Hikers watch the sun set along the Upper Missouri River, Montana, photo by Bob Wick, BLM

What We Manage in Montana - Dakotas

The Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas manages about 8.3 million acres of public lands for multiple use and about 47.1 million acres of federal mineral estate in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.  These public lands provide habitat for wildlife, forage for domestic livestock, forest products ranging from Christmas trees to commercial timber, and a wide range of recreational opportunities.  The federal mineral estate, which includes oil, natural gas, and coal, is a critical source of energy as our nation works to develop domestic resources while supporting job growth.

Quick Facts about what we do:

  • The Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range consists of 39,651 acres of BLM, Forest Service, National Park Service and private lands in Montana and Wyoming. The appropriate management level, or AML, is 90 to 120 adult horses.
  • Montana/Dakotas BLM lands provide a diversity of settings for recreation including:
    • 8.3 million acres of varied landscapes and recreational opportunities
    •  2,500 miles of streams
    •  60,000 acres of lakes and reservoirs
    • More than 400 family camping units
    • 15 day-use sites and 24 developed recreation sites
    • More than 400 undeveloped recreation sites
    • 27 miles of mountain bike trails in the Blackfoot River corridor
  • Montana is home to two national monuments – The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument and Pompeys Pillar National Monument
  • BLM Montana/Dakotas manages over 1.3 million acres of forest land base.
  • BLM Montana/Dakotas authorizes over 1.1 million animal unit months on grazing lands across Montana and the Dakotas.

The Missouri River Breaks National Backcountry Byway winds through the countryside managed by the Lewistown Field Office, Montana, BLM photo