Montana
Federal decision revokes bison grazing permits in Montana after years of legal challenges
After years of legal battles, a federal decision is set to change how bison can graze on public land in Montana.
This week, the Bureau of Land Management moved to revoke bison grazing permits held by the conservation group American Prairie, following direction from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The decision would overturn a 2022 ruling that allowed bison to graze on seven allotments in Phillips County.
Governor Greg Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen had challenged that earlier decision, arguing it violated federal grazing law.
Both officials have long maintained that the permits were improperly issued under the Taylor Grazing Act.
The latest move by BLM aims to reverse course and revoke the permits, a decision praised by the Montana Stockgrowers Association.
“We felt since the first, when this decision was made by BLM, that it was against the law, the Taylor Grazing Act,” said Monty Lesh, second vice president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association.
The Taylor Grazing Act, enacted in 1934, was designed to prevent overgrazing and soil deterioration on public lands.
Lesh argues the law applies only to domestic livestock raised for food and fiber production.
“They stated that their bison are wildlife, and the Taylor Grazing Act is very specific it’s for domestic animals for food, fiber, meat production,” Lesh said.
Lesh added that wildlife are not subject to the same health checks and vaccination requirements as domestic livestock.
He said diseases such as brucellosis, which can be carried by bison, are a major concern for ranchers, along with the difficulty of containing bison with standard fencing.
American Prairie, which works to restore bison to their native Montana grasslands through free-ranging “conservation herds,” pushed back against the decision.
In a statement to NBC Montana, the organization said it has had permission to graze bison for more than 20 years and has followed the law throughout that time.
The group says that the reversal is not based on new information and called the decision ‘unfair’.
Attorney General Knudsen praised the move, saying it will help protect Montana’s livestock industry.
Knudsen said he has urged BLM to cancel the permits for more than four years, calling the reversal a major victory.
American Prairie issued the following statement:
American Prairie CEO Alison Fox responded to the decision made Friday by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to eliminate the organization’s bison grazing privileges on public lands, calling the outcome unfair, deeply disappointing, disruptive, and inconsistent with long-standing public-lands grazing practices in Montana.
“This is a slippery slope,” Fox said. “When federal agencies begin changing how the rules are applied after the process is complete, it undermines confidence in the system for everyone who relies on public lands. Montana livestock owners deserve clarity, fairness, and decisions they can count on.”
“This creates uncertainty for livestock owners across Montana who depend on public lands for grazing,” said American Prairie CEO Alison Fox. “We’ve had permission to graze bison on some of these allotments for 20 years and have followed the law, complied with every requirement, and prioritized transparency at every step.”
American Prairie emphasized that it is merely seeking equal treatment under the law, not special treatment or a change in precedent. To the organization’s knowledge, this is the first time the federal government has invoked the Taylor Grazing Act to require a bison herd to be designated as a ‘production herd’, despite the fact that American Prairie manages its bison on the ground in the same manner as a production operation.
“American Prairie has always been an organization with big ideas and ambitious goals,” said Fox. “But at the same time, we have never felt that those ambitions placed us above the law. In fact, we have prided ourselves on our ability to manage our herd responsibly, comply with all state and federal grazing requirements, and go above and beyond when it comes to regulated disease testing.
“This decision is not grounded in new impacts or new information — it appears to be completely arbitrary and unfair.”
Beyond land stewardship, American Prairie’s bison program has delivered significant and measurable benefits to Montana communities. The herd has helped feed Montana families through hundreds of public harvests, and local organizations have raised more than $150,000 over the past decade by raffling donated bison harvests — dollars that stay in local communities.
“Our bison herd has supported food security, improved rangeland health, and created valuable opportunities for local nonprofits which include veterans associations, youth organizations, and local sportsmen’s chapters,” Fox said. “Those benefits should matter. Instead, we’re seeing a departure from consistent application of the law that puts producers and working lands at risk.”
American Prairie warned that treating routine grazing requests differently — especially after years of analysis and compliance — sets a troubling precedent for how public lands are managed in the U.S.
American Prairie is reviewing the decision and determining its course of action, and will continue to advocate for a public-lands grazing system that is lawful, predictable, and applied equally.
Attorney General Austin Knudsen issued the following statement:
“I’m pleased to see this proposed decision from the Trump Administration’s Bureau of Land Management today. Canceling the American Prairie Reserve’s bison grazing permit will help to protect the livestock industry and ranching communities in Northeastern Montana from the elitists trying to push them out. For over four years I have been urging the BLM to cancel the permit, and our work finally paid off. This is a huge victory. As Attorney General and the state’s chief legal officer, I will continue to do my part to support Montana farmers and ranchers.”
Although newly minted GOP candidates for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate have garnered heavyweight endorsements, the Montana Republican Party said Thursday it won’t throw its support behind any candidates for federal office in the primary.
“The Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) stands behind its deep bench of qualified candidates seeking to represent Montanans and supports a competitive primary process to let voters pick their preferred candidates,” the Montana GOP said in a news release Thursday.
Monday, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke announced he was retiring due to health concerns once his term ends, and he immediately tapped talk-show host Aaron Flint as his preferred successor in Congress.
Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and Flathead County Republican Central Committee Chairperson Al Olszewski also filed for the U.S. House as Republicans, as did Ray Curtis of Bonner.
Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines withdrew, and in a statement the same night, announced an endorsement of former U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, who had filed the same day.
In the Senate, Lee Calhoun and Charles Walking Child also filed to run in the Republican primary.
Endorsements for Flint and Alme cascaded. U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed both candidates, and U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy and Gov. Greg Gianforte threw their weight behind Flint and Alme.
Late on Wednesday, the Montana GOP did not immediately have comment on the news Daines, Montana’s senior U.S. senator, had resigned, but Thursday, the party thanked Zinke and Daines for their service.
A news release said the party would not endorse any candidates in the federal primary and would leave the job in the hands of voters.
“The party hopes every candidate will make their case to the public, contrasting their Republican policies and principles with those of Democrats — as well as phony ‘Independents,’” the news release said.
Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar announced a run for the U.S. Senate as an independent this week.
A tension within the Republican party has emerged in recent years between hardline conservatives and more moderate members, and some legislative primaries illustrate the split.
This week, the state GOP said the number of primaries for state legislative seats shows a high interest from Montanans who want to serve the state and pass Republican policy, and the MTGOP “is glad to see so many Republicans being called to public service.”
In a brief call, MTGOP spokesperson Ethan Holmes said the party had not ruled out endorsements in legislative primaries.
In the news release, however, the MTGOP offered its view of the larger political debate.
“Montana voters know that beyond the primaries, there is a clear choice between Republican and Democratic governance; one path leads to lower taxes, less crime and stronger families, and the other leads to higher taxes, more crime, and social decay,” MTGOP Chairperson Art Wittich said in a statement.
The news release also said the state GOP is working “tirelessly to deliver a Bright Red Future” at both the state and federal level and looks forward to help candidates whom voters select win in November.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 4, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from March 4 drawing
07-14-42-47-56, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from March 4 drawing
33-38-39-47-51, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from March 4 drawing
01-07-08-27, Bonus: 12
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 4 drawing
05-10-26-53-59, Powerball: 06
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from March 4 drawing
03-04-06-08-10
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 4 drawing
12-13-36-39-58, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The search for a new University of Montana president has drawn more than 60 applicants, according to a spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.
“We do not have an exact count at this time, as several applications are still being completed and additional submissions are expected,” said spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner Galen Hollenbaugh in an email earlier this week.
In January, then-UM-President Seth Bodnar announced his resignation to pursue other public service. Wednesday, the final day of filing, he announced he was running as an independent for the U.S. Senate to try to unseat Republican incumbent Steve Daines.
Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian earlier said that with the advice of AGB Search, a firm that’s helped the Montana University System conduct other executive searches, he would undertake an expedited process to appoint a new president.
Christian has been providing brief updates on a website dedicated to the search. Last week, he said he and AGB Search are reviewing applications, and the pool of candidates was “strong and diverse.”
The commissioner also announced he was convening a small working group to assist in the search, members who “represent a variety of perspectives to assist in vetting and narrowing this field of exceptional candidates.”
In an email this week, Hollenbaugh identified the members of the working group who are assisting Christian with application review as:
- Community member and former Regent Joyce Dombrouski
- Faculty Senate Chairperson Valerie Moody
- Staff Senate President Dominic Beccari
- Administration Representative John DeBoer (Vice President of Academic Affairs)
- ASUM (Associated Students of the University of Montana) President Buddy Wilson
Hollenbaugh declined to comment on the way the rest of the process would unfold or the role the working group members would play.
Christian earlier said he anticipated an appointment within one to three months, or as soon as early this month.
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