Bison Hunting and Montana's National Image

A. Based on our experience during the 2005 hunt we do not expect protests, however it is possible they will occur. The Buffalo Field Campaign was in the field daily documenting the 2005 hunt, but did not interfere in any way with hunters.

A. While this hunt will in no way resemble the bison hunts that took place in the 1980s, many are concerned that some will misrepresent Montana’s efforts to responsibly respond to the bison issue. Some fear that the state’s effort to learn from the past, and the years of work it took to establish places in Montana for bison to inhabit, will be ignored.

A. Time will tell. We have faith in the American public's ability to see that Montana has the responsibility to respond to the bison issue, that problems of over-population, disease, and adequate wildlife habitat are real, and that FWP and others have listened and learned. The State of Montana does care about the future of bison and will continue to work to ensure that a healthy bison population can roam free in southwestern Montana.