WildWill
Well-known member
Eye of the beholder I guess.
Custer Bison Draw
- Thread starter nontyp
- Start date
And check writer. mtmuley
I have enough points to have a real good shot at drawing a non trophy bison in CSP, if I were to ever decide to. Not sure if I'll ever end up doing it though. Mostly because of the price, not the sporting aspect of it.
I've talked to folks that have done the CSP hunt and sure it isn't much of a grueling, challenging hunt, but I do think that while it's not an apples to apples (obviously) opportunity, it is similar to the style of hunt you'd have had in the past if you'd be hunting wild bison on the prairie. On the prairie, you may spot a herd from a mile or more away, take your time walking there, use the wind and some terrain to sneak into shooting range, and pick one off. I don't believe that hunting them on the prairie was ever considered an overly difficult hunt. That's one of the reasons they were so easily extirpated from the plains.
We've all read the fantastic write ups others have written on HT or we've watched a couple of the hunts on Randy's channel or any other number of cool bison hunts that have taken place, but those areas like the Henry's, or the Book Cliffs, or the Kaibab, or Wood Bison in AK are such different terrain than on the great plains. You've got far more challenging terrain and obstacles and hidey holes that present more of a challenge than on the prairie.
To me, the price is the only issue with the CSP bison tag. I'm sure it's still it's own style of fun, for those who have the tag.
I've talked to folks that have done the CSP hunt and sure it isn't much of a grueling, challenging hunt, but I do think that while it's not an apples to apples (obviously) opportunity, it is similar to the style of hunt you'd have had in the past if you'd be hunting wild bison on the prairie. On the prairie, you may spot a herd from a mile or more away, take your time walking there, use the wind and some terrain to sneak into shooting range, and pick one off. I don't believe that hunting them on the prairie was ever considered an overly difficult hunt. That's one of the reasons they were so easily extirpated from the plains.
We've all read the fantastic write ups others have written on HT or we've watched a couple of the hunts on Randy's channel or any other number of cool bison hunts that have taken place, but those areas like the Henry's, or the Book Cliffs, or the Kaibab, or Wood Bison in AK are such different terrain than on the great plains. You've got far more challenging terrain and obstacles and hidey holes that present more of a challenge than on the prairie.
To me, the price is the only issue with the CSP bison tag. I'm sure it's still it's own style of fun, for those who have the tag.
HONEYBADGER
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2013
- Messages
- 774
Finished up my non-trophy hunt on the Custer. It was a great time. The staff involved are very knowledgeable about Bison and the history of the park, how Bison utilize the park, and why they are managed the way they are. There are simply more non-trophy Bison to be hunted so I believe the non-trophy hunt is easier than the trophy Bison where there are fewer to hunt and they are secluded back in canyons and draws.
To summarize it, I met with park staff in the morning and got to know them a little while learning about Bison and the park. When it was time to head out we began checking areas staff knew Bison had been frequenting. The first area had no Bison but on the way there we saw a small group several hundred yards off in the yellow grass hills of the park. After striking out at the first location staff surveyed the group we had previously seen and said any of those Bison would be takers.
We made our way down into the closest draw to the target herd and staff asked how far I was comfortable shooting and we were going to be within that range if everything worked out.
We made our way up over the last ridge and found the herd feeding about 120 yards away. Upon seeing us they immediately began to trot, not run but trot away. I picked out the lead bull as he was clear of the herd and after some fast shooting my hunt was over.
Something interesting for those who are into bullet performance, reloading, etc. I shot the bull with a 28 Nosler, 195GR Berger going a little over 3000fps. Distance was about 125yds. The first shot took the top of his heart off, in retrospect my follow up shot was not necessary but he was still running so I shot again hitting almost the exact same location, just a little bit higher. The bull went a total of about 40-50 yards after the first shot. They are tough animals.
During field dressing we found both bullets never left his body cavity. The entrances were plainly visible inside the ribs but there were no exits. The heart was about the size of a volleyball. The heart, lungs and major arteries all had damage.
It was a quick, clean kill which is what I wanted, but if I ever hunt them again I will probably use a bonded bullet or maybe copper.
The staff at Custer do a great job and I learned a lot about the park and Bison while I was there. I have never been to SD so we took a couple days to see Deadwood, Mt Rushmore, and the surrounding black hills area. Custer Park has all the game you could want to see, Elk, deer both whities and muleys, sheep, antelope, bison, turkeys, coyotes etc, they have it all, it's a beautiful place.
I enjoyed my time in SD and if l am fortunate enough to draw, I hope to return someday for the trophy hunt.
To summarize it, I met with park staff in the morning and got to know them a little while learning about Bison and the park. When it was time to head out we began checking areas staff knew Bison had been frequenting. The first area had no Bison but on the way there we saw a small group several hundred yards off in the yellow grass hills of the park. After striking out at the first location staff surveyed the group we had previously seen and said any of those Bison would be takers.
We made our way down into the closest draw to the target herd and staff asked how far I was comfortable shooting and we were going to be within that range if everything worked out.
We made our way up over the last ridge and found the herd feeding about 120 yards away. Upon seeing us they immediately began to trot, not run but trot away. I picked out the lead bull as he was clear of the herd and after some fast shooting my hunt was over.
Something interesting for those who are into bullet performance, reloading, etc. I shot the bull with a 28 Nosler, 195GR Berger going a little over 3000fps. Distance was about 125yds. The first shot took the top of his heart off, in retrospect my follow up shot was not necessary but he was still running so I shot again hitting almost the exact same location, just a little bit higher. The bull went a total of about 40-50 yards after the first shot. They are tough animals.
During field dressing we found both bullets never left his body cavity. The entrances were plainly visible inside the ribs but there were no exits. The heart was about the size of a volleyball. The heart, lungs and major arteries all had damage.
It was a quick, clean kill which is what I wanted, but if I ever hunt them again I will probably use a bonded bullet or maybe copper.
The staff at Custer do a great job and I learned a lot about the park and Bison while I was there. I have never been to SD so we took a couple days to see Deadwood, Mt Rushmore, and the surrounding black hills area. Custer Park has all the game you could want to see, Elk, deer both whities and muleys, sheep, antelope, bison, turkeys, coyotes etc, they have it all, it's a beautiful place.
I enjoyed my time in SD and if l am fortunate enough to draw, I hope to return someday for the trophy hunt.
Last edited:
gonhunting247
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2010
- Messages
- 250
Congrats. Sounds like a fun experience. Cool looking bison!
HONEYBADGER
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2013
- Messages
- 774
I dropped off the head for a Euro mount. I had the Bison processed locally and ended up with 597 pounds of finished meat, 9 points to draw.
