Western Montana & Missoula Real Estate Blog & Area Information

A Day at The National Bison Range in Moiese Montana

One of the best day trips in Western Montana is a visit to the National Bison Range in Moiese, Montana on the Flathead Indian Reservation. The Bison Range has a nice visitor's center and a self-guided driving tour you can take for some of the best scenery in Montana and lots of wildlife.

The National Bison Range is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It was established in 1908 and is one of the oldest Wildlife Refuges in the nation. As its name implies, the Refuge was established to support a population of American bison. It is home to about 350-500 of these animals.

Kevin and Kelsey recently spent an afternoon at the Bison Range taking wildlife photos and were able to photograph antelope, deer, elk, and of course, bison in a single afternoon. Not to mention some great photos of the Mission Mountains, one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in Montana.

Summer hours at the park are: weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends and holidays. Red Sleep Mountain Drive is open daily 6:30 a.m.; start drive by 7 p.m. to finish before dark.

For directions to the bison range, information on fees or other questions, visit the website for the National Bison Range.

National Bison Range Video

Copyright 2009 Kelsey Ray - Photos

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Kevin and Monica Ray are Missoula Real Estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. We provide services in, but not limited to: Missoula, Superior, Alberton, Saint Regis, Lolo, Clinton, Turah, Potomac, Florence, Corvallis, and Hamilton.

For more information on Missoula Real Estate or surrounding areas, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.AccessRealty.net.

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Every year, the National Bison Range rounds up all of the buffalo in the park to give innoculations, check health status, and to select buffalo to thin the heard. This year's event is scheduled for October 9-10, 2007.

If you're in the area, this is a must-see event. You get the opportunity to get up close to the buffalo, watch the cowboys & cowgirls herd the buffalo into the shoots, and learn about the conservation efforts at the Bison Range.

The National Bison Range is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It was established in 1908 and is one of the oldest Wildlife Refuges in the nation.

As its name implies, the Refuge was established to support a population of American bison. It is home to about 350-500 of these animals. Other large wildlife found on the Range include elk, white-tail and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and black bear. Because of its open grasslands, the Bison Range is a place for the public to enjoy some excellent wildlife observation and photography.

To get to the Bison Range, take Hwy 93 North from Missoula to Ravalli. Turn Left at Ravalli on Hwy 200 towards Dixon. Watch for the signs and the right turn to Moiese. Once you reach Moiese, you can't miss the entrance to the Bison Range, just past the store.

A great place to visit while you're in Montana is the National Bison Range. Located in Moiese, Montana, it's just a short drive from Missoula or Kalispell and is on the way to Flathead Lake. The wildlife and spectacular views of the Mission Mountains are worth the drive.

The National Bison Range is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System.  It was established in 1908 and is one of the oldest Wildlife Refuges in the nation.

A large portion of the 18, 500 acre Range consists of native Palouse prairie; forests, wetlands, and streams are also found here providing a wide range of habitats for wildlife.  Elk, deer, pronghorn, black bear, coyote and ground squirrels are just some of the mammals that share the area with 350 to 500 bison.  Over 200 species of birds also call this home including eagles, hawks, meadowlarks, bluebirds, ducks, and geese.

Fees are charged during the summer (mid-May to late October).  The Range is part of the U.S. Fee System and accepts Golden Passes and Federal Waterfowl Stamps.  Pay fees at the Visitor Center.

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Kevin & Monica Ray are real estate sales and marketing professionals for Streamside Realty in beautiful Western Montana. For more information on Western Montana, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.YourMT.com.