Doug Burgum Cancels Montana Bison Grazing Leases
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- Doug Burgum proposed canceling bison grazing leases on BLM land in January, a move that could evict over 950 buffalo from tens of thousands of acres in Phillips County, Montana.
- Greg Gianforte praised the proposal, saying it ends federal overreach and benefits local cattle ranchers.
- Bureau of Land Management offers grazing leases at fees about 90% lower than private land rates, making them attractive to cattle owners.
- Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT), representing 25,000 buffalo, warned the decision would block tribal herds from accessing BLM grazing lands.
- Colton Jones of Wild Idea Buffalo Company warned his 26,000‑acre lease on U.S. Forest Service land could be the next target of political pressure.
- Taylor Grazing Act is cited by Interior as limiting leases to domestic livestock for production‑oriented purposes, a claim challenged by lawyers who note the act never defines those terms and Montana law classifies bison as livestock.
Why it matters: Cattle ranchers stand to gain cheap BLM grazing leases, while bison, tribal herds, and private buffalo operations risk losing access to tens of thousands of acres, reshaping the balance between livestock agriculture and conservation on public lands and could set a precedent for how federal grazing policy is applied to non‑cattle species.
