ACTION ALERT

The State of Wyoming has recently amended its bison hunting regulations to increase bison slaughter opportunities for hunters in the state. Now, in addition to the controversial hunting of Yellowstone bison on the Shoshone National Forest, the new regulations permit the hunting of Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) bison who spend their winters primarily on the National Elk Refuge (NER) near Jackson, Wyoming. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which manages the NER, has proposed to allow, and will likely permit, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) to conduct bison hunts on the Refuge. Hunts will also be permitted on surrounding public lands, including U.S. Forest Service land, and private lands.

While hunting should be prohibited on any wildlife refuge, in this case, the bison have been supplementally fed on the NER at taxpayer expense since the mid 1970s. In addition, these animals after years of protection on the Park and Refuge are completely acclimated to people and show little fear of a camera-toting tourist, much less a rifle-toting nimrod. The idea of killing bison who have little fear of humans and who eat breakfast served up by the federal government is unsporting, unethical, illegal, a waste of taxpayer dollars, and WRONG!

The proposed hunt is part of a management package recently approved by the FWS, GTNP, and the WGFD. The plan calls for the bison herd to be maintained at an arbitrary size between 350-400 animals to reduce the chance of bison transmitting brucellosis to domestic cattle. Ten to 30 bison may be slaughtered as early as December unless we act now.

PLEASE IMMEDIATELY VOICE YOUR OUTRAGE OVER WYOMING'S OPEN SEASON ON AMERICA'S BISON BY WRITING AND CALLING THE INDIVIDUALS LISTED BELOW.

Mr. John Baughman
Wyoming Game & Fish Department
5400 Bishop Blvd.
Cheyenne, WY 82006
(307) 777-4501

Mr. Barry Reiswig
National Elk Refuge
675 E. Broadway/P.O. Box C
Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 733-9212

Ms. Jamie Clark, Director
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240
(202) 208-4717

Mike Dombeck, Chief
U.S. Forest Service
P.O. Box 96090
Washington, D.C. 20090-0690
(202) 205-0957

• All bison should be protected, not hunted.

• There is no scientific justification for maintaining the bison herd between 350-400 animals. According to geneticists this population size will retain not retain all of the herd's genetic variability.

• There has never been a confirmed case of bison transmitting brucellosis to cattle under natural conditions.

• Hunting National Park bison is like hunting parked cars. It is unethical, unsporting, unnecessary, and in violation of Refuge hunting rules which require refuge hunts to promote hunting values and hunter ethics such as fair chase and sportsmanship.

• If they must control bison population size, immunocontraception is a feasible and humane alternative to hunting.

• They are entrusted with protecting our bison. We expect them to do so.

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