National Bison Range

The Bison Range is one of the oldest big-game refuges in the U.S., and was established in 1908 with the help of Teddy Roosevelt and the American Bison Society. The original purpose for the Bison Range was to preserve and maintain a representative herd of American bison or buffalo. Today this 18,541-acre refuge has an assortment of big-game wildlife, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn, elk, bighorn sheep, and even mountain goats. The range was eventually designated as a refuge for native birds in 1921. It is one of the best places to view a mixture of big game and birds. The scenery is also sensational, with the broad Flathead Valley to the north and the majestic Mission Mountains to the east. The St. Ignatius Mission in St. Ignatius, Montana, (five miles north of Ravalli) is well worth the stop. Established in 1854 for the Flathead Indians by Father DeSmet, this church is the second oldest mission in Montana (the first being the St. Mary Mission in Stevensville). The paintings inside the church are truly a Montana treasure. This eTrail provides detailed information on birding strategies for this specific location, the specialty birds and other key birds you might see, directions to each birding spot, and helpful general information.