Contributors to this thread:
Many years ago a friend of mine (now passed) shot a Bison with a bow. Wondering if anyone has done it and would like to post some stories.
I was thinking bow but maybe a muzzleloader as a back-up.
Anyone else see the article about Hilda the cow that was bread to emit less methane? Kinda silly I think as we used to have millions if not billion Bison emitting methane all over this country and still had harsh winters.
I had a wonderful hunt a few years ago on the Lower Brule. https://www.bowhuntingworld-digital.com/view.php?file=2023-06,June-July-2023.pdf#page=56
I drew the Wyoming Teton tag in 2014. Used 1000 gr arrow but not necessary. Unlike most mammals, bison have a single lung cavity containing both lungs. So if u disrupt the chest wall only only 1 side, both lungs collapse. Hence the indians were so successful with primitive bows.
Jeff,
I definitely will read your article. I been trying to draw a tag there for years now
People in general have no appreciation. For how massive they are. An AVERAGE bull beats a moose and equals 10 average whitetail bucks stacked on top of each other
People just don’t know because they never see these animals
I took a free range bison this past August on the Crow Reservation in Montana. I have attached the link to my write up of the hunt.
Bull buster what a great photo…congratulations
Big critter for sure!! Even better eating !!!
I arrowed a Cow on a 5000 acre private ranch several years ago. 42 yard shot, double lung pass thru with a 2219 Aluminum shaft, 29" & 125 gr 3 blade Rocky Mountain Ironhead (500+ grns). 60# Darton Compound. There was a guide backing up with a Rifle. Not as big as a Bull but delicious.
I’ve taken three bison on the Henries, my son and friend one each on the Book Cliffs and I took a giant ancient bull in MT this year. I’ve also taken a pile of moose. So far the biggest bull moose and biggest bison aren’t that much different in size. I’d rather pack giant bison quarters than massive moose quarters. I’m only adding this as to the point that they aren’t bigger than those big bull moose.
Bison seem to be all body and a full stomach or stomachs on a bison really add the weight. They can pack in the grass!
Here's one from the way back machine
The cape on that bull is beautiful BullBuster…
Giant Bison
Giant Bison
They are excellent swimmers as well. Nahanni Butte.
Ron Rockwell’s Bison
Ron Rockwell’s Bison
“Rock”, Current cover of the P&Y Ethic Magazine features Ron Rockwell with his Bison. Congrats and Great pic Ron.
Adam,
You sure seem to have it dialed in on how to draw bison tags way to go.
I've killed 2 one in Bc 49 yrds pass thru bull walked 30 yrds tipped over 70lb 500 grain 3 blade broadhead .Second one ranch hunt the owner said I could not kill one shot a cow he pointed at 30 yrds 65lb 418 grain arrow she took 10 steps tipped over
Beautiful bulls Gentlemen. Those winter capes would make a nice robe.
I just sold my last full size tanned bison skin
Bulls chests are actually narrow for how large of body they have. Pretty easy to kill with an average weight set up. They can take a while to bleed out.
A noble beast
Heck yeah!!! I love it!!!!
Shot one in the Henry Mts, UT around year 2000. He made it 30 yds after double lung pass-thru. 70# long finger bow, 525 gr arrow with a 4 blade Zwickey Delta. 30 yd shot. Fabulous eating after a dang hard pack-out. Thanks Lyle for your help...5 trips each for us!
This was an exciting hunt. Got charged after the shot and then got to witness the herd surrounding the dying animal refusing to let it drop to the ground.
Also experienced seeing the same event with the herd surrounding a blue wildebeest I shot.
They are both of the bovine family.
That could be a real Bucket List kind o’ thing!
2007 Pink Mt's of BC
2007 Pink Mt's of BC
Charlie here is a photo of my Bison I think you were trying to post.
Great pictures! Something about a big furry Bison and a bow pic. I killed a cow with my longbow on a 10,000 acre ranch in Idaho. 30 yards, bear broadhead pass thru. Chest is not that wide.
Heck of a bull, Ron! Way up there in P&Y!
Fort Belknap Reservation, NE Montana in October, 2023.
For you guys that shot bigger older bulls. How was the steak quality? Any real toughness? Been wanting to get a bison for a few years now. I was talking to an outfitter recently that had said pretty much any Bison that would be considered a "trophy bull" would be mostly ground meat. Would like to bring back some good cuts as well as burger with a nice skull.
Love all the pics. Was always a top 3-4 dream animal for me and will most certainly achieve that goal one day.
G5 the mature bulls steaks have more gristle and bison is lean like venison. A mature bison is usually older than most of our other ungulate game animals. They can live longer than elk and deer for instance.
But steak still has good flavor. Best to use the tenderloin and back strap.
Use other cuts for jerky, stew meat, roasts etc. And burger
I did all the normal cuts on my Bull (steaks, roasts, stew meat, burger etc) it was all good.
900-1100# animal will provide the tenderest meat.
Thanks guys. Most likely looking to do a ranch hunt in SD. Probably going to target a medium size bull
These young ones taste gooood!
These young ones taste gooood!
It’s always a shock how an animal with such a huge live carcass. Has so much waste. And relatively small amount of net weight meat.
The hide, head, bones and guts are a large percentage of the carcass weight.
I killed one many moons ago. Young bull shot thru both lungs - it stood for what seemed like forever. I eventually sent a second arrow - this one a little lower thru the chest. Pretty sure every drop of blood that bull had was on the ground before he fell. Tough animal.
Hey Rock Great Bull What's your set up on your bow and arrows
goelk, Predator Recurve 65# @ 28" and old discontinued Cabela's SST 240 carbon shafts with 150 Gr Magnus 1, 4 blade. Pretty cool hunt in November 2007 shot him the first hunt day mid afternoon after blowing the first stalk on him.
Utah bull from the Henry Mountains, 2018.
Holy moly, a Big Fin sighting!!! Good to see you posting here again, Randy.
Mine was an old cow. Meat is delicious but very tough.
I just watched Big Fin's bison hunt a couple days ago when those activists showed up right as he was getting ready to shoot his bison. Very classy & smart move to wait and not give them any more ammunition.
I want one... perhaps, someday. Ed f
Had an incredible hunt and experience in British Columbia in 2013. I’ll always remember the sound of the herd when they stampeded through the valley.
2015 Wyoming on the NER. 9 yr old cow according to the biologist. One of the quicker kills I’ve had, on her feet less than 8 seconds after the shot, took about 30 minutes for the herd to move off after she went down though.
This is a cow I shot in a pasture in 2007. Some of the best meat I have ever ate and the hide has kept my couch looking like new through several dogs laying on it.
Scott, how about some info on your equipment?
Yes, would like to hear what bow and arrow combo you ‘trad guys use on these monsters. I would love to do it someday while I’m still strong enough to draw enough weight.
Yes, would like to hear what bow and arrow combo you ‘trad guys use on these monsters. I would love to do it someday while I’m still strong enough to draw enough weight.
56# Black Widow PSR Bow, wood arrow (Ramin) tipped with a 150 gr Grizzly, arrow weight totaled about 670 gr. I hit a rib going in and only got one lung, had to put another one in her to get her down.
Young buffalo bull that was the first animal I shot with my homemade longbow. This was on a ranch in South Park Colorado and was a really good deal at the time. Cold and windy that day for sure!
The bow is 60# at my draw length of 28 3/4". Carbon Express arrow with a weight tube and a Magnus 2-blade 125 grain head (no bleeders) glued on a 100 grain insert. Total arrow mass was just over 700 grains. It has been a while, but I seem to remember that arrow weighing 730 grains.
The shot was about 25 yards and hit a little high in the lungs. Cut a rib going in and a rib going out. The arrow was in the snow about 20 yards on the other side. The buffalo made a hard run for about 50 yards and then slid into home.
The rancher said that he had never seen one go down that fast with an arrow and a lot of them shot with rifles would just keep taking shots from big guns and not go down. Sure was nice to have his lift truck there to pick the whole thing up, gut, and skin then drop in the bed of my truck to take home.
Fun day for sure.
Butchered him all up myself. The hamburger was great, but the steaks were not as good as I thought they would be. Might have been better if I had aged it.
One of these days, I will draw one and I have a lot of confidence that I can set up an arrow that will work well. Hopefully, the pack out will not be too far... They are really heavy!
Henry Mountains Utah 60# Bighorn
Henry Mountains Utah 60# Bighorn
Jim,
Arrow specs???
I am pretty sure you were using the old Bear head with a bleeder (totally awesome broadhead!), arrow specs and total arrow weight would be good info for guys wanting to kill a bison with a bow.
Any comments on what you got for penetration and how far he went after the shot?
Couple of Bowsiters just killed a couple of great bulls this week. Hope they post them up!
When I shot my bull I was using some old cabelas carbon shafts, I don't recall what they were called but they shot well out of my 60# bighorn. I tend to stick with a 2 blade head on the really big stuff so I was shooting a Magnus II, 1 1/4" 2 blade with a standard threaded insert glued in. Total arrow weight was 570 grains.
I shot this bull at 40 yards and got a complete pass through. The arrow was 6 yards the other side laying on the snow. Unbelievable performance but in reality, a bison is not very thick, side to side lower in the rib cage. One of my most memorable hunts.
Ranch hunt in Colorado this week. It was a ranch, but a pretty real hunt.
One arrow after a nice little stalk, never knew I was there, 25 yard shot, down in 30.
—Jim
Nice bison too , Jim. Congratulations
Congrats on a great bull Jim! Literally a ton of fun. Seems like you and the new Lift are getting along just fine.
Treeman with a stud!! Nice!
Congrats on a beautiful bison Jim!
I want to do this! I am also definitely interested in the meat and butchering it myself (I enjoy that). Thanks Treeline for your comments regarding the burger being great but the steaks not as good as you thought they'd be.
What comments could the rest of you guys offer regarding what cuts you enjoyed best, etc.?
The meat from my Utah bull was fantastic. I was really surprised how tender it was for an old bull. I recently helped a friend on a Utah cow hunt and the steaks from that cow were great as well.
Congrats Jim.
Lots of table fare right there.
Congrats Jim.
That is a bucket list animal for me for sure. One day I will finally draw a tag.
The steaks were good, just not the same as aged beef. I think I would prefer elk or a good deer over the bison ribeye steaks, but I usually like elk or deer pretty well and think that it had to do with not aging it. The meat was all good, though! Maybe this will be the year for me in Utah...
Congrats Jim! Great pic. Looks like a beautiful hide as well.
Sounds like proper aging (3+ weeks) might be the key with these megas....
Jim, that is a gorgeous picture and gorgeous bull. Well done had to be a great experience.
WHAT did that thing weigh any idea
Awesome thread, really enjoyed the pics. Bison would be an epic hunt
WOW, great animals. Hard to imagine that there were 30,000,000, of those beasts on the prairies. Nicely done by all. My best, Paul
650 gr arrow. Valkyrie head. No issue with penetration. Arrow stopped when it hit the back leg. Double lung.
Brought home 520lb of awesome boneless meat. Bring 4 100 quart coolers.
Bou, they weighed it at the meat locker, dressed and skinned. I believe they said 800lbs.
For referance the guy in the pic is 6-5! The ranchers said they have weighed bunches and it’s almost exactly 60% of live weight, so I guess somewhere in the 1400lb pprange on the hoof.
We killed 3 on the hunt and mine was the smallest weight (I think oldest, on the downhill) and the average was 860 I think.
—Jim
Killed one in 2002 Sw Kansas with a Bow. Steaks Cooked over a smokey Cottonwood is hard to beat.
Here is my guide (6’5”) caping my bison. Crazy how big these animals are
I learned so much about bison on this hunt and gained a tremendous respect for them.
The Tribe was gracious enough to let me use their tractor to process my bison. It took my 4 hours to skin, quarter and remove all the trim meat and another 4 hours the next day, at home, to debone, grind and package. Even a cow bison is huge!
Glad I had my 24 year old son to pack this up to the road.
Here is my guide (6’5”) caping my bison. Crazy how big these animals are
I learned so much about bison on this hunt and gained a tremendous respect for them.
