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Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (R, AZ-04) and U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ), released the following joint statement after introducing the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act, a bipartisan and bicameral bill that will authorize hunters who cull bison inside Grand Canyon National Park to take home the meat:
“The animals wreaking havoc on Grand Canyon National Park are no ordinary bison,” said Senators McCain and Flake, and Congressman Gosar. “They are cross-breeds between bison and cattle that continue to destroy the natural vegetation and pristine lands that make the Park a national treasure and destination for millions of visitors. Our legislation advances a common-sense proposal that would cull these unmanageable herds and eliminate federal barriers by allowing volunteer hunters to take home the meat.”
Whit Fosburgh, President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Jim Unmacht, President of the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation, also praised the legislation:
“The proposed legislation is consistent with the best science, will prevent undue degradation of Park resources and also provide sportsmen with an opportunity to harvest an iconic American species,” said Fosburgh. “It will also generate funding for habitat conservation and management, which is key to our mission of guaranteeing sportsmen quality places to hunt and fish.”
“The House Rock Valley bison herd has long been a highly prized herd and one of the few remaining wild and free ranging herds in North America,” said Unmacht. “The fact they now have learned that they are safe on the Grand Canyon National Park hasn’t diminished their allure to sportsmen, but has essentially placed them off-limits from hunting and harvesting. Arizona sportsmen and women are pleased that Senators McCain and Flake, along with Congressman Gosar have found a common-sense solution to allow sportsmen to not only help the Grand Canyon National Park manage this herd, but also allow them to hunt, harvest and retain the carcass in the process.”
Background:
The full text of the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act can be found HERE.
It is estimated that the herd needs to be reduced by about 200 head to meet sustainable management levels.
The bill requires the Secretary of Interior to coordinate with the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, the appropriate state wildlife management agency, to implement a management plan for the invasive bison that follows all federal environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act.
The seven bipartisan original House cosponsors include Congressman Trent Franks (R, AZ-08), Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick (D, AZ-01), Congressman Matt Salmon (R, AZ-05), Congressman David Schweikert (R, AZ-06), Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D, AZ-09), Congresswoman Cynthia M. Lummis (R, WY-At Large) and Ryan Zinke (R, MT-At Large).
Over the last 10 to 15 years, the cross-breed of cattle and bison, the beefalo, have migrated from the Kaibab National Forest and found sanctuary inside the Grand Canyon National Park, protected from hunters. The estimated 600 head of bison are wreaking havoc on the park lands, eating native grasslands and polluting wetlands with their waste.
In order to preserve Grand Canyon National Park from further ruin, the bill clarifies that bison meat is not ‘federal surplus property’ and is allowed to be removed from the park. This act will allow hunters and conservationists to play an important role in addressing the bison population problem.
A recent Fox News article documenting the decimation of the Bison in the Grand Canyon National Park can be found HERE.
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