American Prairie loses grazing rights

[Gila]

American Prairie takes action against Montana Land Board for denying grazing leases. The state land income all goes to the school district. Also, Montana's agricultural economy contributes over $4.6 billion in revenue annually.

Montana Land Board battles American Prairie in new bison lands lawsuit

A new lawsuit over American Prairie’s bison herd is becoming a fight over the future of Montana’s public lands.The American Prairie nonprofit has sued the Monta

nbcmontana.com

 

[goathunter]

American Prairie takes action against Montana Land Board for denying grazing leases. The state land income all goes to the school district. Also, Montana's agricultural economy contributes over $4.6 billion in revenue annually.

Montana Land Board battles American Prairie in new bison lands lawsuit

A new lawsuit over American Prairie’s bison herd is becoming a fight over the future of Montana’s public lands.The American Prairie nonprofit has sued the Monta

nbcmontana.com

Wow this thread is still going. Question, How does grazing bison versus cattle change the income that goes to the school district?

 

[Gila]

Wow this thread is still going. Question, How does grazing bison versus cattle change the income that goes to the school district?

Talking about the actual money the state may get from grazing Bison vs Cattle depends on the purpose they are grazing bison. If it was for restoring grasslands then AP could have been getting no, or low cost grazing by the state in a form of compensatory mitigation. I don’t know what the “arrangement” was.

EDIT: AP is asking for injunctive relief which aren’t monetary damages.

 

[WRO]

Wow this thread is still going. Question, How does grazing bison versus cattle change the income that goes to the school district?

it doesn’t, school districts are typically funded off property taxes, state general fund, and property taxes.

APR doesn’t have any bison on state lands, only had federal and now private.

Typical misinformation.

 

[Gila]

Not in states like South Dakota and Montana. Typical in some cattle ranching states that don’t have local, large urban areas in large counties.

MONTANA LAND BOARD
“Montana's schools and other public institutions benefit from a unique funding source—state-owned lands known as Trust Lands. These lands are managed to generate revenue that directly supports Montana's public education system. Agriculture and Grazing Leases…”

SOUTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF SCHOOL & PUBLIC LANDS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Apportions approximately $19.59 million dollars annually to the state’s school districts and endowed institutions

From AP’s petition:

“American Prairie has sustainably and responsibly grazed cattle and bison on its private deeded properties, federal leased lands, and leased state trust lands”

Some of you people have been consistently wrong…I’ll give you that!

 

[CMF]

Do you have any factual data about the amount of state trust land leased by AP or how much money is actually impacted by those lands? Any actual proof that schools will be negatively impacted by AP?

What's the relevance of the South Dakota info?

Also, Montana's agricultural economy contributes over $4.6 billion in revenue annually.

What's your point?

 

[Gila]

Do you have any factual data about the amount of state trust land leased by AP or how much money is actually impacted by those lands? Any actual proof that schools will be negatively impacted by AP?

No, that is up to the Montana Land Board. If AP prevails, any settlement could come from funds destined for the schools. Depends on the outcome.

What's the relevance of the South Dakota info?

South Dakota is another example of a Western state that grazing leases on state lands go to the school district.

What's your point?

The point is that the state’s subsidy to cattle ranchers in the form of low cost grazing leases is not being realized within the State’s ag economy. The State’s reason for not granting grazing leases is similar to BLM’s position:

“The priority for use of state trust lands will be for production agriculture, not for wild bison conservation purposes,” Brown said.

 

[KurtR]

No, that is up to the Montana Land Board. If AP prevails, any settlement could come from funds destined for the schools. Depends on the outcome.

South Dakota is another example of a Western state that grazing leases on state lands go to the school district.

The point is that the state’s subsidy to cattle ranchers in the form of low cost grazing leases is not being realized within the State’s ag economy. The State’s reason for not granting grazing leases is similar to BLM’s position:

“The priority for use of state trust lands will be for production agriculture, not for wild bison conservation purposes,” Brown said.

They can graze bison on school lands in south dakota.

 

[WRO]

Not in states like South Dakota and Montana. Typical in some cattle ranching states that don’t have local, large urban areas in large counties.

MONTANA LAND BOARD
“Montana's schools and other public institutions benefit from a unique funding source—state-owned lands known as Trust Lands. These lands are managed to generate revenue that directly supports Montana's public education system. Agriculture and Grazing Leases…”

SOUTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF SCHOOL & PUBLIC LANDS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Apportions approximately $19.59 million dollars annually to the state’s school districts and endowed institutions

From AP’s petition:

“American Prairie has sustainably and responsibly grazed cattle and bison on its private deeded properties, federal leased lands, and leased state trust lands”

Some of you people have been consistently wrong…I’ll give you that!

Fees were paid just the same as cattle on any lands that bison grazed that were not deeded.

You calling people consistently wrong when you can't even back up any of your outlandish claims with actual numbers or facts is the definition of irony.

 

[Greenstig]

This thread has been quite the ride. I don’t recall ever reading a non gear-related thread on Rokslide with such a high volume of conjecture and pontification as this one.

@Gila , since you are the OP and seem to be the one keeping this thread alive, I have a few questions for you. I’m asking mostly for posterity, but I’d genuinely like to better understand your perspective:

1. Are you a Montana resident?
2. Do you own any land in Montana?
3. Have you been involved in the communities of central Montana? If so, in what capacity?
4. Have you hunted any lands leased, accessed through, or owned by the APR?

 

[CJ19]

This thread has been quite the ride. I don’t recall ever reading a non gear-related thread on Rokslide with such a high volume of conjecture and pontification as this one.

@Gila , since you are the OP and seem to be the one keeping this thread alive, I have a few questions for you. I’m asking mostly for posterity, but I’d genuinely like to better understand your perspective:

1. Are you a Montana resident?
2. Do you own any land in Montana?
3. Have you been involved in the communities of central Montana? If so, in what capacity?
4. Have you hunted any lands leased, accessed through, or owned by the APR?

What APR is doing and the questions being asked extend beyond montana. Amazing how often NRs are told to mind their own business, but oh btw send money.

 

[Greenstig]

What APR is doing and the questions being asked extend beyond montana. Amazing how often NRs are told to mind their own business, but oh btw send money.

I’m a bit slow, so perhaps you can clarify:

What questions, specifically, are you asking regarding the APR that haven’t been answered earlier in this thread?

Who is telling nonresidents to mind their own business?

Who, exactly, is asking you to send money?

 

[Gila]

This thread has been quite the ride. I don’t recall ever reading a non gear-related thread on Rokslide with such a high volume of conjecture and pontification as this one.

@Gila , since you are the OP and seem to be the one keeping this thread alive, I have a few questions for you. I’m asking mostly for posterity, but I’d genuinely like to better understand your perspective:

1. Are you a Montana resident?
2. Do you own any land in Montana?
3. Have you been involved in the communities of central Montana? If so, in what capacity?
4. Have you hunted any lands leased, accessed through, or owned by the APR?

I think you should answer your own questions. That would only be fair to the rest of us.

My connection to Montana is fishing Fort Peck. And as an American, I have every right to how federal lands are used in Montana or anywhere else for that matter. Yes I did get to know some of the ranchers up there. Their communities are no different than other small towns, villages in the Western prairies. Same challenges, same ethos…same disappointments, same hopes and dreams. Neighbors help neighbors. The ranchers and farmers determine their own economy. They abhor “outsiders” coming in and buying up large tracts of land…because that land is no longer part of their community or their economy. It is the same in any other Western state that graze cattle or sheep or engage in any other form of agriculture.

Yesterday, I listened to Bill Gates talking about how cow farts will bring the downfall of humanity. I also watched an Arizona news channel talking about how CBD prevailed in a Federal lawsuit. The lawsuit was brought against the Government for allowing cattle to damage a riparian area on federal lands. Which side of this madness do YOU fall on?

Maybe some questions for you: Do you know what a biodiversity or carbon credit is? Do you understand the relationship between Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity and American Prairie? Do you know what the Buffalo Commons Movement is? Do you hunt, fish and trap the prairie? Do you live in a big city?

I have been hunting, fishing, trapping the prairie since I was old enough to hold a gun. I am the 4th generation of Western settlers. I was born on the prairie and I will die here.

 

[Gila]

Who is telling nonresidents to mind their own business?
Who, exactly, is asking you to send money?

That would be some “hunting” conservation groups based in Central and Western Montana.

I am chomping on the bit to see Tom Opre’s film: “The Real Yellowstone”

I think the film premieres in Montana starting around Jul 15 last I heard. I will have to wait until it can be bought digitally.

 

[WRO]

I also watched an Arizona news channel talking about how CBD prevailed in a Federal lawsuit. The lawsuit was brought against the Government for allowing cattle to damage a riparian area on federal lands. Which side of this madness do YOU fall on?

So you’re for riparian areas being destroyed?

 

[Greenstig]

I think you should answer your own questions. That would only be fair to the rest

No problem, although my answers contribute nothing of value:

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Yes–volunteerism and a community utility project.
4. Yes.

Presumably your concise answer would be “No” to all four questions I’ve asked. My point being, I’d happily encourage you to apply for a nonresident hunting license and actually go experience a hunt on an AP property or the public lands accessed via an AP property.

While you’re at it, go engage with some of the AP employees in Lewistown or those working their deeded ranches. Solicit some information in the watering holes or grocery stores of the surrounding communities. Report back on your experience. If you are actually being intellectually honest, you might be surprised.

My connection to Montana is fishing Fort Peck.

I’m glad you’ve actually visited central Montana. Fort Peck is such a cool place with a very interesting history.

It seems like you greatly value the prairie ecosystem across the West for both its natural and agricultural significance.

And as an American, I have every right to how federal lands are used in Montana or anywhere else for that matter. Yes I did get to know some of the ranchers up there. Their communities are no different than other small towns, villages in the Western prairies. Same challenges, same ethos…same disappointments, same hopes and dreams. Neighbors help neighbors. The ranchers and farmers determine their own economy. They abhor “outsiders” coming in and buying up large tracts of land…because that land is no longer part of their community or their economy. It is the same in any other Western state that graze cattle or sheep or engage in any other form of agriculture.

You’re right about all of this. However, how many outsiders purchase a property and then immediately lease it back to the seller’s family or neighbors so that they can continue operations? The outsiders we abhor are the ones purchasing land to add to their portfolio; either to offset investment profit or to set up their own Western fiefdom.

Yesterday, I listened to Bill Gates talking about how cow farts will bring the downfall of humanity. I also watched an Arizona news channel talking about how CBD prevailed in a Federal lawsuit. The lawsuit was brought against the Government for allowing cattle to damage a riparian area on federal lands. Which side of this madness do YOU fall on?

Maybe some questions for you: Do you know what a biodiversity or carbon credit is? Do you understand the relationship between Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity and American Prairie? Do you know what the Buffalo Commons Movement is? Do you hunt, fish and trap the prairie? Do you live in a big city?

That would be some “hunting” conservation groups based in Central and Western Montana.

I am chomping on the bit to see Tom Opre’s film: “The Real Yellowstone”

I think the film premieres in Montana starting around Jul 15 last I heard. I will have to wait until it can be bought digitally.

Frankly, I’m not engaging with any of this divisive drivel. No one here is pulling for those anti-hunting organizations or concepts, even if AP has managed to find some common ground with them. It’s the same things you brought up in the last APR thread that got locked.

If you want to spend your time mining for hidden agendas, have at it. I’ll be out chasing game on an AP deeded property while you pontificate online about how anti-hunting AP is.

…Of course you’re welcome to come along.

 

[Gila]

“Boyce and Robbins discussed the film, “The Real Yellowstone” by filmmaker Tom Opre and produced by Shepherds of Wildlife. Boyce referenced Leah Latray who stated in the film, “When American Prairie buys a place, I view it as a death in the community.” Opre, the filmmaker, writes of the issue with American Prairie, “Here in America, our ranchers face wolves and grizzlies forced back into landscapes with zero support and total liability.”

Re-wilding the prairie: As grizzlies expand to rangelands, some cheer and others fret

Grizzly sightings in areas not considered bear country in the recent past, including the Little Belt Mountains, North Hills and Grizzly Gulch areas near Helena, the Elkhorn Mountains near Clancy,

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

—————————————————————————————————————————————-
“The proposal to massively expand grazing in the wild places where carnivores live, without requiring livestock operators to take basic steps to avoid conflict, would likely result in more dead wildlife, particularly predators such as vulnerable grizzlies and wolves.“

Center for Biological Diversity Says President Trump’s Beef Plan Expands Environmentally Destructive Cattle Grazing on Public Lands

Center for Biological Diversity Says President Trump’s Beef Plan Expands Environmentally Destructive Cattle Grazing on Public Lands

goldrushcam.com

—————————————————————————————
“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.”

Defenders Stands Against Rejection of Bison Grazing Lands

Defenders of Wildlife is joining conservation group American Prairie in protesting a proposal by the Bureau of Land Management to revoke a decision allowing bison to graze on 63,000 acres of prairie grasslands in Montana, allotments that were previously classified for only cattle by the BLM...

defenders.org

—————————————————————————————-
"AP is working to buy up as much land as they can to take as many cattle off the landscape as they can and, ultimately, drive those folks out of there," Denowh told Fox News Digital. "Those lands were created in the first place to ensure an adequate and consistent supply of protein for the country."

"That's probably one of the bigger dangers from AP," he said. "If they can set this new precedent with BLM, we think that [non-governmental organizations] throughout the West are going to be buying up land to take control of these grazing leases and take them out of production. This is really bigger than AP."

Billionaire-funded eco group quietly taking farmland out of production in rural America

A little-known conservation project funded by billionaire moguls is slowly acquiring land made available for cattle grazing in an effort to create a "fully functioning ecosystem."

www.foxnews.com

 

[Hide Hunter]

“Boyce and Robbins discussed the film, “The Real Yellowstone” by filmmaker Tom Opre and produced by Shepherds of Wildlife. Boyce referenced Leah Latray who stated in the film, “When American Prairie buys a place, I view it as a death in the community.” Opre, the filmmaker, writes of the issue with American Prairie, “Here in America, our ranchers face wolves and grizzlies forced back into landscapes with zero support and total liability.”

Re-wilding the prairie: As grizzlies expand to rangelands, some cheer and others fret

Grizzly sightings in areas not considered bear country in the recent past, including the Little Belt Mountains, North Hills and Grizzly Gulch areas near Helena, the Elkhorn Mountains near Clancy,

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

—————————————————————————————————————————————-
“The proposal to massively expand grazing in the wild places where carnivores live, without requiring livestock operators to take basic steps to avoid conflict, would likely result in more dead wildlife, particularly predators such as vulnerable grizzlies and wolves.“

Center for Biological Diversity Says President Trump’s Beef Plan Expands Environmentally Destructive Cattle Grazing on Public Lands

Center for Biological Diversity Says President Trump’s Beef Plan Expands Environmentally Destructive Cattle Grazing on Public Lands

goldrushcam.com

—————————————————————————————
“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.”

Defenders Stands Against Rejection of Bison Grazing Lands

Defenders of Wildlife is joining conservation group American Prairie in protesting a proposal by the Bureau of Land Management to revoke a decision allowing bison to graze on 63,000 acres of prairie grasslands in Montana, allotments that were previously classified for only cattle by the BLM...

defenders.org

—————————————————————————————-
"AP is working to buy up as much land as they can to take as many cattle off the landscape as they can and, ultimately, drive those folks out of there," Denowh told Fox News Digital. "Those lands were created in the first place to ensure an adequate and consistent supply of protein for the country."

"That's probably one of the bigger dangers from AP," he said. "If they can set this new precedent with BLM, we think that [non-governmental organizations] throughout the West are going to be buying up land to take control of these grazing leases and take them out of production. This is really bigger than AP."

Billionaire-funded eco group quietly taking farmland out of production in rural America

A little-known conservation project funded by billionaire moguls is slowly acquiring land made available for cattle grazing in an effort to create a "fully functioning ecosystem."

www.foxnews.com

I hope you get paid to constantly post propaganda and rile people up. Otherwise this is just a sad life.

 

[CMF]

The ranchers and farmers determine their own economy. They abhor “outsiders” coming in and buying up large tracts of land…because that land is no longer part of their community or their economy. It is the same in any other Western state that graze cattle or sheep or engage in any other form of agriculture.

Why are they selling out then?
Would it be ok if an individual purchased the land instead of AP?
If an individual purchased the land, should we require them to run cattle on it?

"That's probably one of the bigger dangers from AP," he said. "If they can set this new precedent with BLM, we think that [non-governmental organizations] throughout the West are going to be buying up land to take control of these grazing leases and take them out of production. This is really bigger than AP."

I guess you're against CRP then...

 

[Greenstig]

@Gila ,

You can share all the rage bait you want.

The reality is, American Prairie isn’t going away. They’ll probably still be purchasing ranches from willing sellers and grazing bison long after both you and I are buried deep in the prairie dirt.

They are embracing the North American principles of wildlife conservation on their managed properties and are actively welcoming sportsmen and recreationalists to their table. They are continuing to offer more and more access opportunities each year, including some that were previously thought to be lost for good (for a very recent example, see: Bullwhacker Rd. Oh, and if you’re interested in land grabs with hidden agendas, research the story of how it got closed in the first place).

If you want to continue to shake your fist at American Prairie from afar and not enjoy the opportunities they’re providing, have at it.

For anyone else still reading, a genuine question, with zero controversial intent:

In the last decade or so, can anyone identify a private landowner in Montana who has opened more acres of previously inaccessible land to the public (Both deeded and landlocked fed/state) than AP? How about anywhere in the country?

RMEF has facilitated some large and/or critical land transfers and easements, but they aren’t acting as a private landowner in the way that AP is, at least not for any length of time.