What Is American Prairie?

American Prairie, formerly called the American Prairie Reserve (APR), is a large privately held nature preserve located in north central and northeastern Montana and owned and operated by the non-profit American Prairie Foundation (APF). As of September 2025, the total size of the American Prairie preserve is estimated to be approximately 603,657 acres, with 167,070 deeded acres and 436,587 leased public acres.

The American Prairie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) based out of Bozeman, Montana, formed in the early 2000's with the aim to build one of the largest nature reserves in the continental U.S., by purchasing private ranch land from willing sellers and converting cattle grazing operations to bison habitat. The long-term goal of the foundation is to assemble 3.5 million acres, enough to support a fully functioning prairie ecosystem, including migration corridors and native wildlife, especially bison.

American Prairie has become one of Montana's most polarizing conservation initiatives, sparking intense debates that touch on land use, cultural identity, and economic survival in the northern Great Plains. 

Land Transactions

Since 2004, American Prairie reports completing roughly 43 land transactions to assemble the reserve.  Notable large ranch transactions include:

• The Anchor Ranch, 22,838 deeded acres in Blaine County purchased in August of 2025, listed for $35,969,850
• The 73 Ranch, 12,800 deeded acres in Garfield and Petroleum Counties purchased in December 2021, listed for $12,800,000
• The PN Ranch, 20,722 deeded acres in Chouteau and Fergus Counties purchased in May of 2016, listed for $21,500,000
• The South Ranch (also referred to as Timber Creek Ranch), 18,973 deeded acres in Valley County purchased in August of 2012, undisclosed list price

Impacts on the Montana Land Market

American Prairie has been a significant purchaser of land in the region, and has been accused of raising land values, decreasing the ability of area ranchers to buy land. Funding for the American Prairie land purchases come from donors, and thus some feel this is an unfair advantage over local agricultural producers. However, all of the American Prairie purchases have been from willing sellers in a free and open market. 

Controversies & Community Response - “Save the Cowboy”

The scale and goals of American Prairie have prompted sustained debate about private-land sales, federal grazing policy, bison management, and the future of production agriculture in the region. Many locals have objected to the American Prairie's premise that the area needs to be "saved." That the stewardship of the area's long-standing cattle ranches have been adiquit. This spurred the Save the Cowboy campaign—supported by the United Property Owners of Montana and other local groups—which has organized outreach, signage, and policy advocacy opposing APR’s bison grazing changes and urging landowners to sell within ranching networks.