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Montana Resumes Hunting of
Yellowstone Bison
November 15, 2005
Dear Humanitarian,
Your immediate action is needed to
stop the slaughter of bison in Yellowstone National Park.
Today hunters took to the fields and
forests adjacent to Yellowstone in the first state-sanctioned
bison hunt in nearly 15 years. The first bison killed this
morning took four shots from a distance of only 20 yards away and
a brutal 45 minutes to die. Over the next three months, hunters
will gun down 50 bison – mostly on public lands, many at point
blank range and some on the Gallatin National Forest lands where
the animals were historically protected.
Because Yellowstone’s bison have
virtually no fear of people and no reason to flee from approaching
hunters, the hunting of these animals is nothing more than an
unethical and unsporting slaughter. Further, it is inconsistent
with several state laws, including the requirement of a “fair
chase” hunt, and unauthorized under the current bison management
plan.
When Montana last allowed bison
hunting, nearly 600 bison were killed between 1985 and 1991.
Videotape footage of the 1989 bison hunt documented some of the
animals suffering for up to15 minutes before being put out of
their misery. Montana’s subsequent embarrassment and ridicule
resulted in the hunt’s demise in 1991. The hunt’s resumption
demonstrates the state has failed to heed the lesson of its own
history.
While a lawsuit to challenge the
hunt remains a possibility, the permanent cessation of bison
hunting can only be achieved through public pressure. Your calls,
faxes and emails to Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and Montana
Fish, Wildlife & Parks Director Jeff Hagener are needed urgently.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. Contact Governor Schweitzer
and Director Hagener to express your opposition to the bison hunt
and urge Montana to protect, not persecute these animals. Please
see our sample letter below to edit reflecting your personal
feelings on the issue.
2. Write the editor of your local
newspaper to educate your community about this unethical and
unsporting hunt. A sample “Letter to the Editor” is provided
below for your guidance.
Your immediate assistance is
essential to ensure Montana officials and the media hear from
concerned citizens. Please share our "Dear Humanitarian" eAlert
with family, friends and coworkers, and encourage them to make
phone calls and send faxes and emails as well.
Thank you so much for your help!
Sample Letter:
November 15, 2005
Governor Brian Schweitzer Mr. Jeff
Hagener, Director
Office of the Governor Department of Fish,
Wildlife & Parks
Montana State Capitol Building
1420 E. 6th Street
P.O. Box 200801 P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0801 Helena, MT
59620-0701
Dear Governor Schweitzer and
Director Hagener,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the resumption of
bison hunting in Montana. I find it appalling that your state
would allow Yellowstone bison – animals who have virtually no fear
of humans – to be hunted. There is no sport or challenge in
shooting an animal who does not know to flee from the sound or
sight of an approaching human.
As a result, as was the case in Montana’s ill-fated bison hunt
conducted in the late 1980s, hunters will shoot bison from point
blank range. Such killing cannot possibly be considered “fair
chase” as required by Montana law and will likely cause
significant suffering as these majestic animals struggle to
survive. In fact, the Buffalo Field Campaign reports the first
bison killed in the most recent hunt took four shots from a
distance of only 20 yards and a brutal 45 minutes to die.
If the bison hunt’s lack of challenge or sport is not enough to
justify its cancellation, the fact that it was never part of the
Montana bison management plan implemented in 2000 should be. The
Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks has also failed to meet its
own standards for the management of big game species like bison.
You can’t even claim that the bison hunt will reduce the risk of
brucellosis transmission from bison to cows because the risk is
already immeasurable. As you know, there has never been a
confirmed case of bison transmitting brucellosis to a cow under
natural conditions.
Montana has failed to heed the lessons of history. To protect
Yellowstone’s bison and spare your state from another round of
national and international ridicule, I implore you to stop the
hunt now and work for the development of a more ethical and fair
management plan.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your address
Sample Letter to the Editor:
November 15, 2005
Editor
Your local newspaper name
Your local newspaper address
Dear Editor:
The State of Montana recently allowed the resumption of bison
hunting outside of Yellowstone National Park after nearly 15 years
of banning the practice.
Now, like then, Montana will claim the hunt is a necessary tool to
manage Yellowstone’s bison – when in fact it violates state law
and is not authorized under Montana’s bison management plan.
Now, like then, hunters will shoot bison at point-blank range, as
Yellowstone’s bison have no fear of humans and no reason to flee
from hunters.
Now, like then, some of the bison will suffer terribly as they
struggle to survive from their injuries before they die.
Now, like then, I can only hope national and international outrage
over the bison hunt will force Montana to develop a more sensible,
humane and scientifically sound management plan for this majestic
species.
Your name
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