Landowner stories

Besler Family

Five generations of Beslers have ranched near Bison, South Dakota. Today, Wayne, Brad and Tanner Besler carry on a tradition of land stewardship and wildlife development. Working closely with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, the Beslers have opened more than 15,000 acres to public hunting.

They have utilized USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program to convert cropland back to grassland, the Environmental Quality Incentive Program to help build fence and develop water sources to implement rotational livestock grazing practices as well as the Conservation Stewardship Program which incentivizes management of their operation to address resource concerns and improve productivity.

They have partnered with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and Ducks Unlimited to build and repair numerous multi-purpose ponds, they have increased forage availability through managed grazing and use riparian areas to benefit wildlife habitat.

The Besler family also participates in the GFP food plot program and open their land to public hunting through the walk-in area program.

Learn more about the Beslers ranching operation by viewing the video testimony below.