The Northern Great Plains region possesses unique characteristics that make it an ideal location for a fully functioning wildlife conservation area. This area has been identified by numerous studies as having some of the greatest plant and animal diversity anywhere in the Great Plains. Current land ownership patterns, along with properties already on the market, make it viable from a business standpoint to assemble sufficient private acreage for a reserve. Due to the stewardship practices of private ranchers over the past one hundred and fifty years, more than ninety percent of the land in this area has never been tilled for farming. Wildlife habitat restoration is far easier here than in areas where much of the native sod has been plowed under. Human population densities are also favorable for conservation. The average population density is less than one person per three square miles, and most of those people live in towns surrounding our project area. Most animal species that existed here two hundred years ago are still here; except for bison, all the large ungulates--elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn--still inhabit the region. Small mammals, from badgers and prairie dogs to rare species like the black-footed ferret and the swift fox, are found here. Also, the region is known for its diversity of prairie birds, from golden eagles and ferruginous hawks to Sprague’s pipit and Baird’s sparrow.

Visitation is well underway. The nearby Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, and Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. As the amount of viewable wildlife increases, we envision people enjoying experiences on par with the most revered reserves in the world, like Africa’s Serengeti and Florida’s Everglades. Visiting options will include: exploring by horseback on equestrian trails, bike touring, bird watching and photography day trips, hiking, and walking. Accommodations will include semi-permanent camps within the reserve, linked together by the above-mentioned trails and roads, as well as facilities adjacent to the reserve provided by local vendors. In addition to simply visiting the reserve, we anticipate many people will enjoy participating in the ongoing science projects such as animal tracking, biodiversity monitoring, and habitat restoration.

Our express goal is to leave revenue generation to others. Thus, APF intends to fund the majority of its land management through a permanent endowment; however, there may be nominal fees charged to visitors, guides, vendors, etc., to help defer management costs.

We expect the assembly of the American Prairie Reserve to 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, 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. APF is also contributing to the economy through its daily operations. APF pays the same property taxes as any ranching operation, employs about the same number of local people to help manage its property, and returns at least as much revenue to the local area as a typical ranching operation does.

APF intends to hold title to its private lands in perpetuity. In order for the American Prairie Reserve to last hundreds of years into the future, we believe the best system of management will be created through a public-private partnership.

The plains “buffalo,” or bison, are unique to North America and a symbol of American strength, beauty, and wildness. We see bison as an essential part of a prairie landscape. Historically, their grazing habits have created the specialized mosaic of grassland habitat important to a variety of prairie species. Some species prefer tall, ungrazed grass, some prefer heavily grazed areas, and others prefer the edges in between. In many cases, bison can establish these grazing use patterns on their own. Of key interest to APF bison managers will be how bison, absent from the region for over 100 years, are reestablishing themselves on this landscape, and what we can learn from the potential resulting changes.

From a visitor standpoint, studies have shown that bison are a significant attraction wherever they are found. APF believes that wild bison, which are not compromised by domestic cattle genes, will draw considerable public interest. Because of people's fascination with bison, the prospect of viewing them in their natural habitat will be attractive; and bison's important ecological role in grasslands will increase public interest in grassland conservation.

We experience a range of reactions from local area residents as we continue with the early stages of our efforts. Some neighbors are cautious about whether the changes we have proposed to the grazing program are viable. Others are concerned that bison may not be compatible with other livestock operations, or that ranching as a way of life may be affected by new ownership and a different management emphasis.

Others, however, see APF's program as compatible with the traditional farming and ranching that have been a part of the way of life in this area for so long. Still others see the benefits of increasing recreational opportunities and other wildlife-related businesses, and feel that this effort will diversify income possibilities and ultimately help make the area's economy more robust. Many people are very pleased that APF will maintain, and in most cases increase, access to the private and public lands it manages. Hiking, fishing, bird watching, wildlife viewing, and non-fee hunting are all aspects of APF's public access plan.

As we are working to earn our reputation as a valued neighbor in this region, we continue to be treated with respect, openness, and generosity by everyone.

A key aspect of our management plan involves working in concert with other land and wildlife managers in the area, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation; local Native American tribes; neighboring ranchers; and numerous local and national conservation organizations. We recognize these entities have clearly defined criteria for their own success, which we study and acknowledge as we continue to shape our management practices. Our goal is to create and maintain positive relationships with each constituency. In the long run, APF will continue to actively manage its own private land and public grazing allotments. We work closely with public and private landowners to create, to the extent possible, open wildlife habitat for the general public to enjoy. APF’s management direction is determined by the needs of target species and key habitats. Initially, these include bison and their associated species, as well as stream and riparian habitats. In addition, our management strives to accommodate public access, to support economic opportunities for local communities, and to maintain cooperative and beneficial relations with neighbors

Hunting by humans has been a part of this area’s history for thousands of years, and is likely to continue for many years to come. For those interested in hunting in this area, as our plans unfold, there will be more acres open to hunting than exist now, and an increase of game animals on the landscape. Our goal is to create an outstanding hunting experience, and we are working to balance this goal with our broader wildlife conservation vision and our desire to create a spectacular experience for those who choose to simply view wildlife.

Not all details are defined at this time, but we are working with state and federal agencies, local and national hunting organizations, and others to design what we believe will be a very creative and valued hunting policy. Our initial plans will, of course, require years of testing and fine-tuning in order to settle on practices and guidelines that best serve our overall goals.

About ten percent of our funding comes from private foundations interested in land conservation; about ninety percent comes from individuals. To date, the majority of donors have been spread across the U.S., but local support from the Northern Plains’ states and Montana in particular is steadily increasing.