If you pride yourself as someone who is physically able and proficient with a firearm, the National Park Service (NPS) wants your help reducing the budding bison population in Grand Canyon National Park.
After months of planning, the National Park Service announced the upcoming cull earlier this month that would see the growing population of bison reduced by about 60 percent. With a population residing somewhere between 400 and 600 animals, the NPS prepared an Initial Bison Herd Reduction Environmental Assessment (EA) and later signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
The plan would see the herd reduced to approximately 200 bison over the next three to five years, otherwise, officials say the population could rise to 1,500 animals if left unchecked.
While agencies are still ironing out details on how the hunts will work but say all tags would be released through a lottery system.
In addition to the work put forth by the NPS, the EA was prepared in collaboration with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the InterTribal Buffalo Council.
The heads and hides will be earmarked for use by tribal or state and federal agencies, while the meat is said to be evenly distributed to volunteers involved in the hunt.
An announcement of opportunities and a process for tribal members and members of the public to participate in volunteer culling will be made once operational guidelines for herd reduction are in place.
Feature Image: NPS