Montana Bison Conservation Opportunity/title> <meta name="description" content="Gallatin Wildlife Association suggestions for quarantine bison reintroduction"> <script LANGUAGE="JavaScript">  </SCRIPT> </head> <body> <div align="center"><center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="100" background="images/buckjpg.jpg"> <p align="center"><img src="images/ElkSilSmallLeft.jpg" alt="ElkSilSmallLeft.jpg (7364 bytes)" width="100" height="96"></td> <td width="600" background="images/buckjpg.jpg"> <p align="center"><img src="images/Bridgers6.jpg" alt="Bridgers6.jpg (20313 bytes)" width="535" height="115"></td> <td width="100" background="images/buckjpg.jpg" align="center"><img src="images/TransparentBuffLeft.gif" width="85" height="83"></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><div align="center"><center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="175" height="200" valign="bottom" align="right" background="images/buckjpg.jpg"> <p align="right"><img src="images/Ram4.jpg" alt="Ram4.jpg (15395 bytes)" name="image1" width="150" height="215"><img src="images/BottomLeft.jpg" alt="BottomLeft.jpg (992 bytes)" width="42" height="44"></td> <td width="50" height="200" valign="top" nowrap><img src="images/TopLeft.jpg" alt="TopLeft.jpg (911 bytes)" width="42" height="43"></td> <td width="525" valign="top"> <p align="center"> <a href="#meetings" onMouseOver="MM_preloadImages('images/Muley5.jpg')"><img src="images/Meetings.gif" width="94" height="23" border="0" onmouseover="image1.src='images/Muley5.jpg';" onmouseout="image1.src='images/Ram4.jpg';"></a> <a href="GWAMembership.htm" onMouseOver="MM_preloadImages('images/Elk5.jpg')"><img src="images/Membership.gif" border="0" onmouseover="image1.src='images/Elk5.jpg';" onmouseout="image1.src='images/Ram4.jpg';"></a> <a href="GWA_Issues.htm" onMouseOver="MM_preloadImages('images/Coyote5.jpg')"><img src="images/Issues.gif" width="66" height="24" border="0" onmouseover="image1.src='images/Coyote5.jpg';" onmouseout="image1.src='images/Ram4.jpg';"></a> <a href="gwa_projects.htm" onMouseOver="MM_preloadImages('images/Goat5.jpg')"><img src="images/Projects.gif" border="0" onmouseover="image1.src='images/Goat5.jpg';" onmouseout="image1.src='images/Ram4.jpg';"></a> <p align="center"> <font color="#800000" size="6" face="Comic Sans MS"><strong> <u>Let's not waste an outstanding Montana Bison Conservation Opportunity!</u></strong></font> <h1 align="center"><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#800000"><small><em><u></u></em></small></font></h1> <p align="center"><em><font color="#000000" face="Comic Sans MS">by GWA Board member Jim Bailey</font></em><font face="Comic Sans MS"><br> </font></td> <td width="50"></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><div align="center"><center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="107" valign="top" background="images/buckjpg.jpg"><a href="GWAMembership.htm#Objectives"><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#800000"><big><u>Objectives</u></big></font></a> <p><a href="GWAMembership.htm#Principles"><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#800000"><big><u>Principles</u></big></font></a></p> <p><a href="gwa_newsletter.htm"><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#800000"><big><u>Newsletter</u></big></font></a></p> <p><a href="gwa_board_&_contact.htm"><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#800000"><big><u>Board of Directors</u></big></font></a></p> <p><a href="GWALinks.htm"><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#800000"><big><u>Links</u></big></font></a></p> <p><a href="gwa_board_&_contact.htm"><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#800000"><big><u>Contact us</u></big></font></a> <p><a href="index.html"><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#800000"><big><u>Home Page </u></big></font></a> </td> <td width="31" valign="top" align="left"><img src="images/TopLeft.jpg" alt="TopLeft.jpg (911 bytes)" width="42" height="43"></td> <td width="609"> <p> </p> <p>Two converging projects of Fish, Wildlife & Parks provide an exceptional opportunity for wildlife conservation, and economic development, in Montana. FWP seeks a home for about 90 disease-free bison coming out of quarantine pens near Yellowstone Park; and FWP is considering renewal of a cattle-grazing lease on the Robb/Ledford Wildlife Management Area south of Alder. </p> <p>About 90 bison must come out of the quarantine pens in the next few months. Another 40-80 bison will become available later in 2010. These animals are as free of Brucella as can be determined. During 3 to 4 years in the pens, they have been tested far more often than any cattle in Montana.</p> <p>In 2006, at the start of the quarantine study, FWP expressed its preference for ultimately locating these Yellowstone bison to “suitable public lands in Montana”. At the time, FWP “anticipated several opportunities for bison restoration in Montana” and stated that it was “working with potential cooperators to identify release sites”. Now, over 3 years later, FWP seems unable to find Montana public lands for establishing public-trust wild bison. In fact, last year’s proposal was to ship bison to Wyoming. </p> <p>While claiming it cannot find a home on public lands for the quarantine bison, FWP owns many Wildlife Management Areas capable of supporting hundreds of wild bison that would provide hunting, other recreation, and local economic benefits.</p> <p>The Robb/Ledford WMA encompasses about 44 square miles of FWP owned and leased land south of Ruby Reservoir. Leased lands are state-owned “school” lands. Robb/Ledford abuts the 28-square-mile Blacktail WMA and much federal public land. On Robb/Ledford, FWP controlled lands are much intertwined with other state lands leased by private parties, largely for grazing. The area consists mostly of rolling grasslands without a building, or even a power line, in sight. </p> <p>Putting bison on Robb/Ledford and the adjacent Blacktail WMA would not be a simple task. FWP should negotiate trades of leases for school lands in order to create a more contiguous ownership. This blocking up of the landscape can be done on a fair basis and would reduce administrative costs, especially for fences, for both public and private interests. I estimate that about 70 square miles of contiguous bison habitat could be developed.</p> <p>A lot of bison-proof fencing would be required to keep the animals on the WMA. The amount, type and location of needed fencing would be determined as experience grows with a gradually increasing wild bison herd. Negative effects of this fencing on wildlife would be compensated by the removal of many miles of interior fence now used to control cattle on Robb/Ledford.</p> <p>The reconfigured and combined Robb/Ledford and Blacktail WMA could easily support 200-300 wild bison, likely up to 500. The ultimate number of bison probably would not be determined by forage limitations; rather by effects of bison numbers on their behavior and the resulting management issues, and by our ability to control bison numbers with quality, safe sport hunting. We would have to learn how to manage the bison and the hunts as we go. </p> <p>This area could become the premier wild bison hunting ground in the world! The quality of bison hunting in this natural setting would greatly exceed that of hunting in more limited and artificial habitats such as the Henry Mountains of Utah. Available licenses would be well over-subscribed. Hunters would come from all over the country, and from other countries, to hunt wild bison in such a natural setting. In summer, people would come to the area to see, photograph and hike among wild bison in an almost pristine environment. Given the lack of crowds, the bison-viewing experience would rival that of Yellowstone National Park. </p> <p>Consider the economic impacts of this scenario to the local and regional economies. Communities of Alder and Sheridan may benefit most, in providing goods and services to hunters and others. Montana hunters won’t come, spending money, one at a time. Processing a bison kill is a communal, often family, affair. And economic impacts would stretch as far as the Bozeman airport, at least. Local outfitters would be needed to enhance the hunting experience and to provide for handling and transport of meat, hides and heads. </p> <p>Having wild bison on the WMAs will not come easy. There will be a learning curve as FWP adapts to what happens on the ground. And there will be costs, especially for exterior fencing. But FWP spends over $50,000/year now to manage cattle on Robb/Ledford. Further, one or two special bison-hunting licenses could be auctioned to offset management costs.</p> <p>The alternative is to continue grazing cattle each summer on Robb/Ledford. The proposal is for 1118 cows. There will continue to be no wild bison in Montana. (Yellowstone bison are allowed to visit Montana briefly each winter, at their own risk; but they are returned to the Park by May 15.) Cattle will be present on Robb/Ledford during early hunting seasons and up to within 3 days of the regular big-game season. Summer visitors will find cattle and manure, especially in the streamside areas that should be most attractive.</p> <p>Worse, after 18 years of cattle grazing on Robb/Ledford, FWP has been unable to demonstrate benefits of cattle grazing to wildlife. And there is evidence on the ground, and in abundant literature showing negative impacts to fish and wildlife.</p> <p>Continued cattle grazing on Robb/Ledford will be relatively easy, comfortable and familiar for FWP. In contrast, moving toward wild bison on the WMA will be challenging; but it is the right way to go for maximizing public benefits, especially for hunters who are paying the bills. More, having wild bison on the WMA would be one step backward from having bison listed under the Endangered Species Act. </p> <p>The FWP Commission will consider extending the cattle grazing lease for Robb/Ledford WMA on November 12. It’s time to make your voice heard on this issue. Please contact the FWP Commission. Let’s reject the easy, comfortable, familiar way and set course for a Montana future including some wild bison. </p> <p>October 23, 2009<br> Jim Bailey<br> Belgrade, Montana</p> <p></p> <p><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="4"><br> </font> </p> <p> </td> <td width="30"></td> </tr> </table> </center></div> <p align="center">Copyright © 2009 Gallatin Wildlife Association<br> All Rights Reserved</p> </body> </html>