katqanna
Well-known member
While I understand the motivations of APR to put bison on their landscape and applaud what they have done, it is still private land and a private domestic herd. This was part of the anti-bison bills submitted this legislative session, was that once those bison were declared livestock, they could never be released to the wild under a wildlife heading. If I had that land and money I might do that as well. But, APR is not a substitute for restoring a native wildlife species back into Montana on public lands.
Take a good look at that map that Nemont posted. Look at the space for the green NWR CMR, the pink public land, the spring green National Monument land, all of which wildlife bison can be introduced on. APR has stated if Montana did this, they would open their borders to allow the herds to mix (better for genetics) and that increases the land the bison can be on. If there are white private areas that dont want any bison, Montana is a fence out state and those small parcels nearby that checkerboard can be fenced and there are NGO's that have offered to pay for fencing to help mitigate the conflicts.
With that said, here is some info from APR's site involving statements made on this thread about APR.
Public Hunting Access
"Yes. For five years now, we have been participants in the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Block Management Program. Block Management is a cooperative program that creates public access on private lands by opening them up to hunting. In 2010, we enrolled 17,386 acres of our property, in 2011 we committed to enrolling 28,000 acres for the next decade, and in 2012 we purchased an additional 18,000 acres that will remain open to public hunting. We also intend to continue to increase acreage over time. On average we provide more than 1,200 hunter days of recreation each year. Hunting is also available on the 215,000 acres of public land on which APR has grazing privileges. This area is cooperatively managed for public hunting by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Bureau of Land Management. For more information about hunting on our properties, please see the Region 6 FWP Block Management Book."
Economics
"We expect over time that the assembly of American Prairie Reserve will significantly increase expenditures on outdoor recreation, education programs and science research in the region. This will result in an influx of revenues for motels, restaurants, caterers, sporting goods stores, gas stations, outfitters and others who service these visitors and programs. As demonstrated elsewhere in the American West and many other places around the world, restoration of large natural areas and the resulting recreational opportunities help local communities attract and retain people, from retirees to young business professionals and entrepreneurs. APR is already contributing significantly to the regional economy through its daily operations. Since our inception in 2001, APR’s expenditures in the six-county region total more than $19 million, including land purchases, wages paid to local staff, tourism activities, equipment and supply purchases, payments to local contractors and real estate taxes."
Taxes
"APR pays real estate property taxes on all of its deeded lands, which currently comprise about 59,000 acres, like any other private landowner. Public charities in the state of Montana, like APR, can apply for exemption from paying real estate property taxes on no more than 160 acres and are required to pay real estate property taxes on all lands owned in excess of that acreage. APR has not applied for that exemption. APR also pays taxes on personal property including our bison and other taxable personal property."
Ranching Affected
"People are often surprised to learn that every seller with whom APR has done business is still in the ranching business and 95% of them still reside in the local area. No displacement of ranching has occurred to date. Like any neighborhood, land ownership in the region is constantly shifting. Many of the properties we’ve purchased have been bought and sold three or four times in the past two decades. Ranchers may sell their land for a variety of reasons, such as a desire to purchase new grazing pastures, a need to consolidate their herds, or a decision to move their cattle operation to another part of Montana or out of state. In the six-county area in which we are working, there are recorded 441,000 head of cattle. In just Phillips County alone, where APR has most of its land holdings, cattle numbers have increased from 80,000 head to 88,000 head in the six years since APR has owned land. When complete, American Prairie Reserve will likely be a relatively small island in a vast sea of agriculture in northeastern Montana."
Take a good look at that map that Nemont posted. Look at the space for the green NWR CMR, the pink public land, the spring green National Monument land, all of which wildlife bison can be introduced on. APR has stated if Montana did this, they would open their borders to allow the herds to mix (better for genetics) and that increases the land the bison can be on. If there are white private areas that dont want any bison, Montana is a fence out state and those small parcels nearby that checkerboard can be fenced and there are NGO's that have offered to pay for fencing to help mitigate the conflicts.
With that said, here is some info from APR's site involving statements made on this thread about APR.
Public Hunting Access
"Yes. For five years now, we have been participants in the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Block Management Program. Block Management is a cooperative program that creates public access on private lands by opening them up to hunting. In 2010, we enrolled 17,386 acres of our property, in 2011 we committed to enrolling 28,000 acres for the next decade, and in 2012 we purchased an additional 18,000 acres that will remain open to public hunting. We also intend to continue to increase acreage over time. On average we provide more than 1,200 hunter days of recreation each year. Hunting is also available on the 215,000 acres of public land on which APR has grazing privileges. This area is cooperatively managed for public hunting by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Bureau of Land Management. For more information about hunting on our properties, please see the Region 6 FWP Block Management Book."
Economics
"We expect over time that the assembly of American Prairie Reserve will significantly increase expenditures on outdoor recreation, education programs and science research in the region. This will result in an influx of revenues for motels, restaurants, caterers, sporting goods stores, gas stations, outfitters and others who service these visitors and programs. As demonstrated elsewhere in the American West and many other places around the world, restoration of large natural areas and the resulting recreational opportunities help local communities attract and retain people, from retirees to young business professionals and entrepreneurs. APR is already contributing significantly to the regional economy through its daily operations. Since our inception in 2001, APR’s expenditures in the six-county region total more than $19 million, including land purchases, wages paid to local staff, tourism activities, equipment and supply purchases, payments to local contractors and real estate taxes."
Taxes
"APR pays real estate property taxes on all of its deeded lands, which currently comprise about 59,000 acres, like any other private landowner. Public charities in the state of Montana, like APR, can apply for exemption from paying real estate property taxes on no more than 160 acres and are required to pay real estate property taxes on all lands owned in excess of that acreage. APR has not applied for that exemption. APR also pays taxes on personal property including our bison and other taxable personal property."
Ranching Affected
"People are often surprised to learn that every seller with whom APR has done business is still in the ranching business and 95% of them still reside in the local area. No displacement of ranching has occurred to date. Like any neighborhood, land ownership in the region is constantly shifting. Many of the properties we’ve purchased have been bought and sold three or four times in the past two decades. Ranchers may sell their land for a variety of reasons, such as a desire to purchase new grazing pastures, a need to consolidate their herds, or a decision to move their cattle operation to another part of Montana or out of state. In the six-county area in which we are working, there are recorded 441,000 head of cattle. In just Phillips County alone, where APR has most of its land holdings, cattle numbers have increased from 80,000 head to 88,000 head in the six years since APR has owned land. When complete, American Prairie Reserve will likely be a relatively small island in a vast sea of agriculture in northeastern Montana."
