American prairie. What's the issue?

Have you ever thought that if EVERYONE is argumentative, maybe YOU Could be the argumentative one?
Not logical question in that I think not too many folks are argumentative, merely a few. But no, I try not to be argumentative ... however, false statements and illogical opinions based on skewed rationale or false information do cause me to bristle and to attempt to correct the false by providing truth and logical conclusions. Unfortunately, that offends those who are stuck with their falsehood or illogical opinion. I can't help that. What I can do is to avoid the debate about things of which I do not have good true and logical information.
As you have noted, factual information regarding American Prairie and about the Flying D Ranch is familiar to me. Conversely, I would never engage in a discussion about big horn sheep hunting techniques in the Breaks as I don't have a clue.
'Hope that answers your question.
 
You Can't Graze Here! | Fresh Tracks Weekly (Ep. 111)
Watching this now so excuse me if you cover it in the remaining 5 minutes, but did I hear correctly that the AP was running 900 bison but is also leasing their own private land for 8 THOUSAND cattle??

Is there no concern by the ranchers with those leases that the AP is going to cancel those leases? Maybe that’s not a lot of cattle in the industry, I don’t really know, but it seems like enough to at least have some leverage?
 
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Watching this now so excuse me if you cover it in the remaining 5 minutes, but did I hear correctly that the AP was running 900 bison but is also leasing their own private land for 8 THOUSAND cattle??

Is there no concern by the ranchers with those leases that the AP is going to cancel those leases? Maybe that’s not a lot of cattle in the industry l, I don’t really know, but it seems like enough to at least have some leverage?
Yes, you heard that correctly. 8,000 cattle and 900 bison.
 
From their website:

Currently, bison herd sizes and management are restricted in this region of Montana because of factors like species designation and land use requirements. So rather than focusing on an exact number of animals, it is important to prioritize the ecological role of the species and the impact on the landscape. That being said, we rely on science and research to indicate potential herd sizes that we can use to monitor ecological progress. Preliminary estimates indicate that the 3.2-million-acre (5,000 square miles) American Prairie vision could support tens of thousands of bison. But that number is likely decades away from being possible. So we look to current research, the Vermejo Statement, which estimates that a herd of 5,000 or more will provide an exceptional contribution to bison conservation and ecological recovery.


We believe a herd of 5,000 is realistic and possible. A herd of that size is considered the minimal viable population to fulfill its ecological role on the landscape, to be genetically viable, and to survive what the species encounters on the landscape, including disease, fire and starvation due to drought, and extreme winters.
 
These APR threads are always interesting. I am not super familiar with them as they are not based here in Colorado. No real opinion. Sometimes it is worthwhile to get some perspective, things could always be much worse. Here in Colorado we have APR’s southern, much less friendly cousin- Southern Plains Land Trust. They do not allow any public access for hunting, angling, camping, hiking, etc. They do however offer guided tours for wealthy donors from Denver, Boulder, Aspen, etc. In fact SPLC is ground zero for the anti-hunting activism that has inflicted this state. It ties together the recent ant-hunting CPW Commission appointments with First Gentleman “Wildlife Czar” Marlon Reis. If you pay attention most of the CATS- Prop 127 folks and other crazies who rant and rave at the commission meetings have some association with SPLC. Not that SPLC is inherently bad, but the folks that make up the organization wield significant political power and seem quite determined to eliminate hunting and trapping from the state.
 

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