Buffalo Field Campaign Weekly Updates from the Field 2006/2007

Bison Hunting Bill
See News Article 12/03/03- State officials hammer out details for bison hunt
and News Article 10/21/04- Schweitzer touts hunting plan
Comments due November 26th

| Talking Points |

* Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Releases Plans for Buffalo Hunt
Public Comments Due July 9

Urge FWP to Choose the "No Action" Alternative.
In addition to hazing, capturing, testing and slaughtering, America's last wild buffalo may soon become victim of a "sport hunt." On June 7, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) released a draft environmental assessment (EA) featuring a preferred alternative that would allow 25 permits (or more) to be issued to "hunters" to shoot buffalo migrating from Yellowstone National Park onto traditional habitat in Montana.
Buffalo are accustomed to millions of tourists and are not afraid of people. They will not give "fair chase" like deer and elk. Gun-bearers will be able to walk right up to a buffalo and blast it with a high powered rifle right at the Park border. Shooting a buffalo is about as sporting as shooting a parked car. The only time buffalo flee from humans is when the Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) chases them with snowmobiles, ATVs, helicopters, and horses. Now they want to shift some of the blame to hunters.

The DOL, not FWP, will have authority over this latest incarnation of the state-sanctioned slaughter. It's just one more tool in the DOL's wild buffalo eradication toolbox. Hunters realize they are being used as scapegoats, and are opposing this plan while actively advocating for an amendment to the Inter Agency Bison Management Plan that would allow buffalo to roam in Montana. Buffalo must be considered a wildlife species managed by the FWP before any buffalo hunt is considered.

This hunt is of national significance, yet FWP is giving the public very little time to respond to the proposal, and is quickly moving toward a plan that could go into effect as early as November. A mere 30-day comment period and two public meetings in Montana are inadequate, unacceptable, and a slap-in-the-face to the public process.

TAKE ACTION!
Please send your comments to FWP by July 9th. Strongly urge them to choose the "No Action" alternative, and use the suggested talking points below, along with your own personal viewpoints, to demonstrate why this is a bad idea that should be scrapped immediately. If you live in Montana, please ask that the FWP conduct a public hearing in your town or region.

Send your comments by July 9th to:
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
Attn: Bison Hunt Comments
1400 S. 19th Ave
Bozeman, MT 59718
Email: bisonhuntcomment@montana.edu

Suggested Talking Points (Please Personalize!)
- Fish, Wildlife, and Parks must choose the "No Action" alternative.
- The opportunity for public participation has been inadequate. Extend the July 9th comment deadline and hold additional public hearings throughout the State.
- An environmental impact statement (EIS) is required under both Montana and federal law if the action proposed will have "a significant impact on the human environment".
- The Inter Agency Bison Management Plan is a "no hunt" plan, meaning, no hunting! The IBMP must be amended to allow buffalo to roam freely within Montana before any hunt can be considered.
- 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.