Bison hunt options
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So I am thinking about a bison hunt. I know options are limited and I have settled on the fact it will have to be a ranch hunt. I have some options already but looking at bowsite for those of you that have done these hunts. Would like one within reasonable drive time of WI to avoid shipping meat. If anyone has ideas please let me know. I am putting in for the Custer park hunt, but not holding my breath on drawing that tag anytime soon
What is the budget? Bull only? Best odds for drawing a true free range bull tag are the Arizona & Wyoming hunts. Notice I didn't say "good" odds ;-) You could also buy one of the auction tags for WY. This year those sold for just a few thousand more than than the regular NR tag fee. Probably due to the poor hunt success the prior year. You can also book a hunt in northeastern BC, which may be the most expensive option, but guarantees you get to hunt a wild bull on your schedule. If you would settle for a cow hunt, WY & UT would offer fairly decent draw odds, but still could be a long wait to draw. Can't advise you on the ranch hunts, but I'm sure many others here could. I know there is a guy on MM by the name of Brad Vargo (goes by 30Hart) that deals with the bison hunts offered on the Crow Rez in Montana. Might be worth checking out.
Look at the Reservations here in SD, Rosebud or Pine Ridge. They would likely offer exactly what you are looking for. They both have websites.
Check Az. Buff. overpopulating Grand Canyon State park. Special tags might be available...AZGF # 603-942-3000 Or go online azgf.gov
Brotsky,
Thank you. I did forget to mention I now recalled I have applied at one of those two, just cant recall which one lol. Have.l not been successful yet. Due to the distance AZ would be a no go.
BC and the auction tags are out for sure. Outside the budget at least for bulls. Will have to kick the idea around on the cow hunt.
Buffalo meat in the Midwest is going for about $10 a pound. A young bull or cow is actually a good investment. You get the meat, skull and hide. A trophy bull....not so much. You get a great trophy mount and skull but the meat is a little rough.
The Dakotas is a great option.
Franklin, That is so true. That is why I am trying to justify the hunt. Where I am at 10 is about avg for ground and I have seen it as high as 13.
bg, the Custer hunt for non-trophy should only take a couple of points to be in the game. How many do you have?
If I recall i have two. I know they changed how they do the draw though, which I thought tanked the odds for NR
Nope, they just combined the NR and Resident apps after they draw a certain number for residents only. Did not have a terrible overall impact on odds for 2019. Once you are in the 2+ pool looks like you have about 50% odds to draw.
That's not to bad then. I thought it was worse then that
You could also check out a free range Crow reservation hunt in South Central Montana.
Busta,
Thanks for that one. Just checked and they are a out 14,500 for archery hunt. Wow. A little out of my range, but appreciate the idea
Are you interested in a bison or a bison hunt? If just a bison, I am sure there are places you can go shoot one. Oklahoma, Texas, etc.. If you want a Bison hunt, unfortunately they are beginning to get quite expensive. Apply for Alaska and if you draw, you can hunt them without a guide. Might be a bit tougher than L48 options but I've heard of several very long & difficult L48 Bison hunts.
Wow! I was on the wait list, but it’ll be a really long wait b4 I shell out that much. Had no idea it was that expensive. Thought it was half that. Can probably do -Pink Mt hunt for not much more?
Those Crow prices are correct... but as per usual with dealing with a Rez.... just ask them to call you with a deal. Only a few years ago they were having trouble selling that same hunt for $6500... then after selling a few.... they jack the prices to 14k
Is it an actual hunt on the crow reservation or is a glorified cow shoot?
Ask Zackman! Sounded like a hunt to me.
I heard rumors of Pink Mtn Bison hunts not being as readily available as they once were, specifically through MVP. Any truth to that?
Been kinda testing the water a bit and asking about.....I know there are full blown hard to find them and way harder to draw tag options...in the west...but chances to draw are super slim...I want to shoot one in my lifetime...one will be enough but being rasied in the west and obsessed with the lore of Mt men I want to shoot a giant bull... ....some of the hunts...free range are not much more challenging than a ranch hunt Bison are not real smart...so I would go where its cheapest ranch hunt or not and go for it...call it what it is and make no apologies and have fun....
if you pass on a decent private herd hunt because of an elitist view of the concept and no ability to do the upper echelon hunt there is nothing wrong with that, but you will miss out on a potentially worthwhile experience. There are some very good private herd options out there and they are not all created equally
Fair chase in non fenced natural environment is elitist?
I have no problem with a private herd hunt at all. More than likely is what I will end up doing. Just looking for the right one.
P&Y does not consider the SD Custer herd a fair game bison hunt but B&C does.
Archery isn’t permitted for the old bull hunts anyways and a gun will be used to dispatch on the cow and young bull hunts, if your archery shot is misplaced.
^^^It should probably be mentioned as well that you get a half a day to hunt your bison in Custer State Park. I.E. They drive you out to the herd, point out which animal to shoot, you walk up and shoot it, then they load it in your truck. That's the Custer hunt for you guys that may be interested.
Brotsky,
I have heard that about the custer hunts. Part of me only reason I would like to do that hunt is it was the first buffalo I ever saw when i was in 5rh grade. Many years ago lol. If I don't do that hunt either it won't kill me.
It may cost as much to kill a ranch bison, as it would if you won a state tag for a free range hunt. That's why my own preference leaned towards hunting a wild herd. Just depends on how much of a hurry you're in to hunt one. Since I was in no real hurry, my strategy was to apply for all the available lower-48 state free-range hunts until I drew (WY, MT, AZ, UT). The odds are fairly decent for this strategy to result in a tag someday, if you're willing to wait. I finally drew the Kaibab hunt in AZ. During my hunt there were 12 tags, with all the other guys being rifle hunters. And 7 of 12 hunters ultimately took their bulls, including myself lucking out and getting one with a bow. It's not a slam-dunk hunt, since the herds rarely leave the Grand Canyon National Park boundaries which is off limits to hunting. You can drive through the park at most anytime and see big herds calmly grazing. But they do stray off on occasion to hit mineral licks, and that's when you can get lucky if you're in the right place. I continue to apply in all the other states and would gladly hunt them again if I could draw. Good luck whatever you decide.