Years ago, Buffalo Bill was an American cultural icon. But that was then. Today, in the eyes of the American people he ranks right up there with the state of Montana as the buffalo bad guys.

The state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks released a draft proposal Monday that would allow a limited hunt of bison that roam north and west out of Yellowstone National Park. The plan wouldn't replace the current practice of hazing the animals back into the park, but it would issue permits for up to 25 hunts between Nov. 15 and Feb. 15.

Supporters of the plan say the proposal is different than hunts allowed in the late 1980s, when state personnel essentially escorted hunters up to the animals, letting them be shot like so many billboards. Under the new plan, according to state Sen. Gary Perry, R-Manhattan, who sponsored a bill to establish the hunt, "This is truly going to be a fair chase."

Tell that to Americans across the country who know Yellowstone's bison -- buffalo to them -- as the once nearly extinct animals who spend most of their lives amid tens of thousands of tourists. Bison might gore a few people in a typical year in the park, but they sure aren't afraid of them.

"People are going to be able to walk within a few feet of them and shoot them," said Josh Osher of the Buffalo Field Campaign, which has spent years protesting the annual hazing of bison and the slaughter of those testing positive for brucellosis.

In our view, Montana has long been unfairly demonized merely for trying to protect its multi-million-dollar livestock industry from disease. The state never asked the National Park Service to let its bison overflow the park.

But by resuming the hunting of a treasured American symbol, Montana would needlessly add to its image problem. When Buffalo Bill's no longer defunct, the state's reputation may as well be.