Bison Range regs won't change under Tribal ownership

Regulations for visitors to the National Bison Range near Moiese will not change after ownership of its lands were transferred to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes with the passing of the Montana Water Rights Protection Act Dec. 21, 2020.

A memo issued by the Interior Solicitor’s Office Jan. 6 determined the National Bison Range already is held in trust by the United States for the Tribes as a result of the legislation, and the Tribes and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been engaged in transition discussions, including the negotiation of a memorandum of understanding.

With oversight of the Bison Range coming under Tribal jurisdiction, the CSKT Tribal Council approved the adoption of several emergency regulations Jan. 7 that are identical to the ones already in place.

“We have a two-year window to complete the transition of management and this is a step in that direction,” CSKT Communications Director Robert McDonald said. “With the land no longer being under U.S. Fish and Wildlife jurisdiction, we had to step in and deploy new regulations, which are the same as the regulations that were already in place.”

The new regulations state that all visitors must continue to pay a fee upon entering the Bison Range because the Flathead Reservation Conservation Permit does not allow access to the area.

Carrying, possessing or discharging firearms, fireworks, or explosives on the Bison Range continues to be prohibited, as is the use or possession of crossbows, bows and arrows, air guns, spears, gigs, or other weapons unless specifically authorized by the Tribal Council.

The regulations also prohibit disturbing, hunting, fishing, injuring, spearing, poisoning, destroying or collecting any plant, animal or fish on the range, as well as any attempt to do so.

The Bison Range will continue to be open during daylight hours only, weather and road conditions permitting. Closing times vary seasonally and are posted at the entrance gate and at the visitor center. It is unlawful to enter areas that are posted closed or gated closed unless authorized, and the use of motorized vehicles off designated open roads is prohibited.

“Since we now have jurisdiction, we had to make sure to put laws in place that would regulate hunting and fishing and we chose to align them with what was already in place,” McDonald said.

With the current regulations in place, the Tribes say it will take the next few months to review the possibility of allowing fishing within the Bison Range.

“The Tribes will review fishing within the Bison Range, as allowed by the Tribal/State annual fishing regulations, for any necessary modifications before the third Saturday in May 2021 when stream fishing opens and sections of Mission Creek become available within the Bison Range, as they have in previous years,” a Tribal press release said.

For background information regarding the Bison Range, including maps, historical information and the Tribes’ Bison Range documentary film, visit the Bison Range Restoration website at https://bisonrange.org/.