| Yellowstone Bison Slaughter
|
| News
Article 1/30/07 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
Helena
man can keep illegally killed bison
Island Park News
1/30/07 |
A
Helena hunter who shot a bison on private land north of
West Yellowstone last week was fined for hunting without
landowner permission but allowed to keep the animal he
killed.
Eric Thunstrom had a Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife,
and Parks (MFWP) tag to shoot a bison, but he made his
kill on private property, where hunting is prohibited.
The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC), a bison advocacy group
based near Hebgen Lake north of West Yellowstone, documented
the January 23 kill with a video camera.
BFC‚s video recording of the shoot should embarrass
any hunter since it took the man four shots to bring the
bison down. A good hunter, according to hunting ethics
lists compiled by many hunting groups and wildlife agencies,
should kill an animal with one clean shot ˜ or not
take the shot at all. MFWP also promotes clean kills in
its One Shot Hunter Program.
The video is on line at: www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
Sam Sheppard, MFWP warden captain, said his department
recommended that Gallatin County Justice Court Judge Gordon
Smith not allow Thunstrom to keep the meat, which MFWP
had seized. „All we can do is make recommendations.
It‚s up to the judge to impose the sentence,‰
Sheppard said.
According to the BFC‚s news release on the incident,
Thunstrom shot the bull less than 150 yards from two residences.
He attempted to access one of three bull bison from the
Munz property, adjacent to Yellowstone Village and Estates. Thunstrom
said he had received permission the night before to shoot
a buffalo on the Munz property. Three shots were fired
while the bulls and the hunter were on the Munz property.
The fourth shot was fired after the bull had entered Cook's
Meadow, where it is illegal to hunt or trespass.
According to the BFC‚s release, „Residents
of the West Yellowstone housing area have spoken with
numerous hunters, informing them that hunting is strictly
prohibited in their community. Residents have posted numerous
"no hunting" and "buffalo safe zone"
signs throughout the neighborhood.
"We've made it well-known that it's illegal to shoot
bison in this neighborhood," said Ed Millspaugh,
President of the Yellowstone Estates Homeowners Association. "I
want this hunter prosecuted to the full extent of the
law."
Fewer than three bison are outside Yellowstone's western
boundary, wintering within a West Yellowstone housing
area where they are welcome by residents. During
the most recently completed phase of the West Yellowstone
bison hunt, which ended January 16, the lack of bison
in Montana resulted in 24 out of 25 hunters being unable
to fill their tags.
"Hunters are being had by the state," said BFC's
Stephany Seay. "Montana has issued permits to kill
wild animals that aren't even here. The hunting community
should direct its frustration toward Governor Schweitzer
and FWP, and demand year-round habitat for wild bison
in Montana."
Wild bison are native to Montana yet ecologically extinct
everywhere outside of Yellowstone National Park. Montana
provides no year-round habitat for bison. Bison management
currently falls under authority of the Montana Department
of Livestock, who, with state and federal assistance,
manages them as a nuisance animal. Once hunting season
ends, wild bison will be subjected to harassment, capture,
slaughter or quarantine.
There is never a time when wild bison are allowed in the
state without being molested.
Buffalo Field Campaign opposes Montana's bison hunt. BFC
maintains that habitat should come prior to a hunt and
calls on the state of Montana to provide year-round habitat
for wild bison and allow bison to restore a viable population
on public lands in Montana.
American Bison once spanned the continent, numbering between
30 and 50 million. The Yellowstone bison are America's
only continuously wild, genetically unique herd, numbering
fewer than 4,000 animals, less than .01 percent of the
bison's former population.
1,871 bison have been killed since 2000 under the Interagency
Bison Management Plan. Last winter Federal and State
agencies killed or authorized the killing of more than
1,010 bison. So far this winter two bison were captured
and sent to slaughter by Montana Department of Livestock
agents and hunters have killed 27.
Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only group working
in the field, every day, to stop the slaughter of the
wild Yellowstone buffalo. Volunteers defend the buffalo
and their native habitat and advocate for their lasting
protection.
For more information, go to www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
Montana's Hunter Code
As a participant in the One Shot Hunter program, I pledge
to adhere to a hunter code.
As a One Shot Hunter, I pledge to:
Show respect for wildlife by developing the necessary
skills to make a kill as certain and quick as possible,
sight-in my firearm and practice shooting, retrieve and
properly handle all game, track wounded game, and utilize
as much of the animal as possible.
Hunt in a way that reflects favorably on me as a hunter
and will bring no dishonor to the hunter, the hunted,
or the environment .
Use vehicles only on established roads and trails, practice
low-impact camping and travel, and pack out my trash.
Know and obey all hunting laws and regulations, and
report any illegal activities immediately. 1-800-TIP-MONT
(847-6668).
Follow the rules of safe firearm handling at all times:
Always point the muzzle of your gun in a safe direction.
Always treat every gun as if it were loaded.
Always be sure of your target and beyond.
Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready
to fire.
Respect other hunters and the interests of non-hunters
and landowners.
Always get permission first to hunt on private land,
and alert landowners or land managers about any problems
I encounter on their property.
Take pride in being a safe, responsible, and ethical
hunter and insist that my hunting partners do the same.
Learn about the habits and habitats of wildlife.
This code was developed based on original information
developed by the Izaak Walton League of America, the Boone
& Crockett Club, and Montana Fish, Wildlife &
Parks.
Top
of Page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
