American Prairie loses grazing rights

[Gila]

Would like to add another data point. APR recently hired EarthJustice.org to assist in their litigation with aforementioned grazing rights. EJ is an environmental law group and they are absolutely no friend to the hunting community. Based here in Colorado they partner frequently with the plethora of anti-hunting organizations here and nationwide. EJ has filed multiple lawsuits in the past to stop wolf and grizzly bear hunting. EJ claims they “oppose trophy hunting of threatened or endangered species”. Well, I suppose it depends on who and how the decision is made on what is a “threatened or endangered” species. Many of the anti-hunting groups claim wolves and mountain lions are “threatened”. Also the “trophy hunting” term is commonly used by anti-hunting groups as a way to divide the hunting community and generate public opposition to regulated hunting practices. I believe APR’s association with EJ gives many hunters concern that their views on hunting may be changing.

I acknowledge this is a bit of a “guilty by association” claim but there are no shortage of good lawyers out there looking to take to your money. Maybe EJ is the best? Just food for thought and some concerns that hunters may have with APR.

Ever heard of Defenders Of Wildlife? They were either co-defendants or represented AP in the IBLA appeal if memory serves me correctly.

“By revoking these leases, the Bureau of Land Management is undermining its own mission to sustain health, diversity and productivity across our public lands,” said Andrew Bowman, Defenders of Wildlife president and CEO. “Wherever bison graze, they bring true ecological benefit to their environments, as well as to the Native Nations who partner with American Prairie. Defenders stands with American Prairie in the fight to do what’s right for our national mammal.”

Defenders is a longtime partner of American Prairie and its organizational efforts to restore native plains species back to these grasslands. The BLM underwent a considerable environmental assessment and an extensive public comment period prior to 2022 to arrive at its decision to reclassify these grazing leases to allow bison. Bison play a key role in restoring grassland biodiversity, improving soil health and creating “green waves” of plant growth, to the benefit of pollinators, birds and other wildlife.

Defenders joins American Prairie and EarthJustice in filing a protest against BLM’s proposed decision. Defenders’ protest period runs from January 26 to February 9, 2026. BLM is required to review and consider issues raised in any protests received. After a final decision by BLM, interested parties will have 30 days to file an administrative appeal.”

Eagle Eyes: 10 Anti-Hunting Groups to Watch

Protecting hunting’s future means exposing extremist groups.

www.nrahlf.org

 

[WRO]

Ever heard of Defenders Of Wildlife? They were either co-defendants or represented AP in the IBLA appeal if memory serves me correctly.

“By revoking these leases, the Bureau of Land Management is undermining its own mission to sustain health, diversity and productivity across our public lands,” said Andrew Bowman, Defenders of Wildlife president and CEO. “Wherever bison graze, they bring true ecological benefit to their environments, as well as to the Native Nations who partner with American Prairie. Defenders stands with American Prairie in the fight to do what’s right for our national mammal.”

Defenders is a longtime partner of American Prairie and its organizational efforts to restore native plains species back to these grasslands. The BLM underwent a considerable environmental assessment and an extensive public comment period prior to 2022 to arrive at its decision to reclassify these grazing leases to allow bison. Bison play a key role in restoring grassland biodiversity, improving soil health and creating “green waves” of plant growth, to the benefit of pollinators, birds and other wildlife.

Defenders joins American Prairie and EarthJustice in filing a protest against BLM’s proposed decision. Defenders’ protest period runs from January 26 to February 9, 2026. BLM is required to review and consider issues raised in any protests received. After a final decision by BLM, interested parties will have 30 days to file an administrative appeal.”

Eagle Eyes: 10 Anti-Hunting Groups to Watch

Protecting hunting’s future means exposing extremist groups.

www.nrahlf.org

What does this have to do with the fundamental issue at discussion here? All of their points seem valid..

Are you saying that because these groups support habitat restoration we shouldn’t as sportsmen?

 

[Jpsmith1]

What does this have to do with the fundamental issue at discussion here? All of their points seem valid..

Are you saying that because these groups support habitat restoration we shouldn’t as sportsmen?

That sounds like exactly what's being asserted.

An "anti" hunting group makes a point and rather than agreeing with that point while not agreeing with their position as a whole, we now have to throw away sound scientific evidence because some anti said it.

 

[Gila]

What does this have to do with the fundamental issue at discussion here? All of their points seem valid..

Are you saying that because these groups support habitat restoration we shouldn’t as sportsmen?

Habitat restoration is a red herring. This is about re-wilding public lands while wiping out cattle grazing in the process. The excuse that bison are better than cattle to return the prairie to a natural state is proving to be untrue. Mortensen Ranch was the only seed bank in the world that has those plants that were previously thought to be extinct. Those seeds were produced by grazing cattle. I don’t see AP producing those seeds, nor do I see AP buying seeds from Mortensen Ranch.

I don’t see how AP can hang on to 7,000 cattle and still claim non-profit status. I can only guess that it is because those 7,000 cattle are kept out of production…which wouldn’t do very much for the local economy now does it?

 

[WoolOverAll]

Habitat restoration is a red herring. This is about re-wilding public lands while wiping out cattle grazing in the process. The excuse that bison are better than cattle to return the prairie to a natural state is proving to be untrue. Mortensen Ranch was the only seed bank in the world that has those plants that were previously thought to be extinct. Those seeds were produced by grazing cattle. I don’t see AP producing those seeds, nor do I see AP buying seeds from Mortensen Ranch.

I don’t see how AP can hang on to 7,000 cattle and still claim non-profit status. I can only guess that it is because those 7,000 cattle are kept out of production…which doesn’t do very much for the local economy now does it?

Claiming habitat restoration is a conspiracy to push cattle off the land ignores that public lands are meant to support multiple uses, including wildlife, water quality, recreation, and grazing, not just ranching interests. Cattle can contribute to prairie health and native seed production in some exceptional cases, but that does not invalidate bison or other restoration strategies.

Nonprofits are allowed to manage livestock as part of their conservation mission as long as revenue supports that mission. Framing this as a plot to eliminate ranching is a deliberate distraction from the real issue of long term ecological and economic sustainability.

You still have not answered the simple question of why we, as hunters and sportsmen, should prioritize cattle production over rebuilding a native ecosystem?