Interior Secretary remands decision that would allow bison overtake Montana grazing allotments
~Editor~
In a significant move for Montana’s ranching community, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has granted the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) motion to remand a controversial 2022 decision that permitted bison grazing on federal lands. The decision, announced on December 16, 2025, follows Burgum’s assumption of jurisdiction over the appeal on December 9, shifting it from the Office of Hearings and Appeals to his office.
The 2022 BLM ruling had approved the American Prairie Reserve’s (APR) request to graze bison on six allotments—Telegraph Creek, Box Elder, Flat Creek, White Rock, French Coulee, and Garey Coulee—covering about 63,500 acres and providing 7,969 animal unit months. The East Dry Fork allotment remained restricted to cattle.
The Biden era decision sparked appeals from the State of Montana, local grazing districts, and livestock organizations, who argued it violated the Taylor Grazing Act and the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to adequately consider socio-economic impacts and legal processes.
Burgum’s remand sends the matter back to the BLM for reevaluation without vacating the original decision, meaning bison can remain on the land temporarily. Ranchers, represented by groups like the Montana Stockgrowers Association, expressed optimism. Executive Vice President Raylee Honeycutt highlighted the need for a thorough review, including economic effects on local communities. A September 2025 letter from Montana officials, including Governor Greg Gianforte and Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, urged Burgum to oppose the permits, citing threats to agriculture and rural economies. This action underscores ongoing tensions between conservation efforts and traditional ranching, with APR advocating for bison restoration as a step toward ecological recovery in the region.
Montana Ranchers Gain Hope in Rewilding Fight
In eastern Montana, a battle over land use has pitted traditional ranchers against rewilding advocates for over a decade. At the center of the battle is the American Prairie Reserve whose rewilding goals include turning millions of acres–most of which are currently in BLM grazing permits–into habitat for bison and other native species. Local ranchers have fought the plan, understanding the threat it posts to their livelihoods, communities, and cultural heritage. Burgum’s remand of the decision allowing bison on traditional livestock allotments has infused a sense of optimism in Montana’s ranching community that APR will be prevented from pushing ranchers and farmers off millions of acres of land.
A 2019 report highlighted philosophical disagreements, with ranchers asserting they are better stewards of the land through sustainable grazing practices rather than “rewilding” that excludes cattle. Groups like United Property Owners of Montana (UPOM) argue that free-roaming bison would inevitably spill onto neighboring properties, damaging fences, spreading diseases like brucellosis, and forcing landowners to bear unwanted costs.
Ranchers like Jeanie Alderson, whose family has ranched near Birney for five generations, echo this sentiment, claiming APR’s scale—potentially wiping out vibrant cowboy culture—signals a takeover by elites with vast financial resources. Opposition has manifested in various forms. In 2018, ranchers protested APR’s plans to establish a free-ranging bison herd on over half a million acres, fearing it would remove land from agricultural production and erode local economies.
Even as APR insists it buys only from willing sellers and promotes public access to nature, critics like those in Phillips County argue it harms communities by competing unfairly and inflating property values, making it harder for young ranchers to enter the industry. By assuming jurisdiction and sending the ruling back for reevaluation, Burgum has provided ranchers a lifeline. The remand, without vacatur, keeps bison on the land temporarily but mandates a fresh look at legal compliance, including economic impacts on agriculture-dependent towns. Montana Stockgrowers Association’s Raylee Honeycutt called it a positive step after years of limbo, expressing optimism that the BLM will now properly apply the Taylor Grazing Act and recognize bison as non-preferred for these allotments.
Ranchers are optimistic that the decision will be reversed completely. If that happens, allotments could revert to cattle-only, preserving grazing rights and preventing further encroachment by APR’s bison herds. In a region where land is legacy, Burgum’s remand renews hope that federal policies will favor working landscapes over degenerative rewilding, ensuring Montana’s prairies retain their traditional role in cattle grazing.
