Chapter 585 - 297: Warrior Charter (Part 3)
"This is enough to guarantee the irrigation of our three thousand acres of farmland, as well as water for all livestock and people."
"In the Western United States, where water resources are increasingly scarce and the price of water rights transactions repeatedly reaches new highs, this right is truly gold and is the unshakable cornerstone of this Kingdom."
"Secondly, there are the hunting and fishing rights. Sir, what our ranch possesses is not an ordinary permit," Arthur said with a tone laced with historical solemnity and reverence.
"It originates from a special appendix in the ’Land and Freedom Act’ passed by a vote of the newly established Wyoming State Legislature in 1892 and personally signed by the governor."
"This appendix was intended to honor the thirteen warriors who made outstanding contributions during the development of the Western United States, the Indian Wars, and the state-building process."
"The state government granted thirteen parcels of land to them at the time, and at the same time, granted them near state-level permanent autonomous management rights for fishing and hunting activities on these lands."
"At that time, this was regarded as the highest honor given by the nascent state government to its founding heroes."
Arthur’s tone carried a touch of excitement, and his eyes showed a hint of emotion as he spoke.
"After over a century of changes and family successions, most of those thirteen Warrior Charters have been reclaimed or expired for various reasons by the state government."
"To this day, only three have been fully legally recognized and strictly enforced."
"And the core land of our Giant Stone River Heritage Ranch is the largest and most complete of those thirteen heritages!"
"This Warrior Charter is older and superior to any ’A level permit’ later issued by the Fish and Game Department, and is unshakable!"
"It grants you, as the rightful owner of this land of merit, nearly absolute autonomy on this land."
"Simply put, the Wyoming Fish and Game Department will recommend a scientific hunting quota to you every year based on our ecological survey data."
"But according to this ancient charter, the final decision on how much to hunt, when, and how, is entirely in your hands."
"Of course, Mr. Hunter has always considered himself the Guardian of the Warrior Charter, an extremely responsible manager, and the actual number of hunts each year is far below the Fish and Game Department’s suggested quotas."
"Thanks to Mr. Hunter’s guardianship over the past few decades, this has become one of the areas with the highest density and the healthiest population of wildlife in the entire Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem."
"Hunter, in collaboration with ecology professors from the University of Wyoming, conducts a detailed ecological survey every fall."
"The data from last year shows that within the farm’s range, live:
A core population of over 500 elk, including several with huge antlers comparable to world records.
Close to a thousand white-tailed and mule deer.
More than 300 pronghorn, the fastest-running animals in North America.
Additionally, our infrared cameras have long monitored black bears, occasionally passing gray wolves, elusive mountain lions, and large numbers of grouse and various waterfowl.
According to our permit level and last year’s ecological survey data, the Wyoming Fish and Game Department issued us the theoretically highest annual hunting quota for our ranch.
Specifically, last year we were legally allowed to hunt up to:
male elk
female elk (for population control)
deer
pronghorn
black bears."
"Sir, just these top-tier hunting quotas, if sold through professional hunting guide companies, hold extraordinary value."
"An ordinary deer hunting package, at a ranch of this quality, is priced at roughly five to eight thousand US Dollars. But the real value lies in the elk."
"Due to having multiple elk with huge antlers, a one-week ’trophy-level male elk’ hunting quota could easily sell for twenty to thirty thousand US Dollars or more."
"Top-tier magnates are willing to spend a fortune for a perfect hunting experience and a giant pair of antlers, one that could be hung on the wall to brag about for a lifetime."
"Just this alone, if you are willing to commercialize those 40 male elk quotas, can generate nearly a million US Dollars in income each year. This doesn’t even include the value of other deer species and black bears."
"Mr. Hunter previously had a very clear stance; he sees himself as the steward of this land, not its exploiter."
"He would only hunt ten large game symbolically each year, either in person or by inviting the most honorable guests, to maintain ecological balance."
"He rejected all top clubs hoping to conduct commercial hunting here, even if they offered exorbitant prices."
"For him, seeing the elk herd safely drinking water is far more valuable than hanging another elk head on the wall or having a few million US Dollars more in the bank account."
"The same is true for fisheries," Arthur’s tone remained solemn.
"That Warrior Charter also grants you absolute fishery management rights over all waters within the ranch, including the main channel of the fifteen-mile Giant Stone River and all its tributaries."
"Our exclusive river section was named one of the five top private fly fishing paradises in All of America by Forbes magazine."
"But this was not because of luxurious services; it was because it possesses an almost pristine, undisturbed aquatic ecosystem."
"Here, the aquatic ecosystem is extremely healthy and diverse. Aquatic biologists have assessed that the core river section hosts a perfect cold-water fish population pyramid."
"This includes the abundant native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, which are indigenous to this area and are a protected species under the Endangered Species Act."
"In most public waters in Wyoming, fishing for this species is strictly regulated, but within our charter, you have autonomous management rights."
"Additionally, there are numerous rainbow and brown trout here, larger and more challenging in size, as well as the mountain whitefish, an important ecological supplement."
[ps: Growing this big stripe must be annoying]
"Upon comprehensive evaluation, the total number of various trout per mile of water remains stable at over 4,000. This is an incredibly impressive number indicating the health of the water quality and ecosystem."
Arthur’s expression began to turn serious, with a touch of admiration in his tone.
"Sir, this is exactly where I admire Mr. Hunter the most. In order to maintain this number and protect the gene purity of the flagship native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout species."
"Mr. Hunter has been fighting an ecological war without gunfire every year for the past few decades!"
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