Oh Give Me A Home

With ongoing drought and potential government regulations in the works, one Wolf Point bison rancher is concerned his way of life may someday be just a page in the history books.

"There are a lot things going on in Montana right now that are affecting how the bison are treated," said Lyle Wall, proprietor of 5 Diamonds Bison Ranch. "Are they an amiable species, or are they wildlife? That is getting to be a real stickler. My future as a bison rancher is going to be dependent on how they legislate or view the animal in the future."

Governor Greg Gianforte on April 20 announced a settlement agreement ending litigation between the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and United Property Owners of Montana (UPOM).

"Under the previous administration, FWP didn't do right by farmers, ranchers, and private property owners," Gianforte said. "In its effort to spread bison across parts of Montana, FWP didn't do enough to account for the impacts to local communities and relied on outdated data. This settlement agreement protects our livestock producers and rural lands and reaffirms the state can and should do better going forward."

In January 2020, FWP issued a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Bison Conservation and Management in Montana and an associated Record of Decision. In March 2020, UPOM filed suit against FWP alleging the agency violated MEPA, MAPA, and environmental impact review requirements during the EIS process.

In the settlement agreement, FWP and UPOM agree the Final EIS failed to adequately consider disease transmission between bison, livestock, and other wildlife, there was an inadequate public comment opportunity, and the Final EIS relied on outdated data, among other things.

"FWP is committed to engaging communities and stakeholders on the impacts of decisions like this. We're grateful to have this lawsuit behind us," said Hank Worsech, director of FWP.

Wall approves efforts to keep bison from free ranging in the wild.

"Most of the counties have a draft that they don't want free ranging bison," Wall said. "And, I have to agree with them because it is just like anything you do. If you don't manage them and let them run wild."

Still, this legislative victory for bison ranchers such as Wall do not preclude future legislation that could run him out of business similarly to what happened to elk ranchers in the past, he said.

"I am concerned about how long we will be able to continue because the elk farms years ago were a big thing and then they were legislated out of existence. That could happen [to bison ranchers]. The only thing we've got going for us is we live on the reservation and fish and game does not come on the reservation. The tribes have their own fish and game group. I think we are slightly protected being on the reservation. But being non-native, I don't know how the tribe will react when they can tell us what to do."

Wall and his family fear the impact interest groups in liberal leaning states may have on area ranchers.

"If you get people with interests on the Left Coast, they really aren't too concerned with the people on the land," he said. "They are more about this warm fuzzy feeling of having their animals free ranging. There are a lot of states caving to that federal pressure."

DROUGHT

Recently, the Governor's Office Issued a Montana Water and Supply Drought Outlook Report which classified 42% of the state as abnormally dry.

According to data in the report, another 18% of the state is in severe to extreme drought conditions. Persistently dry conditions through the fall and much of the winter have created the deficit, especially at middle and lower elevations.

As of April 15, mountain snowpack at high elevations has remained near or slightly below average in most basins. If spring precipitation is below average, producers in eastern Montana may face challenges ensuring adequate water supply for livestock throughout the summer.

That is the case for Wall, he said.

"We have never run our bison through a drought. And if we have a drought now, and there isn't enough grass, we will supplement hay. But, by next fall, there will be a lot less animals around. If we can't put up hay, they eat it all summer long, what am I going to do next winter?"

With drought and potential government regulations on the table, Wall said he runs on faith.

"You tend to have to have a little faith common sense is going to be around. Otherwise, you really would have a tough time in life. As far as the government, you can't outguess the government. What they want to do, they will get a wild hair and do it, whether it is good for the country or not."

COVID-19

The pandemic has not impacted Wall's business as much as it could have, he said.

"There are less people going around and eating out, so that affected some of the markets. But most of the bison are sold to people that want to have Bison in their own home - quarters, halves. So it really didn't effect us at all."

It has limited the number of bison hunts on his property over the past year, Wall noted.

"What it did affect is the amount of buffalo hunts we've had because we do offer hunts if they want to come and shoot a bull. People say, 'well they are penned up. That is not a hunt.' Bring your gun. See if you can get a clear shot."

The bison can run at 35 mph, he said.

"They don't look like they can run that fast, but they can turn on a dime. They can either turn on their back legs or their front legs or up in the middle of the air. I have been chased by them."

That doesn't mean they are ornery creatures, however, Wall said.

"I will walk in the herd. When I bring bales out, they will walk right up. I am not challenging them so they don't want to run me over, and it is not the breeding season. It is no problem to walk in the pen with them. I wouldn't recommend my grandson doing it [alone]. He comes with me sometimes."

His grandson, Anthony Marottek, 11, quite enjoys shadowing his grandparents on the farm, and has become somewhat of an expert on the noble creatures.

"I think if I would have let Anthony do the tour, he would have hit all the high points because he has been with us on enough of these."

Marottek said his favorite part about the bison is the thunderous sound the herd makes when they run together across the grassy plains.

"I think it's cool listening to them run around," Marottek said. "They are cool creatures."

The young lad isn't sure yet if he will be a rancher when he grows up. If he does decide to follow in his grandfather's footsteps, he will be taking up the mantle of a long-time family tradition.

OLD HOMESTEAD

Wall lives on the land on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation originally homesteaded by his ancestors about a century ago. Even the name of his spread - 5 Diamonds Bison Ranch - was taken from his own grandfather.

"The reason for the five diamonds is that my great grandfather had the brand, 5/Diamond back in the 1920s," Wall said. "What is interesting, though ,is my brother runs Baker Jewelry and he his known for diamonds, so it worked out."

"And there are three boys in your family," added his wife Carla Wall.

Currently, the Walls keep a breeder herd of about 30 animals and three bulls. There are another 70 or so bison kept as a cash crop.

Wall is joined by his son Ryan, who raised beef cattle, in caring for the herd.

Wall bought his first 10 bison in 2000.

"The reason I got into bison was because I didn't have to work with them once the fencing was done," Wall said.

"The fencing was major," Carla added.

On the rare occasion when bison do escape the fenced area, Wall has found it is much easier to slaughter them for meat then try to herd them back home. The meat is tasty eats, he said.

Wall's favorite part about raising bison is the simple pleasure of watching them roam.

"Having them come up close to the pickup, watching them run. They can run side to side. They have many different hops and runs. They are entertaining to watch, and they taste good."

Eventually, Wall said he phased out beef cattle in favor of bison on the ranch.

"I got out. In 99, I sold 10 beef cows and for the same amount of money I bought 10 red bison cows. That is how I started out. For quite a few years we ran both, but I enjoyed the bison so much more just because of the fact you don't have to work with them except one time a year" when they are calving.

"And you don't have to help them with calving," Carla added.

Lyle said he has never seen the birthing process, as bison prefer to be left alone. The momma cow will disappear behind a hill and return with a fuzzy red little offspring, he said.

"During calving season, we check the buffalo religiously. Sunday afternoon. They actually do better if we leave them alone for calving. They really don't want interference or interruptions of their daily living, which we try to do."

Carla said bison calves are 20 to 40 pounds lighter than beef calves, which makes the birthing process easier on the mother.

"They don't have as much trouble," she said.

But smaller weights do increase the time it takes before a bison can be taken for slaughter, Wall said.

"The drawback on that is the yearling bison calves aren't as big as a yearling beef would be. It takes them a little longer. In fact, we don't slaughter any of them until they are three years old."

Bison also eat less hay than beef cattle, Wall said.

"These first 10 bison we had, we had 10 beef cows in a separate pen. I would feed a bale to the bison and it would last them a week or 10 days. I fed a bale to the beef cows, and the next morning they were complaining because they didn't have enough to eat. Bison go into a metabolism drop in the winter time. Once they get two years old, they don't demand as much energy. When the green grass hits, they will eat way more than a beef cow would eat."

It appears the bison store up the nutrients for winter when feed is more scarce, Wall said, similar in nature to a camel stocking up at an oasis before traveling across great desert spaces.

Wall said he has considered raising camels as well, but Carla put the nix on that.

"I wanted to raise camels for quite a few years, but somebody talked me out of it. She doesn't want to have them."

The walls invite folks to come out and take a tour of the bison for themselves, or to set up hunting appointments. Visitors will almost definitely be treated to a plate of Carla's delicious desserts.

For more information, call the walls at 406-392-5281.