Man Buys Elk Hunting License - For $90,000

[matcom]

<snip>

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- How much is a large elk worth?

A Michigan man figures he will have spent about $110,000 by the time he's finished a fall elk hunt in New Mexico -- including $90,000 for the hunting license he bought at auction.

"I do like elk hunting," said Michael Malik, a 50-year-old real estate developer from Grosse Pointe, Mich.

It was the highest amount ever given for a single license in the state.

Malik got the elk tag through a Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation auction late last month. Most of the money from the auctioned tag goes to the state Game and Fish Department for elk-related projects.

A standard elk tag for a New Mexico resident costs $69. A standard tag limits a hunt to a specific area and a few days. The special auction license, on the other hand, will allow Malik to hunt anywhere in the state from September through December.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2004/03/22/man_spends_90000_for_elk_hunting_license/

[girl gone mad]

1. Hunting elk?

Isn't that kind of like hunting cows?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the image I have of elk is that they are somewhat docile and slow.

[TX-RAT]

3. Your wrong

Now I'm curious what your image of cow is.

[bif]

4. They look like a deer on steroids

n/t

[bif]

2. What a moran.

[NickB79]

7. Why is he a moran?

There is no way he would have paid such a massive amount of money without knowing you can purchase standard permits for MUCH less. It sounds like he paid so much knowing it would be used for habitat restoration and land preservation, which IMO is a noble thing to do. Other people spend outrageous amounts of money at charity auctions bidding on paintings, jewelry, antiques, etc, and they're usually not called morans. Do you object to people donating money to good causes?

[bif]

9. What I meant was I'm a moran

I didn't read the article all the way through. It was a noble gesture on his art. It's interesting that he lives in the same city that I do.

[NickB79]

15. You're not a moran

We all make mistakes, and I feel bad that I came off a bit angry in my reply. My apologies to you.

[bif]

17. No prob.

No offense taken.

[TX-RAT]

11. Thank you NickB79

NM license less than 1000 for non-residents.
Some peoples generosity goes unnoticed, he may not even fire a shot.

[WillParkinson]

19. "Good" causes...

Sorry but I think that killing anything to bag a trophy is detestable.

[TX-RAT]

21. Trophy?

Nobody said trophy. Can't a person just hunt for meat without getting flamed.

[WillParkinson]

22. What?

I was referring to the article:

"Malik said Thursday he plans to hunt several locations around the state this year hoping to a bag a bull elk trophy."

[TX-RAT]

24. sorry

Didn't read the article, i was referring to the post.

[TXlib]

23. Most people i know who hunt do it for meat, not trophies.

Actually, ALL the people I know who hunt use the meat. I don't know a single one who likes to mount the head, athough they've sold them to taxidermists who stuff them and sell them to tourists.

I've had deer, elk, moose, and bison meat. It's better tasting than beef, a heck of a lot leaner, and for those who are opposed to industrial farming, it's more humane to the animal involved. Consider also that the number of hunting licenses granted is generally in line with the level of necessary predation to keep the herds healthy (since we've mostly killed off the natural predators), and it's generally a good thing.

I've toyed with going hunting before. The thing that primarily stops me is lack of a deep freezer.

[mobuto]

5. "I do like elk hunting," said Michael Malik

I would certainly hope so. I'm trying to find an explanation for why anyone would blow $50,000 on a hunting license if they didn't like to hunt elk.

[gmoney]

6. Isn't this a Bob & Tom Show bit?

They had a thing that came out when the movie "Mouse Hunt" was out, except they made out like it was the Spanish version with an elk, just so they could repeatedly say how much people enjoyed "Elk Hunt" (say it out loud)... I think the movie starred Mike Hunt.

A shining example of the value of free speech.

I gave B&T up a while ago for NPR. Wonder if that's why I'm so stressed? Maybe if I could enjoy "Elk Hunt" on a regular basis, it would make me feel better. ;)

[RebelOne]

8. It's amazing what people will pay for the thrill of a kill.

[NickB79]

13. Its also amazing

That people will DONATE $90,000 of their own money, with no guarantee of so much as getting ONE shot at an elk, so that that money can be used to preserve wildlife habitat so it won't be plowed under or developed into housing lots. There is a lot more to the sport of hunting than pulling a trigger, including helping the environment.

[TX-RAT]

14. Good shot

Stole my thunder

[OneBlueSky]

10. somebody must have a VERY small penis . . . n/t

.

[TX-RAT]

12. small penis?

The man makes a 90,000.00 donation to New Mexico Parks and Wildlife and you accuse him of having a small penis. How much money do you donate?

[hatrack]

16. Hey, if it helps pay for parks, what the heck?

It's his money. I just hope he eats the elk (assuming he gets one).

[AngryAmish]

18. I agree

BTW, has anyone ever eaten elk? I have had venison (I didn't kill it - I'm too lazy to sit in a tree stand for six hours than drag the thing back to my car, plus I am a terrible shot) and it was very good. I assume that elk is similar.

[TX-RAT]

20. Elk is excellent

When we lived in Oregon elk was a staple. Ive seen bulls that dressed out over 500lbs. You don't just drag them out, it takes pack horses and hard work.