TUFFBUFF]

There not a game animal or native species, should be no limit or season on 'em like wild boar or something.
Very least should have a target population, if I'd take a guess under 500 for sure. I know a few that used to get the permits and catch the odd one.

This reminds me of typical government stuff, trying to fix a problem instead of prevent it ie..

Sufield Elk, Smoky caribou, Bull trout, and now this castle wildland park thing.

We seem to have a nice "wild" herd up here started a few years ago now as well

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by TUFFBUFF

There not a game animal or native species, should be no limit or season on 'em like wild boar or something.
Very least should have a target population, if I'd take a guess under 500 for sure. I know a few that used to get the permits and catch the odd one.

This reminds me of typical government stuff, trying to fix a problem instead of prevent it ie..

Sufield Elk, Smoky caribou, Bull trout, and now this castle wildland park thing.

We seem to have a nice "wild" herd up here started a few years ago now as well

I agree with this one hundred percent. Why do we think the population of wolves is going through the roof but the ungulate population is dropping? The wolf population should be directly related to its food source. There is obviously something out there that is creating un-balance,,horses. Lets also keep in mind that at sufield before the elk problem it was a horse problem so this has been done before but it will be a gong show when it happens, but it needs to asap.

[Ruger99]

I agree with everything above ! I do believe in eating what you harvest and if you didn't want to I'm sure the meat could go to good use. I personally would give it a try and eat it till it was gone

[Wolftrapper]

Personally I don't care one way or the other wether the horses stay or go.
But I think this conversation of wanting to shoot them, eradicate them, etc all the time makes the hunting community look like a bunch of inbred hicks that don't care about life.
Unfortunately as hunters we are far outnumbered and this stupid talk just speeds up our demise. Especially with an NDP and Liberal Gov't.

[fish_e_o]

I want to shoot them. All that tasty meat and we're not allowed to harvest it

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by fish_e_o

I want to shoot them. All that tasty meat and we're not allowed to harvest it

https://youtu.be/-wo5TznA5as

[BackPackHunter]

Originally Posted by covey ridge

If it were legal to take one, would you only take the backstrap and leave the rest?

If it were a legal requirement to recover all the edible meat would you still want to take one?

I'd take the whole thing home, if it's like elk or moose I'm sure I'd eat the whole thing . If it wasn't for me , my dogs love their raw diet

I plan on going after a bear in the spring , only because I want to eat one

I'll try anything but K9

[recce43]

Horse steaks are awesome .

[Bulldog Edm]

I've only ever had a horse meat sandwich and it was delicious. I would definitely eat more horse. Sign me up@

[nube]

How bout letting the natives in and wipe them out to feed their masses instead of hitting the wintering Bighorns?

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by recce43

Horse steaks are awesome .

They are awesome! Many years ago my brother in law used to work at a packing plant in Calgary that slaughtered horses and sent them east. Every once in a while he would score a couple of steaks and occasionally some ribs.
Always made great BBQ.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by covey ridge

They are awesome! Many years ago my brother in law used to work at a packing plant in Calgary that slaughtered horses and sent them east. Every once in a while he would score a couple of steaks and occasionally some ribs.
Always made great BBQ.

Yeah it's legal to sell it in Quebec I think
Cat

[hayseed]

Have eaten it before, and love it. I would go for it big time!

[roger]

It should be legal to harvest for bear bait stations. a bear tag is all that is needed.
Wolf too.
maybe let's feed the 600 ferals to the 600 grizzly and solves two problems.
feral are the purple loosestrif of the eastern slopes.
There isn't a ecosystem on the planet that isn't impacted by an introduced species.

[Pioneer2]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Yeah it's legal to sell it in Quebec I think
Cat

The French and Italians eat horse regularly ,Harold

[Pioneer2]

You would have to first past the tree huggers,city type,Hollywood animal rights horde ,that doesn't realize there is no such think as a wild horse .....only abandoned livestock competing with and overcoming the game native to the area.Invasive species if you will.Don't get me wrong I love horses but not there.Caroline is also crawling with them.Suffield had the right idea....Harold

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Yeah it's legal to sell it in Quebec I think
Cat

I am not quite sure why it is not legal here since some of it was processed here? I read an article in a Calgary paper several years back where a grocery store lost its license for selling it. It was not like they were selling it to unsuspecting customers as beef or lamb but were bringing in in for some who actually wanted horse.

Anyway if there is need for a cull or an extermination or whatever they want to call it, I hope that there will be opportunities for those who like the meat. I would suspect that wild raised would probably be better quality than some of the stuff that went through Century Packers.

[Luckwell]

Publicity nightmare. Could you imagine all the horses that would be shot off the roads? If there is going to be a cull it will be instated and executed by the government. Write your letters.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Timothy]

I worked in the o'chiese reserve for a while, tons running around in there.

[Gunslinger257]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Yeah it's legal to sell it in Quebec I think
Cat

I believe you can buy horse meat at Ben's Deli in Edmonton along Stony Plain Road.

[1899b]

Id have know problem sending one into the boiler room and firing up the grill...

[Grizzly Adams]

My God, aren't we blood thirsty. Nothing wrong with turning some into steaks and roasts, but there are those that would make good riding horses , way better than some from sophisticated breeding programs. Logical would be to remove a percentage every year, for disposition either way, but logic doesn't apply in this game.

Grizz

[husky7mm]

Wild horses are an introduced, invasive species to crown land. It is silly that it would be trouble to shoot one to eat.

[husky7mm]

Originally Posted by 1899b

Id have know problem sending one into the boiler room and firing up the grill...

That is a good looking one, most of the ones i have seen in the wild are mongrels with over sized heads. If its hard to find game and horses are everywhere , i might just shoot one for food.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by 1899b

Id have know problem sending one into the boiler room and firing up the grill...

Knowing you, You could probably have one of those for lunch!!
Cat