Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public scoping comments on a proposed revision to the 2004 Bison Hunt Environmental Assessment (EA). FWP proposes to modify the 2004 Bison Hunt EA to allow a season-setting procedure similar to that employed for other big game animals in Montana. The proposal is based on experience gained administering bison hunts in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and accommodating harvest of bison by Native American tribes with treaty hunting rights in the Yellowstone area. This public scoping opportunity has been issued to encourage public comment early in the planning process. The deadline for comment is March 7, 2008. The intent of the original law authorizing the current bison hunt was to allow hunters to harvest wild bison under fair chase conditions without endangering the bison population or creating public safety issues. Three successful hunting seasons indicate that these goals were achieved. However, adjusting the size and distribution of the harvest while facilitating a thoughtful and equitable distribution of licenses among state and tribal treaty hunters in the future may require more flexibility than the current EA allows. The proposed modification will allow FWP to efficiently increase or decrease license numbers and areas open to hunting when conditions require a more liberal or conservative approach.
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