They aren't that special. It's a recessive genetic trait that is rather common amongst farm-bred animals. This holds true for whitetail deer as well. The reality is, that genetic trait tends to get wild animals killed, but that's not really an issue on farms.My point here is not how people hunt. That is there own business. It is about shooting a animal that is very special to Native Americans! Or for that matter, anybody that has a soul.
They are not all that rare. That's what people need to understand. What you think could happen, just doesn't happen.As for shooting a white buffalo, sure the owner has a right to make a buck. But selling a very rare genetic specimen that is also revered as a cultural icon, to a hunter on a canned hunt, is at best insensitive, if not just plain stupid. He could have sold it to a tribal government - or donated it and taken a tax credit - and gotten a better return on his investment. We used to work with a tribal grazing association. A white buffalo is an opportunity to secure additional and or longer term grazing rights. At a minimum it buys you and your operation a huge amount of good well and future support.
Have you ever hunted the eastern hardwoods? Stand hunting is what most of us do. It's because we can't be nearly as successful with the stalking method. Also, most eastern hunters don't use those items, outside of silencers (where legal) because they are not needed for daytime hunts.90% of today’s “hunters” are just guys who sit it a stand and execute deer, bear, boar etc. Not exactly fair chase. Thermo scopes, silencers, electronics of all kinds. Most aren’t capable of field dressing their own kill.
There's a lot more work to getting things done to prepare for the hunt. I spend more time preparing for the hunt than participating in the gun deer season. It's a very short window of time.
It's not like it is out west. Vastly different terrain dictates what hunting methods are better to use.