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The Montana Wild Buffalo Recovery and Conservation Act of 2005

To be introduced and passed in the 2005 Montana Legislature.

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Montana Wild Buffalo Recovery and Conservation in the Greater Yellowstone Area

Contact: President Gallatin Wildlife Association Glenn Hockett (406) 586-1729

Help designate buffalo as valued native wildlife.

The Yellowstone region is home to America’s largest, genetically pure and truly wild buffalo herd. Buffalo symbolize the natural and cultural heritage of Yellowstone and the West. It is time to recognize wild buffalo as valued, native wildlife in Montana and to make a commitment to restoring and conserving wild buffalo populations in southwest Montana.

In 2005, the Montana legislature has the opportunity to lead the way, putting years of divisive wild buffalo management behind us. Passing the Montana Wild Buffalo Recovery and Conservation Act (HB 544) is a modest step toward returning bison management to wildlife professionals. The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks manages all other big game animals, and should play a more active role in wild buffalo conservation. The Act establishes a foundation upon which creative solutions and a new commitment to wild buffalo in Montana can be built. It will:

1) Designate buffalo as “valued, native wildlife in the state of Montana.”

2) Designate Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as the agency responsible for fair chase, public hunting. (The bill does not mandate a buffalo hunt, however when a buffalo hunt is reinstated it will be managed by the wildlife professionals at Fish, Wildlife and Parks.)

3) Continue to insure that private property rights and Montana’s valued brucellosis free status are protected, by maintaining cooperation with the Department of Livestock.

Please support HB 544 the Montana Wild Buffalo Recovery and Conservation Act by contacting your legislators at 444-4800. The Montana Wild Buffalo Recovery and Conservation Act is a solution we can all be proud of. Strong, bi-partisan, statewide support is needed to pass this important wildlife legislation. Hunters, non-hunters, wildlife enthusiasts, landowners and concerned citizens must join together to ensure that wild buffalo are once again respected as native wildlife.

To track this legislation on-line see: http://laws.leg.state.mt.us/pls/laws05/law0203w$.startup

For More Information Contact:

Glenn Hockett, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Bozeman (406) 586-1729
info@gallatinwildlifeassociation.org