American Prairie loses grazing rights

[Gila]

American Prairie Reserve was allowed to graze their “zoo” animals (bison) on BLM lands during the Biden administration. Those bison are not raised to be slaughtered for agricultural purposes. The grazing allotments came with the local cattle ranches that ARP purchased. The absence of ARP bison will increase hunting and fishing opportunity on BLM lands as well as improve public access for outdoor activities. The improvement to the State and Regional economies will also benefit wildlife management for public lands.

“MSGA is thrilled to see this decision by the BLM to restore grazing allotments back to their intended usage for production livestock grazing,” MSGA President Lesley Robinson said in a Friday afternoon press release. “MSGA is proud to defend sound, lawful land management. This decision is an incredible win for public lands grazers, ranching families and rural communities across the West.”

Bureau of Land Management revokes American Prairie bison leases

The Phillips County permits had been approved by the Biden administration in 2022.

montanafreepress.org

 

[molliesmaster]

The absence of ARP bison will increase hunting and fishing opportunity on BLM lands as well as improve public access for outdoor activities. The improvement to the State and Regional economies will also benefit wildlife management for public lands.

How so?

I'm an east-coaster, so forgive my ignorance.

 

[Dan Carey]

They may eat the same food sources, also water availability.

 

[Gila]

How so?

I'm an east-coaster, so forgive my ignorance.

Buffalo need to be contained or they will wreck fences and the land scape. Also Elk, Pronghorn and Mule deer tend to leave when bison show up. Wildlife comes back when the buffalo leave. Been that way for thousands of years before the buffalo were extirpated from the landscape. Wildlife has learned to co-exist with cattle though. Now with corner crossing, there will be more “hunt-able” BLM lands.

 

[IdahoBeav]

So, bison are (or were) native to the American prairie, but they're bad for it?

 

[pacoalcracker]

his point was that federal grazing lands are for production animals used to benefit the public with food.....in this case it was for personal use so in essence taking unfair advantage of taxpayers.

 

[finner]

Some real mental gymnastics taking place here

 

[molliesmaster]

Buffalo need to be contained or they will wreck fences and the land scape. Also Elk, Pronghorn and Mule deer tend to leave when bison show up. Wildlife comes back when the buffalo leave. Been that way for thousands of years before the buffalo were extirpated from the landscape. Wildlife has learned to co-exist with cattle though. Now with corner crossing, there will be more “hunt-able” BLM lands.

How do they wreck the landscape anymore than cattle?

Aren't there bison, deer, antelope, and elk in Yellowstone coexisting?


Where does corner-crossing come into this?

They may eat the same food sources, also water availability.

Wouldn't cows also compete for the same food and water?

 

[IdahoBeav]

The thread is a pretty clever swing to get people tripped up. It would seem that the best scenario would be to graze bison for slaughter.

 

[Gila]

So, bison are (or were) native to the American prairie, but they're bad for it?

That doesn’t really make any sense now does it? The buffalo are gone and their habitat is gone…that cannot be undone.

 

[HighUintas]

That doesn’t really make any sense now does it? The buffalo are gone and their habitat is gone…that cannot be undone.

It sure can.

 

[541hunter]

If APR was paying “market” rates in a competitive process for the grazing allotments, I don’t see an issue. If it’s a situation where the government was subsidizing the rate in order to give preference to APR then I see an issue.

If APR is willing to offer more $/acre for a grazing allotment than a livestock producer, well good for them and the livestock association and go cry somewhere else. It’s called capitalism.

Could be something I’m missing though.

 

[Gila]

If APR was paying “market” rates in a competitive process for the grazing allotments, I don’t see an issue. If it’s a situation where the government was subsidizing the rate in order to give preference to APR then I see an issue.

If APR is willing to offer more $/acre for a grazing allotment than a livestock producer, well good for them and the livestock association and go cry somewhere else. It’s called capitalism.

Could be something I’m missing though.

AP is a non-profit….where is the capitalism in that?

WIKI: “Approximately ten percent of the funding comes from private foundations supporting land conservation and the remaining ninety percent comes from individuals living in 46 states and eight countries. Approximately 20% of its donors reside in the state of Montana.”

 

[drdrop]

If APR was paying “market” rates in a competitive process for the grazing allotments, I don’t see an issue. If it’s a situation where the government was subsidizing the rate in order to give preference to APR then I see an issue.

If APR is willing to offer more $/acre for a grazing allotment than a livestock producer, well good for them and the livestock association and go cry somewhere else. It’s called capitalism.

Could be something I’m missing though.

All BLM grazing leases are subsidized to the tune of $1.35/AUM when MT market rate was $29/AUM in 2024 https://www.montana.edu/extension/aglease/Grazing.html

 

[Gila]

Anti-capitalists maybe?

From AP:

“Today wolves and grizzly bears are often associated with mountain habitats, but scientific evidence and firsthand accounts indicate that they adapted specifically for life in the open grasslands. Grizzly bears and wolves are expanding their ranges from their current habitats in the mountains to the south and west of the American Prairie region. Initial evidence of grizzly bears has been found on American Prairie property, and it is expected that both species – grizzlies and wolves – will eventually recolonize the Missouri River Breaks area through natural immigration. Mountain lions have already done so and are now found in low populations in both the Little Rocky Mountains and the Missouri River Breaks. Black bears also have recolonized the Bears Paw Mountains and Little Rocky Mountains.

In addition to providing sanctuary for carnivores on our properties, we are working with our communities and partners to develop and promote non-lethal management tools to reduce human-wildlife conflict in anticipation of the return of grizzly bears and wolves to the landscape. We are actively growing the Wild Sky program, which pays landowners for tolerating wildlife. We also are working with other non-profit groups to build public acceptance of carnivores in the region, we are continuing general outreach and promoting active discussion on living with wildlife, and we are collaborating with agencies to promote conflict reduction programs and practices.”
—————————————————————————-

AP intends to connect 3 million acres for predator management.

 

[Legend]

Th

All BLM grazing leases are subsidized to the tune of $1.35/AUM when MT market rate was $29/AUM in 2024 https://www.montana.edu/extension/aglease/Grazing.html

This needs to be shouted from the roof top. So few people realize that we subsidize a select few ranchers so much. At the cost of public land health.

And before someone disagrees....I am born and raised rancher.

 

[Axlrod]

his point was that federal grazing lands are for production animals used to benefit the public with food.....in this case it was for personal use so in essence taking unfair advantage of taxpayers.

Not sure which is better Bison or cows. But Fed. grazing lands are sold WAY below market value. How does that benefit the public? And isn't that taking unfair advantage of taxpayers?

 

[541hunter]

I’m well aware of this. I didn’t communicate it well in my post but that was my intention behind the parentheses on the word “market”.

 

[IdahoBeav]

Fed. grazing lands are sold WAY below market value.

Let's apply this same logic to hunting public land vs. a hunting lease on private land.

How do the numbers turn out?

 

[finner]

The irony is that this is being pushed entirely by people who would otherwise call themselves private property rights advocates. But sure, let's cancel grazing leases that would unnoticed if they were black angus instead of bison. Simply because of political dynamics and local "Save the Cowboy" rhetoric. It has nothing to do with the impacts of bison on the landscape.

Btw, APR allows public access for hunting and to get to adjacent landlocked public on almost all their property. They also hold annual draws for bison hunting.