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 Bison are an asset to the people and economy of Montana, and there are thousands of acres where they can roam outside of Yellowstone National Park. Public and private lands next to Yellowstone can provide great refuge for bison in the winter. Through cooperative agreements with local landowners, bison can roam the Gardiner Basin and pose zero threat to cattle and Montana’s valuable cattle industry. At least on these acres, let’s manage bison like we do elk and other wildlife.
As with elk, a well-planned hunt will maintain a healthy bison population and provide valuable meat, recreation and jobs, and help support our unique way of life in Montana. By ending the firing-line slaughters of the past and expanding a fair-chase hunt, bison can roam more freely and Montana hunters can enjoy a more natural and enjoyable experience. Doing so would enhance the reputation of Gardiner and West Yellowstone as premier gateways to Yellowstone National Park. Local hotels, restaurants, outfitters, and other businesses would benefit from hunting and increased tourism.
The Bison Hunt: A Conservation Tool
In America, wildlife conservation has long been tightly bound to hunting. In what’s called the “North American model,” sportsmen help wildlife officials manage wildlife populations through carefully designed hunts. Sportsmen, meanwhile, give back by being staunch proponents of habitat conservation and providing license dollars to ensure big game animals have plenty of room to roam.
In Montana, big game species such as elk, deer, antelope, moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats thrive because their habitat and conservation is supported by hunting. We can enjoy similar success with bison
Giving Yellowstone Bison Room to Roam, is a publication by GYC about a better solution for managing bison in Montana. [Download now]
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