Buffalo to be auctioned

By: 
Jason Ferguson
It’s Custer State Park’s Fall Classic Buffalo Auction time again, with it being bumped up from its usual third weekend in November format to this Saturday, Nov. 2.
Kobee Stalder, visitor services program manager for Custer State Park, said the auction was moved ahead because the timing fits better with the annual Buffalo Roundup.
“We can now work the herd shortly after the Roundup and we don’t have to hold the auction animals as long in our corral pasture,” Stalder said.
The auction begins at 10 a.m., with registration available at the Visitor Center prior to the auction at 9 a.m. Bidders who plan to bid online may register anytime between now and the auction by visiting bradeenauction.hibid.com.
This year’s offerings include 20 bred mature cows, 30 open mature cows, 22 bred 2-year-old heifers, 20 open 2-year-old heifers, 85 yearling heifers, 70 heifer calves, 105 bull calves, 50 yearling bulls, 17 2-year-old grade bulls and 10 choice 2-year-old breeding bulls. The park is also selling one burro, a 2-year-old jack.
Stalder said one jack is all that is needed for a burro herd the size of Custer State Park’s, and to keep different genetics in the herd, one jack will be sold.
“Our loss is someone’s gain,” he said. “I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who would like to take him home.”
Stalder said the bred heifers and bred cows typically bring in the most money for the park, adding that Custer State Park is known in the bison industry as one of the prime suppliers of females because they have a high success rate of producing a calf every year.
“We expect those to do well again this year,” Stalder said, adding the park also expects some of the 2-year-old breeding bulls to go for a strong price. “Lots of private ranchers are interested in adding those Custer State Park genetics to their herd.”
The auction animals will be sorted at the Fred Matthew Buffalo Corrals and can be viewed by appointment until Nov. 1. After that, the corrals will be open all day to those interested viewing them right up to the time of the auction.
For the past 53 years, the park has made its surplus bison available for sale to the private sector. The revenue generated from the auction goes into the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks general fund, and is then distributed back to Custer State Park to assist with the park’s operating budget.
“It is great those funds stay in the park to assist with all aspects of park operations so we can continue to maintain our status as one of the best state parks in the country,” Stalder said.
As always, the park will harvest and field dress and load out animals for buyers. Arrangements may be made prior to the auction for park staff to do so or it can be done the day of the sale.
The park plans to keep just over 1,000 bison in the park over the winter, Stalder said.
 

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