American Prairie - 88,000 acres of access

[Straight Arrow]

Not a good organization in my opinion.

You have a right to that opinion. But it seems from your brief comments that you are misinformed.
A visit to AP website is recommended. 'Don't know where you are in Montana, but a visit to the AP interpretive center in downtown Lewistown would reveal much to you. Even better, go camp, hike, and visit AP lands.
Skepticism is healthy, but not when it blocks factual information. The "select few" is comprised of many more than your count likely.
Keep in mind that most of these lands acquired by AP you would never have the opportunity to access otherwise ... for any length of time.
Please pay close attention to the mission and goals of AP. Unless you are firmly in support of private lands to put money in private hands, with little to no concern about longterm open space and wildlife habitat.

 

[Straight Arrow]

IMO, the only folks being buffaloed about American Prairie are those believing all the misinformation.

 

[cgasner1]

IMO, the only folks being buffaloed about American Prairie are those believing all the misinformation.

View attachment 357781

I know ranchers are against it from the ones I’ve talked to and I’ve heard a lot of misinformation from them about it.

 

[Straight Arrow]

I know ranchers are against it from the ones I’ve talked to and I’ve heard a lot of misinformation from them about it.

UPOM is the primary organization opposing AP. Ranchers have this emotional fear of the ranching (cowboy) way of life being lost and that is what perpetuates the negativity, which is mostly based on false information. Although AP does run bison on the lands, some of the heretofore cattle grazing ranch lands are still in cattle production and the "cowboy" way.

Those like myself who have been watching AP evolve and have scrutinized goals and mission, mostly are in support. AP has provided a huge conservation effort, with public access, camping, hunting, and outdoor recreation, along with educational and research programs. The AP operation provides a significant economic boost to some of those central and NE Montana waning small towns.

One of the prominent advisory board members and a supporter from the onset is a noted Montana landscape artist who grew up in the small farm town of Chester. You don't get any more real Montana roots than that!

 

[cgasner1]

UPOM is the primary organization opposing AP. Ranchers have this emotional fear of the ranching (cowboy) way of life being lost and that is what perpetuates the negativity, which is mostly based on false information. Although AP does run bison on the lands, some of the heretofore cattle grazing ranch lands are still in cattle production and the "cowboy" way.

Those like myself who have been watching AP evolve and have scrutinized goals and mission, mostly are in support. AP has provided a huge conservation effort, with public access, camping, hunting, and outdoor recreation, along with educational and research programs. The AP operation provides a significant economic boost to some of those central and NE Montana waning small towns.

One of the prominent advisory board members and a supporter from the onset is a noted Montana landscape artist who grew up in the small farm town of Chester. You don't get any more real Montana roots than that!

I have a group I may stop donating to this year and send the money that way I need to read some more

 

[Raisin Bran]

You have a right to that opinion. But it seems from your brief comments that you are misinformed.
A visit to AP website is recommended. 'Don't know where you are in Montana, but a visit to the AP interpretive center in downtown Lewistown would reveal much to you. Even better, go camp, hike, and visit AP lands.
Skepticism is healthy, but not when it blocks factual information. The "select few" is comprised of many more than your count likely.
Keep in mind that most of these lands acquired by AP you would never have the opportunity to access otherwise ... for any length of time.
Please pay close attention to the mission and goals of AP. Unless you are firmly in support of private lands to put money in private hands, with little to no concern about longterm open space and wildlife habitat.

Not misinformed. I know more & different information than you do.

Visiting a companies website is misinformation indirectly without due diligent and research elsewhere with multiple, reliable sources.

I have accessed a few of the places AP has bought, before they bought it.

Your comment, “the select few is comprised of many more than your count likely” is a typical conversation methods of the past. Attacking, presumptuous, arrogant and typical dogma.

But hey, thanks for your opinion!

 

[Straight Arrow]

Attacking, presumptuous, arrogant and typical dogma.

That's harsh! To be clear, there have been previous threads on American Prairie which have revealed support from a number of HTers. As someone who follows AP info, I can tell you that the organization and it's programs receive wide support from Montanans, as well as from across the globe. That is what I was referring to as "more than your count likely".
It would be helpful for you to enlighten regarding the misinformation on the AP website.
As far as " Attacking, presumptuous, arrogant and typical dogma", that says more about your perspective than about others.

I know more & different information than you do.

Please elaborate.

 

[Rie Bread]

It should be noted that the Tompkins foundation did similar work in Chile. It was received poorly by locals as “ white American gringos” buying up land in Chile. It was a big surprise when they returned the land to the Chileans as national parks and securing those protections. Now some of the largest national parks are in that country with similar acres preserved. Highly recommend a visit as these national parks preserved some of Chile’s unique species and river systems.

Seeing the Tompkins foundation involved gives me great faith and confidence that American Prairie will succeed in their conservation goal in this unique American landscape.

 

[bigsky2]

The AP just takes the heat away from the recreational property brokers who are a lot bigger threat to the ag community in my opinion.

 

[INMT]

I second what @Straight Arrow posted. I’ve been a supporter of APR for close to a decade.

In my opinion, access gained is huge vs access lost. And the amount of money invested into infrastructure and access just to fleece the American people in the future seems very unlikely.

@Raisin Bran please post info acknowledging what you know to contradict APR’s mission. I want to support a conversation org that is helping Montana. If you know otherwise, please let us know.

 

[Gerald Martin]

The AP just takes the heat away from the recreational property brokers who are a lot bigger threat to the ag community in my opinion.

You mean you prefer a non-profit that allows public access over a billionaire amenity ranch owner that doesn’t allow public access? Scandalous!

 

[Rie Bread]

It should be noted that the Tompkins foundation did similar work in Chile. It was received poorly by locals as “ white American gringos” buying up land in Chile. It was a big surprise when they returned the land to the Chileans as national parks and securing those protections. Now some of the largest national parks are in that country with similar acres preserved. Highly recommend a visit as these national parks preserved some of Chile’s unique species and river systems.

Seeing the Tompkins foundation involved gives me great faith and confidence that American Prairie will succeed in their conservation goal in this unique American landscape.

I should say as a hunter I can hope these lands will be open to hunters. Given what Ap is doing now I’m sure that will be the case.

 

[Straight Arrow]

It should be noted that the Tompkins foundation did similar work in Chile. It was received poorly by locals as “ white American gringos” buying up land in Chile. It was a big surprise when they returned the land to the Chileans as national parks and securing those protections. Now some of the largest national parks are in that country with similar acres preserved. Highly recommend a visit as these national parks preserved some of Chile’s unique species and river systems.

Seeing the Tompkins foundation involved gives me great faith and confidence that American Prairie will succeed in their conservation goal in this unique American landscape.

 

[Rie Bread]

Ted ain’t exactly inviting ya to shoot elk on his place is he?

 

[Straight Arrow]

Ted ain’t exactly inviting ya to shoot elk on his place is he?

Hmmm ... I guess you can't apply logic to where it does not exist.

 

[Rie Bread]

Hmmm ... I guess you can't apply logic to where it does not exist.

Ok sounds good. Look up Doug and Kristine Tompkins. Go find some logic in what they did.

 

[Schaaf]

I always hear about the boogeyman and that eventually they'll shut down hunting and close everything off but how much longer are we going to have to wait to see that happen? They've been around for nearly a quarter century and they're allowing more opportunities for recreation now than ever before. My hope is the public always has the ability to hunt their private land but I also don't base my support on whether or not they allow hunting. The wildlife and land conservation goals are enough to stand on their own and as long as I can continue to pass through private and reach the BLM/CMR I'll be more than happy.

I have taken notice of the pattern of shifting the goal posts from people that oppose the organization. Ten years ago I'd hear how they would never in a million years let someone from the public hunt any of the bison. Well, I've now participated in packing 3 bison out of there. I haven't heard anything new recently, but I'm sure there's something good waiting to be heard. To date, I've seen nothing that would give me hesitation to support their goals.

*Written by someone with a couple generations of family buried on American Prairie land.