Bison public meeting draws limited crowd

About 20 people showed up for the public meeting held by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks at the Holiday Inn Tuesday night, and all but perhaps 5 of those were members of Buffalo Field Campaign.

Montana FWP was represented by Region 3 Supervisor Pat Flowers, Wildlife Program Manager Kurt Alt, Warden Captain Sam Sheppard, Wildlife Biologist Craig Jourdannais and local Game Warden Jim Smolczynski.

Flowers welcomed the audience, gave a brief recap of the year's hunt and acknowledged that it contained problems and they had received criticisms. At the forefront was the incident on Horse Butte of the bull bison shot illegally after it jumped a fence onto private property, where it eventually died. Unfortunately, Flowers said, the prosecution of that hunter was unsuccessful and he was merely assessed a fine.

The purpose of the meeting, he said, was to hear public comments on how the hunt was conducted and suggestions for improvements in future hunts before submitting their tentative proposal to the FWP committee that sets policy.

The meeting was opened to questions, and they came fast and furious.

To the question of Why does Montana have a bison hunt?, biologist Kurt Alt said that engaging sportsmen with a big game wildlife species has historically proved beneficial to the conservation of that species, and that is the hope with the bison. He agreed that bison are native to Montana and said that, eventually, "We will have a bison management plan, with input from citizen members, and herds of bison in Montana."

That bison are considered wildlife and not livestock, caused someone to ask why the Department of Livestock is in charge of their management. If that question was answered, this reporter missed it.

There are 5 separate agencies, both federal and state, that have to agree on bison policy, and the issues are economic, political, social and very complex. "The reality of the issue," said Flowers, "is that it's going to change in small steps. We need to develop a comprehensive strategy, one issue at a time. If we can't be patient it will implode and we'll be back in the past where we don't want to be."

A life-long Horse Butte resident brought up the public safety issue of high-powered rifle hunting near people's homes. "If a shot comes onto my property, I'm going to fire back," she said, "I'm armed and dangerous."

Hunting is not allowed within 150 yards of a lived-in building, which prompted an audience member to point out that a bullet can travel a mile, saying, "Will it take a 5-year-old out playing and getting his head blown off before you change the rules?"

Someone asked about hunting and eating an animal with brucellosis, and the reply was that animals with brucellosis are safe to eat.

A Buffalo Field Campaign member called the state's bison hunt "an extermination program." The BFC advocates giving buffalo access to all suitable habitat within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and letting them get established before hunting is allowed, and managing cattle in the area to keep them brucellosis-free.

"Why target buffalo when there is no proven risk of brucellosis transmission, except in a controlled setting in Texas?" The answer to that question is that Montana's state veterinarian feels it could happen, which could damage the state's cattle industry. That led the questioner to say, "So these millions of our tax dollars dollars are being spent and all of this effort is being made for the benefit of one special interest group - the cattle industry."

Another asked, "Why don't you repair fences after hazing the buffalo through them?" The response was: ask the DOL about the fences.

The controversial issue of hazing was not on the agenda but was allowed towards the end of the meeting.

"The hazing of pregnant cows and newborn calves is inhumane, immoral and evil," said one observer, "How can you live with yourselves?"

"Cattle that are herded are given occasional breaks," said another, "These buffalo are run for miles without rest, even through fences when there was a wide open gate nearby. It's cruel, and the hazers seem to enjoy it."

A different take on the issue was offered by a Horse Butte resident who pointed out that buffalo grazing keeps the grasses in check. "Without cattle on the Butte any more, these grasses will keep growing and dry out and become a blazing inferno with one spark. We need and want the buffalo on Horse Butte."

It should be pointed out that the scientific term for these American animals is "bison", while "buffalo" refers to Old World mammals like water buffalo. But the dictionary lists the North American bison under "buffalo" and our Western settlers and mountain men called them "buffalo" too, and we figure either will do.

It was the second such meeting at which FWP sought public input regarding Montana's 2006 bison hunt. The first was in Gardiner on May 3rd. Based on the number of local residents in attendence it would appear that the issue is not of particular interest to the community at large. Meetings about winter use in Yellowstone Park or Gallatin National Forest recreational use attract upwards of 40 residents or more.

The end result of all this is yet to be known. There are many important decisions to be made, and those in attendance hope their voices were heard. The evening's disappointing turn-out was noticed by both FWP officials and audience members, "I know there's people on both sides who care," said one, "But where are they?"

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