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MONTANA RESUMES PLANS FOR BISON
HUNT--PUBLIC COMMENTS DUE 8/15
BACKGROUND:
Last winter, the actions of the Buffalo Field Campaign
community were instrumental in derailing Montana's
ill-advised plans to "hunt" bison when they migrate out of
Yellowstone National Park. BFC's campaign to cancel the
2005 hunt generated hundreds of letters, phone calls, and
emails to Montana's newly elected governor, resulted in
hundreds of buffalo-friendly people applying for hunting
permits with the intention of using them to keep buffalo
alive; and insured that the hunt would be covered on all
the major national news networks. Montana's newly elected
Governor Brian Schweitzer, aware of the black eye that a
hunt would bring to Montana, acted quickly to cancel the
hunt. Unfortunately, the Montana Department of Fish
Wildlife and Parks (FWP) has decided to push forward with
a hunt during the 2005-2006 winter. We must be even more
resolute this year if we are to stop the hunt a second
time.
CURRENT STATUS:
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Commission set
tentative regulations for Montana's first buffalo hunt in
nearly 15 years at their meeting in early July 2005. The
Commission voted to establish a two-part buffalo season
beginning November 15, 2005 and continuing until February
15, 2006. 25 either sex permits would be issued for the
first two-month period with an additional 25 permits for
the last month. Eight of the permits in each hunting
period will be given to Montana's native tribes as
mandated by state law. According to FWP, the Environmental
Assessment (EA) conducted last year is sufficient for the
new hunting rules and therefore, no additional analysis
will be conducted this year. Instead the agency will issue
a revised decision notice that is not subject to public
comment. Although comments will be taken by FWP on the
tentative season and regulations, the decision to
implement the hunt is apparently not subject to public
review.
This latest incarnation of a buffalo hunt in Montana is
still nothing more than an affirmation that Montana will
not tolerate wild buffalo in the state. As the policy is
currently laid out, wild buffalo entering Montana will
remain under the authority of the Montana Department of
Livestock (DOL). The DOL's only "concession" to the
buffalo is to refrain from hazing, capturing and killing
them for the three months that hunters will shoot any
buffalo that wanders out of Yellowstone National Park.
Unless more than 25 buffalo are out of the Park in either
period or if any buffalo wanders past the allotted area,
the DOL may decide to haze or capture the buffalo leading
to a temporary suspension of the hunt. In either case, any
wild buffalo that enters Montana between November 15 and
February 15 will be killed for following their migratory
instincts.
Beginning February 16 the DOL will implement a massive
capture, test and slaughter program with the goal of
transporting 100 buffalo calves that test negative for
brucellosis antibodies to the quarantine facility near
Gardiner, Montana. The DOL, together with the National
Park Service, will likely capture well over 500 buffalo
throughout the winter and spring to reach their goal of
100 calves for quarantine. The agencies (including the
same FWP game wardens that will administer the hunt) will
continue to terrorize one of the most sensitive ecosystems
in the United States with daily hazing operations that
include low-flying helicopters, snowmobiles, ATV's, trucks
and horses. Many buffalo will be needlessly killed or
injured until the landscape is completely empty of
buffalo. Those that do survive the spring will have next
year's hunt to look forward to before the hammer of the
livestock industry once again falls without impunity in
the following spring.
The buffalo hunt is still completely unacceptable for all
of the same reasons it was last year. In fact, this year's
proposal will lead to more buffalo being killed in the
fall than under current operations. In essence, the
addition of a buffalo hunt will completely eliminate any
and all wild buffalo that enter Montana. The FWP
Commission's decision is nothing more than a political
whitewash that will not succeed in hiding the ugliness and
blatant injustice of the current policies. Three
significant criteria highlight problems with the proposed
hunt. First, wild buffalo in Montana should be under the
sole management authority of FWP. The Dept. of Livestock
has no rightful business managing wildlife, particularly
the last wild buffalo herd in the United States. Second,
buffalo must be given access to sufficient habitat in
Montana where they can establish resident herds. In other
words, "No Habitat, No Hunt!" Third, Native American
tribes throughout the region must be included and involved
in the decision making process for the management of wild
buffalo that migrate outside of Yellowstone National Park.
A long-term comprehensive management plan should be
developed that includes all of the interested parties,
especially traditional Native Americans who maintain a
relationship with the buffalo that transcends modern
wildlife management theories and practices.
TAKE ACTION FOR THE BUFFALO!
Let the FWP Commission know
that a buffalo hunt in Montana is simply not acceptable
under the current conditions. Help the Commissioners see
that this "hunt" can only lead to a black eye for
Montana. Send your comments by Aug. 15 to: Attn. Bison
Hunt Regulations, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1400
S. 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718, or via Email to:
fwpwld@mt.gov.
Call or write Montana's
Governor, Brian Schweitzer. Let Governor Schweitzer know
that a buffalo hunt is a big mistake for Montana.
Encourage Gov. Schweitzer to develop a long-term
comprehensive management plan for the buffalo that
includes traditional Native American voices and wisdom.
Contact Governor Schweitzer by mail: Office of the
Governor, PO Box 200801, State Capitol, Helena MT
59620-0801; phone: 406-444-3111; or fax 406-444-5529
Apply for a permit to hunt a buffalo and don't use it!
According to FWP, permits will likely be offered to the
public through a lottery by the end of September. With
more permits being offered than before, your chances of
getting a permit to save a buffalo are significant. Look
for more information about applying for a buffalo permit
in future updates and on our
website. (
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org )
TALKING POINTS
Before a hunt is considered, wild
buffalo must be given the respect of being considered a
recovered resident native wildlife species in Montana,
where they are currently "managed" aggressively by the
Department of Livestock as a "nuisance animal in need of
disease control."
Tribal consultation should be sought and treaty rights
upheld before any hunt is considered.
Shooting buffalo is like shooting a parked car. They do
not give "fair chase" like deer or elk. Don't forget the
last time Montana thought it was a good idea to "hunt"
Yellowstone buffalo, the public outcry caused a huge black
eye for Montana.
The plan does not consider the real possibility of a
future for wild Montana buffalo in which they are not
killed in the gateway communities.
FWP claims that hunters will be doing a service to the
local communities by removing "problem" buffalo that are
causing damage to private property and threatening human
safety. Almost no property damage is caused by buffalo
migrating into Montana with the exception of damage caused
when DOL agents haze buffalo through people's fences on
private property.
The preferred alternative sets the dangerous precedent of
putting the Department of Livestock in charge of the
hunting of a Montana big game species.
It is important that you write an original letter, rather
than cut and paste our talking points.
BISON HUNT PUBLIC COMMENTS DUE 8/15
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