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BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Montana officials have reached a tentative deal allowing some bison to roam outside of Yellowstone National Park without fear of slaughter, a potential breakthrough in a decade-long attempt to end the killing of thousands of bison for disease prevention.
The deal reached this week between the Church Universal and Triumphant, which owns the Royal Teton Ranch north of Yellowstone, and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks would allow bison to move through the ranch during winter to reach about 2,000 acres in the Gallatin National Forest.
Yet to be decided, however, is how much the church will be paid for grazing rights. U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, a New York Democrat who sits on the National Parks subcommittee, said this week he will press the U.S. Department of Agriculture to contribute $1.5 million toward the deal.
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