Dear Editor,
 
Thank you for your recent feature by Nick Gevock concerning the recovery of severely depleted wildlife species.  Montana sportsmen and the Fish and Game Department have much to be proud of concerning the return of antelope, mountain goat, mountain sheep, and elk.
 
The article mentioned the past wholesale slaughter of the buffalo, but it didn’t admit that the slaughter continues today.  The Yellowstone herd is the last population of bison to occupy its native range continuously in the United States.  These wild buffalo of Yellowstone are the last genetically pure remnant of the giant herds of millions that once roamed the West until they were ruthlessly wiped out over a century ago as a strategy to conquer and subdue the West’s native inhabitants.
 
The paleontological evidence of bison occupying the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem including the Yellowstone plateau goes back at least the last 10,000 years.  Scientists are finding that, despite suffering near extinction, bison have retained a genetic resistance to diseases. They believe that Yellowstone's bison herd carries these genes.
 
The Yellowstone bison are in need of significant winter range and seek this winter range outside of the Park.  Bison retain the memories of migratory routes.  Their winter range and corridors on the Northern boundary include Gardiner Valley, Reese Creek, Eagle Creek/Bear Creek, Little Trail Creek/Maiden Basin, Hellroaring and Slough Creek.  Bison attempt to winter range and corridors on the Western boundary include Grayling Creek/Fir Ridge, Madison River, Duck Creek, Cougar Creek, Horse Butte Peninsula, and the south arm of the Madison River.
 
Unfortunately, the Montana Department of Livestock has a “Zero Tolerance” policy for Yellowstone’s bison.  They don’t let Montana’s last migrating herd migrate, as they have for at least 10,000 years.  These “cowboys” trap, harass, and kill any wild buffalo attempting winter migration. The Department of Livestock has been directly responsible for the killing of at least 2,475 wild Yellowstone bison in the last ten years, or more than half of the existing herd.
 
Much of this lower elevation winter range is owned by the citizens of the United States, in the form of the Gallatin National Forest and of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests.  Much private land in the migratory corridors is owned by people sympathetic to the buffalo.  And, the federal government has paid the Church Universal and Triumphant. $13 million for wildlife conservation easements, including the Devil's Slide conservation easement on the north end of Yellowstone National Park.
 
The recovery of Montana wildlife will not be complete until we regain our naturally migrating herd of buffalo in southwestern Montana.  The Department of Livestock says their firing line and killing fields at Montana’s borders are necessary because some bison carry the disease brucellosis.  But, the State of Montana does not maintain a firing line and zero-tolerance kill zones for elk roaming north and west of Yellowstone Park that also carry the disease brucellosis.  And, there has NEVER been a documented case of brucellosis transmission from wild buffalo to domestic livestock. 
 
The “hunting” of Yellowstone bison in confined areas is akin to shooting parked cars.  It is ethically and morally wrong for the State of Montana to promote a “hunt” of wild bison, animals that are ecologically extinct in Montana.  Yellowstone's indigenous wild bison herd remains of great importance to Montanans and to the indigenous tribes who sought, and still seek, religious and cultural sustenance from this native species.
 
Let the bison migrate!  They’ve been doing it for at least 10,000 years.  They deserve at least another 10,000 years.  Let the herd expand!  Facilitate its reintroduction to the federal and state lands of southwestern Montana!  Let the bison roam!
 
Migrating bison could be as big a tourist draw to Montana as Yellowstone National Park has seen from the reintroduction of wolves.  But, first we must strip the Montana Department of Livestock of any and all jurisdiction for Yellowstone bison entering Montana, and give this jurisdiction to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
 
What about hunting?  We must be patient and not allow hunting of Yellowstone bison until winter habitat is fully occupied.  The Yellowstone bison must be allowed to follow and fill their natural migratory corridors, especially on nearby federal lands and easements owned by U.S. taxpayers.  Then, and only then, can the hunting principles of “Fair Chase” can be fully realized.
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
Paul Richards
P.O. Box 422
Boulder, MT   59632
406-225-4235