American Prairie loses grazing rights

[CJ19]

https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/conservation/wildlife-reports/bison/appendix-b-public-opinion-strategies-1.pdf

If you look at the state level, ranching interests are disproportionately represented compared to the general population make up. Idaho is much the same.

What don’t you want to take seriously? You said feral live stock, are they live stock or wild animals? Simple question.. (I know the answer from a state perspective they’re classified as both)

O yes, these "polls" conducted by political lobbying organizations and slipped into these reports as if they are non bias fact points. I am sure NWF hunted down the locals and local ranchers to find their opinion on bison reintroduction. Defenders of Wildlife's poll came to the same conclusion in their report. You could of at least cited the Defenders of Wildlife poll to make the discussion more lively.

I am 100% neutral on APR. Could be nice if run right, could be a disastrous bait and switch for hunters.

This post here is pretty much 100% how i feel.

APR discussions on hunting forums are always interesting and contentious. I guess I fall somewhere in the middle.

I can see the concerns from traditional users and the sportsmen community. Any time out of state billionaire activists get involved I am usually a bit skeptical as they typically don’t share the same values regarding hunting, fishing and the NAM. They are the major drivers of much of the anti-hunting movement here in Colorado.

There are also valid concerns regarding major shifts away from traditional agriculture. But at the end of the day, it’s really a willing seller, willing buyer type situation. I respect the rights of private property owners.

That being said it has been clearly stated many times that APR opens up lots of access for hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreation. Awesome. There are concerns those policies could change based on the makeup of the leadership and associations, but that seems to be pure speculation at this time. I suspect if APR took a decidedly anti-hunting turn they would fall out of favor with many Montanans quite quickly.

I also like to draw out the contrast between APR in Montana and the similar “land trust” organizations in Colorado, specifically the Southern Plains Land Trust. Both orgs openly support “rewilding” and “biodiversity” efforts. However, their approaches are quite different. APR allows for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation, however, SPLC explicitly doesn’t not support any of these activities. Unless of course you are one of their millionaire/billionaire donors who gets a personal safari tour. SPLC is actually the center of gravity for the anti-hunting movement in Colorado. They are closely aligned with Center for Biological Diversity, Animal Wellness Action, and the formerly CATS Prop 127 groups. Their leadership hold key positions on statewide boards and commissions where they have driven anti-hunting agendas. They share fundraising events with many of the wealthy anti-hunting donors in the state, including Governor Polis’ partner, First Gentleman Marlon Reis. SPLC is a critical cog in the urban Denver/Boulder machine directed at disenfranchising Colorado sportsmen and women. I can respect the preservation work SPLC does, but I am also keenly aware of their work to diminish and discredit hunters and anglers.

Keep a vigilant eye on APR? Sure. But groups like SPLC might be the villain you’re looking for.

 

[WRO]

O yes, these "polls" conducted by political lobbying organizations and slipped into these reports as if they are non bias fact points. I am sure NWF hunted down the locals and local ranchers to find their opinion on bison reintroduction. Defenders of Wildlife's poll came to the same conclusion in their report. You could of at least cited the Defenders of Wildlife poll to make the discussion more lively.

The local ranchers make up a very small portion of the population in Montana. It’s one of the least densely populated areas in the lower 48. If you did a Rokslide poll you’d have very similar skewing. Phillips county, where the APR, has less than 1 person per square mile and makes up ~3% of the population of Montana, and it’d be a pretty bold assumption to say they’re all against it.

https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/conservation/wildlife-reports/bison/final-programmatic-bison-eis-december-2019-1.pdf

Starting at page 57 there’s some more background on the social implications. Appears there’s 2 studies done, 1 by nwf and 1 by defenders. Without reading the full methodology on the survey it’d be hard to tell. Although it was interesting that the Malta petition only gathered 88 signatures.

 

[WRO]

Double post.

 

[Gila]

It isn’t up to the people of Montana. It is up to the American people and our Congress. We are talking about 2.5 million acres of Federal Lands and how that public land is to be used. From another one of AP’s re-wilding partners:

“In the broader sense, this decision also should make those who live and work on the prairie think about how we view and use our public lands. How do we feel that these lands are managed solely for commodities and extractive purposes? Perhaps this can open a larger conversation of how Americans want their public lands managed. Despite not being protected as “parks”, many of these spaces are large tracts of intact grasslands that remain very wild. They provide important habitat for wildlife, including a number of threatened and endangered species, as well as providing ecosystem services, such as drought and flood resistance, and carbon sequestration.”

BLM cancels bison grazing permits for American Prairie | Great Plains Conservation Network

 

[CJ19]

The local ranchers make up a very small portion of the population in Montana. It’s one of the least densely populated areas in the lower 48. If you did a Rokslide poll you’d have very similar skewing. Phillips county, where the APR, has less than 1 person per square mile and makes up ~3% of the population of Montana, and it’d be a pretty bold assumption to say they’re all against it.

https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/conservation/wildlife-reports/bison/final-programmatic-bison-eis-december-2019-1.pdf

Starting at page 57 there’s some more background on the social implications. Appears there’s 2 studies done, 1 by nwf and 1 by defenders. Without reading the full methodology on the survey it’d be hard to tell. Although it was interesting that the Malta petition only gathered 88 signatures.

I think you made a correct assessment in this post. my point was there was discussion about how the locals feel about it. those surveys are not really reflective of locals. and people will have their own opinions on those surveys. Surveys are wild biased based on methodology. I do not trust NWF or dow with their polls tbh. i have no doubt many people would be fine with an honest bison reintroduction effort but if you started to explain the nitty gritty and presented the opposing points of view such as in this thread, I bet an opinion poll nationally would head towards an even 50/50ish split pretty quickly. this is a very polarizing topic bc there are valid points to be made from both sides.

 

[WRO]

I think you made a correct assessment in this post. my point was there was discussion about how the locals feel about it. those surveys are not really reflective of locals. and people will have their own opinions on those surveys. Surveys are wild biased based on methodology. I do not trust NWF or dow with there polls tbh. i have no doubt many people would be fine with an honest bison reintroduction effort but if you started to explain the nitty gritty and presented the opposing points of view such as in this thread, I bet the opinion poll nationally it would head towards an even 50/50ish split pretty quickly. this is a very polarizing topic bc there are valid points to be made from both sides.

I doubt that, looking at wolf reintroduction public opinion it was pretty split and a much more contentious issue.

Can we not agree that restoration of the bison to the NWT would be honest restoration. Bison are as polarizing as wolves, except they don’t get the press. Ungulate restoration does not get the priority it should.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I doubt that, looking at wolf reintroduction public opinion it was pretty split and a much more contentious issue.

Can we not agree that restoration of the bison to the NWT would be honest restoration. Bison are as polarizing as wolves, except they don’t get the press. Ungulate restoration does not get the priority it should.

In my part of the world, I would fight wolf reintroduction tooth and nail. About the only people who would oppose elk reintroduction where I live are the insurance companies. That is why elk will probably never be reintroduced to the entirety of their historic range in Virginia.

 

[jkoehle1]

The BLM grazing rules were not changed, the special exemptions given by the previous administration’s DOI were found to be unlawful.
Now the APR must follow the same rules as everyone else, as they should.

Do you also see this for.... grazing things like horses?

 

[WRO]

In my part of the world, I would fight wolf reintroduction tooth and nail. About the only people who would oppose elk reintroduction where I live are the insurance companies. That is why elk will probably never be reintroduced to the entirety of their historic range in Virginia.

https://virginiamercury.com/2019/06/30/elk-reintroduction-ignites-backlash-in-southwest-virginia/

Same players fighting bison reintroduction. The initial elk relocations across the west were fought by the same groups.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

https://virginiamercury.com/2019/06/30/elk-reintroduction-ignites-backlash-in-southwest-virginia/

Same players fighting bison reintroduction. The initial elk relocations across the west were fought by the same groups.

Yes, it’s a strange situation here because I can shoot an elk in a deer tag if it wanders onto my land in nearby Tazewell County, but the landowners in the EMZ cannot currently profit much from the resource. And Farm Bureau insurance draws a lot of water in this state.

As soon as the landowners in the EMZ can realistically sell hunting access, their opposition will dry right up. A single elk hunt could make most farms more profit than they see in a year out in those counties.

 

[Gila]

Do you also see this for.... grazing things like horses?

Horses, burros are allowed grazing species. Horses are needed by cowboys to move cattle. Burros are used for packing in camping supplies. Sheep camps are usually on wheels and pulled by horses or mules. The horses get turned out with the cattle when not under saddle.