Commonly called buffalo, bison are North America's largest land mammal and one of Custer State Park's most valuable resources. Sometimes called Lord of the Plains, a mature bull can stand up to six feet high at the shoulder and weigh nearly a ton. Though they may look docile while grazing on the open prairie, buffalo can outrun a horse and turn with amazing agility. The Custer State Park herd averages about 1,450 animals after the calves are born, then is reduced to about 950 animals by public auction. These corrals are used primarily in the fall for the annual buffalo roundup and auction. During the October roundup, the herd is brought into the corrals, calves are branded, females are vaccinated, and approximately 500 animals are sorted for sale stock and tested to meet state livestock regulations. The bison that remain in the park are released, while sale stock remain in the corrals until the auction on the third Saturday of November. Buyers come from all over the United States and Canada to purchase bison from the park for breeding stock or for slaughter.

Photo: Beverly Pfingsten

Photo: Beverly Pfingsten

Fairburn, South Dakota · USA