Each fall (always a Monday in late September/early October) for nearly 50 years, South Dakota has echoed to the sound of thundering hooves and the calls of cowboys and cowgirls, during Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup.
Today standing at 1,300 strong, Custer’s is one of the largest publically owned bison herds in the world.
For most of the year they’re left to roam free across the park’s 71,000 acres. However, because the terrain of mountains, hills and prairies can only sustain a certain number, they’re rounded up, counted, given a health check and, to maintain the right population size, a number are sold at auction.
Not all are corralled however – the big bulls are left alone since they’re too aggressive to capture. During the roundup season you can see them scattered across the park.
The roundup can be a real spectacle, and members of the public are encouraged to watch. It’s such a popular event that an arts festival and two cook-offs are scheduled take place on the weekend before the roundup.
This year’s roundup takes place on Monday, Sept. 24.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Image: South Dakota Department of Tourism)
