Bison are the largest terrestrial mammal in North America. Their large, low-hanging heads allows themn to gather low-growing vegetation, even in the snow, and their thick fur insulates them from extreme environmental conditions. Their sharp horns aid in self-defense. These unique physical characteristics that cause bison to be easily recognized also play an important role in their historical success.

Statewide Bison Management Plan EIS Public Scoping

In order to prepare a statewide bison management plan, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is moving forward with the development of a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) to address the potential for bison restoration in Montana. The EIS will examine an array of possible alternatives from a no action alternative to a number of different bison restoration alternatives and the potential impacts of those alternatives. [Learn More]

FWP & Fort Peck Reservation Bison MOU

• MOU Between Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and The Assinboine & Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation for Quarantine Feasibility Study Bison ( 249 KB)
• MOU Amendment of Section B (2) between Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and The Assinboine & Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation for Quarantine Feasibility Study Bison ( 9 KB)

Bison Background Document

• Bison Background Information on Issues of Concern for Montana: Plains Bison Ecology, Management, and Conservation
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• Comment on the Bison Background Document

Management Plan

• The Interagency Bison Management Plan

Recent Environmental Assessment

Draft EA for Interim Translocation of Bison, September 2011 ( 1.9 MB)

• Addendum ,September 20, 2011 ( 70 KB)
• Cover Letter, September 2011 ( 1.9 MB)
• Appendix A, September 2011 ( 105 KB)
• Appendix B, September 2011 ( 1.1 MB)
• Appendix C, September 2011 ( 50 KB)
• Appendix D, September 2011 ( 105 KB)

The comment period for the Draft EA for Interim Translocation of Bison has past. It ended October 19, 2011.

• Final Bison Hunt EA, September 2004 ( 7.1 MB)
• Final Bison Hunt EA Executive Summary, November 2007 ( 708 KB)
• Final Bison Hunt EA Decision Notice 2004 ( 126 KB)
• Bison Translocation Decision Notice, February 2010 ( 771 KB)
• Bison Translocation FINAL Environment Assessment, February 2010 ( 960 KB)

Feasibility Study Bison on Green Ranch

Bison numbers on the Green Ranch.

• Quarantine Feasibility Study Bison on Green Ranch Herd Count ( 57 KB)

Comments Generated at the Scoping Meetings on Proposal to Allow Bison to Occupy Suitable Year-Round Habitat Near YNP

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and the Montana Department of Livestock (DoL) recently completed public scoping for the evaluation of a proposal to allow some bison to occupy suitable habitat year-round in Montana on lands near the border of Yellowstone National Park. The public scoping period ended on August 24, 2012.

FWP has compiled all the comments as they were transcribed at recent public scoping meetings in West Yellowstone and Gardiner. You may read these comments by clicking on the link below.

• Comments Generated at the Scoping Meetings on Proposal to Allow Bison to Occupy Suitable Year-Round Habitat Near YNP

Resources

• Bison Hunting Guide