In a September 4 press release, American Prairie—a conservation group working to “create one of the largest nature reserves in the United States”—announced its purchase of the vast Anchor Ranch in central Montana. The ranch includes 22,837 deeded acres and 45,123 leased acres and provides access to nearly 50,000 acres of public land in the upper Missouri River Breaks. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Breaks are known for prime elk, mule deer, pronghorn, and upland bird hunting.
The Anchor Ranch has a long history of back-and-forth over public access. Historically, folks used Bullwhacker Road—which runs for 3.8 miles through the property—with controlled access from landowners. Then, in 2007, the Public Land Water Access Association convinced a county judge to declare the road fully open to the public. But that ruling was overturned in 2011—and in 2012, Anchor Ranch was purchased by oil barons Dan and Farris Wilks.
The Wilks Brothers attempted to exchange the property for public BLM acreage in the Durfee Hills—popular elk hunting grounds in the Crazy Mountains—but the land deal was quashed following public outcry. In the meantime, the road was fully closed to the public, though seasonal routes were established that provided limited access to public land on the other side of the ranch.
Now, folks will be able to use Bullwhacker Road year-round once again, as American Prairie announced it would reopen public access immediately. “We believe that public lands should be in public hands and are proud to be able to provide access to this special area of the Breaks,” said American Prairie CEO Alison Fox. American Prairie Senior Public Relations Manager Beth Saboe tells Field & Stream that the organization is exploring easements to cement permanent access. And that could include future public hunting access on the Anchor Ranch’s deeded acres.
While celebrated by many conservationists, American Prairie's plans to restore the plains aren't without controversy. Some central Montanans are skeptical of the group for using outside money to purchase ranches, for instance, and for growing a large herd of bison that they say could spread diseases like brucellosis to domestic cattle. But in this case, existing cattle leases will remain in place as, according to Saboe, livestock grazing plays a critical role in keeping the ranch's prairie landscape intact.
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Local disputes aside, sportsmen and women across the country are celebrating American Prairie’s purchase of Anchor Ranch because of the expanded hunting access it provides. “This is a win for anyone who cares about public access to our shared lands,” said Randy Newberg, founder of Fresh Tracks and Hunt Talk media. “Our audience cares deeply about the Bullwhacker Allotment as it touts exceptional habitat and opportunities to hunt. It’s an area that’s both important to protect and for the public to access.”
