APR offering 26 bison harvest opportunities

This year the nonprofit is offering a total of 26 opportunities, with all but two being awarded in such a way that gives preference to the people who live and work in Montana, and the communities surrounding the Reserve.

“This is the fourth time we’ve offered bison harvests to the public since 2018, and each time we’ve been able to increase the number of opportunities available,” said Damien Austin, Vice President and Reserve Superintendent. “We routinely use harvest as a bison management tool and the current size of the herd dictated the number needing to be harvested.”

American Prairie Reserve is awarding bison harvest opportunities through a drawing, and will be designated as follows: SEVEN opportunities to local residents, EIGHT to Montana residents, FIVE to members of the Fort Peck, Fort Belknap, or Rocky Boy communities, and two to the general public worldwide. An additional four harvest opportunities are being donated to local charities to be used for their own fundraising efforts, and are not a part of American Prairie Reserve’s drawing.

“Last year we saw interest from Montanans really grow with more than 2,500 entries for 16 harvest slots,” said Austin. “As an organization, we recognize the public benefit of the harvest and we intentionally increased the number offered specifically to Montanans based upon the positive response we’ve seen.”

The drawing is free to enter, and registrants awarded the opportunity to harvest are required to pay a non-refundable fee of $300. Eligible individuals must fill out and submit the form by 11:59PM on June 30, 2020. The 22 total recipients will be randomly selected on July 10, 2020. The four remaining harvest opportunities will be donated to local charities.

Local Area Resident Drawing

Montana residents age 18 and older of Blaine, Chouteau, Fergus, Garfield, Petroleum, Phillips, and Valley counties are welcome to enter a drawing for one of SEVEN opportunities to harvest a bison from American Prairie Reserve.

Montana State-Wide Drawing

Montana residents age 18 and older are welcome to enter a drawing for one of EIGHT opportunities to harvest a bison from American Prairie Reserve.

Ft. Belknap, Ft. Peck, and Rocky Boy Community Drawing

Residents age 18 and older of Fort Peck, Fort Belknap, or Rocky Boy communities are welcome to enter a drawing for one of FIVE opportunities to harvest a bison from American Prairie Reserve.

Worldwide Drawing

Anyone age 18 and older is welcome to enter a drawing for one of TWO opportunities to harvest a bison from American Prairie Reserve.

“Since the inception of this project, an annual bison harvest has been a part of our long-term Bison Management Plan,” said Austin. “Limited harvests like this mimic natural predation and serve as a check on the bison population, and it gives recipients an incredible opportunity to harvest such an iconic animal.”

Complete details, terms, rules and a link to enter the drawing is available online at americanprairie.org/bison-harvest.

In addition to the annual bison harvest, American Prairie Reserve is proud to open its deeded land to rifle and bow hunting, including upland bird, migratory bird hunting, deer, elk, and antelope. The nonprofit also offers access points to public lands through all of its deeded lands. Visit americanprairie.org/hunting for the most up-to-date hunting information and to make reservations, which are required to hunt on most of the Reserve’s deeded land.