Hunting In Yellowstone National Park?

Could places like Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks open up to limited hunting in the near future? The answer is… it is likely but restrictions will be stringent. 

Last week U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum released Secretarial Order 3447, expanding hunting and fishing access on ALL federally managed public lands (unless lawful exemptions exist).

So what does this mean for American sportsmen? In most cases this will open small wildlife refuges around the country for hunting and fishing. It will provide much needed access for sportsmen in a day and age where access to hunting ground is growing ever more limited. Will it be 24-7, 365, unlimited access? Probably not. Think along the lines of drawings and limited take, especially in the case of large National Parks such as Grand Teton, Yellowstone or Rocky Mountain National Park. 

The goal is to: “Expand access and opportunities where compatible with law, refuge purposes, park enabling statutes, reclamation area requirements, safety, and conservation needs;”

With that said it is virtually guaranteed that this order will come under heavy fire from anti-hunting extremist groups and will likely be attacked by liberal judges as well. That is a shame as I can think of no better tool to curb the over-populated and highly destructive bison herds turning Yellowstone National Park into an ecological wasteland. Why not open up some limited-entry, draw style hunts for trophy bulls and herd management cows, available to the general public instead of culling these animals with taxpayer dollars? The same could be done in Rocky Mountain National Park with the giant elk herd there. 

Enough with the apex predator worship and the trophic cascade propaganda that wolves help balance ecosystems. Human hunters operating under scientific wildlife management balance ecosystems, period. By opening up limited hunting in some of our previously off-limits zones we can bring unbalanced wildlife populations into balance, create more hunting opportunities and bolster the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. 

Don’t get me wrong, unfettered hunting access in the location examples I’ve provided is not what I’m calling for but controlled hunts would be wonderful for the animals, the ecosystems and the bottomline. 

However, I’m just one man with an opinion. What’s your take?