Buffalo hunt inching closer to law

By WALT WILLIAMS, Chronicle Staff Writer

HELENA - Is it a hunt or simply a slaughter?

That now may be left to the nation to decide.

In a vote that betrayed the fiery debate beforehand, the Montana House voted 61-39 to lift the state's 12-year ban on hunting bison that wander out of Yellowstone National Park Friday.

The practice was ended by the Legislature in 1991 after several highly-publicized hunts generated public outcry. And the proposal is opposed by both animal rights and hunters' groups.

"The problem is it's still centered around an eradication mentality ... so now you've just added hunters to the mix," said Glenn Hockett, president of the Gallatin Wildlife Association.

Senate Bill 395, sponsored by Sen. Gary Perry, R-Manhattan, has already passed the Senate and now goes to a joint House-Senate for ratification.

The bill gives the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks the authority to sell special wild buffalo or bison hunting licenses to the general public.

Currently, bison that wander into the state are treated as a disease threat because many carry brucellosis, which causes cattle to abort. The bison are hazed back into the park by the Montana Department of Livestock or sent to slaughter.

Hockett's group and other hunting organizations wanted that authority transferred to FWP so bison can be managed like any other wildlife in the state. But there is nothing in the bill removing bison management from the DOL, so hunters' organizations remain opposed.

The debate in the House began with an amendment by Rep. Eileen Carney, D-Libby, to substitute the term "sport hunting" with "slaughter."

Bison are too docile for true hunting, and no Montanan would consider it sporting, she said.

"This is not a hunt, this is a slaughter, and you need to call it what it is," she said.

Several lawmakers called the amendment a waste of time. When an American Indian lawmaker stood up to defend it, Rep. Jim Shockley, R-Victor, remarked to a colleague: "The Indians drove them over cliffs."

American Indian lawmaker Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, opened his remarks in his native tongue, which elicited groans from some lawmakers. He then recalled his tribe's stories of millions of buffalo migrating "from the Bering Strait to the tip of Florida."

"That was 'fair chase' then," he said. "Now the buffalo and wild bison we see in Yellowstone is the last of that race we see in the entire world."

The amendment failed, but two other amendments were added that may have saved the bill.

One permits only Montana residents to hunt bison that wander into the state.

The other forbids an agency from telling hunters where the bison are located and dictates that hunts be carried out on foot - a move lawmakers hope silences criticism about it not being a "fair chase" hunt.

Perry said he supports the amendments.

A third and final vote is scheduled today.

It's possible, but unlikely, that 11 lawmakers could switch their votes and kill the bill. Several legislators said they were divided on the issue Friday.

Reader Comments