Governor Bullock signed an order to the DOL, "Effective May 21, 2014, the Department may not enter private property without landowner permission unless there is an imminent threat of disease transmission from bison to livestock or people. This direction shall remain in effect until otherwise directed."

Bison Friendly private property owners armed with Bullocks letter refused DOL admittance in the continuing hazing. Instead, DOL sought to harass the wildlife from the borders to try and scare them back to public lands to continue the haze. Unfortunately, BFC footage of the wildlife harassment was whited out, so no proof available.

"On Monday (June 23, 2014), BFC got a call from a property owner living off of Denny Creek Road, near the South Fork of the Madison River, a favorite place for wild buffalo. The landowner, Ed Ryberg, called to say there were about thirty cow-calf pairs of buffalo on his property and he didn't want the Department of Livestock (DOL) to haze them off. Ed and his wife are very buffalo friendly. My patrol partner Ben and I went out to Ed's place. After introducing ourselves, we gave Ed a copy of Governor Bullock's directive (LINK) stating that the DOL is not allowed on private property to haze buffalo without the landowner's permission, unless there is an "imminent threat" of brucellosis transmission to livestock. There was no "imminent threat" as the closest cow was more than two miles away, with numerous properties and fence-lines between them. Nevertheless, two DOL agents and one Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) agent soon arrived at Ed's place.

DOL stock inspector Jeff "Bowers" Mount asked Ed for permission to haze the buffalo, and Ed refused. DOL stock inspector Bridger Cunningham assumed authority and trespassed on Ed's property anyway, against Ed's wishes and the Governor's directive. The other two agents waited on the edge of the property. Ed Ryberg showed Bridger the letter from Governor Bullock, but Bridger completely ignored him and attempted to haze the buffalo. The buffalo had other ideas and would not move. The landowners stood up for their rights, and those of the buffalo, with very vocal opposition to this illegal trespass.

While Bridger was attempting to haze, he was bluff charged numerous times by a bull buffalo. After about the fourth bluff charge, Bridger finally realized that the buffalo weren't going to go along with this government harassment. Finally, Bridger left -- without the buffalo. The DOL canceled operations for the day and the buffalo stayed where they were.

Bridger never showed Ed any proof of his supposed right to trespass. - BFC " Thanks to the Buffalo Field Campaign for documenting the total disregard for Private Property rights and wildlife in Montana.