hansontyrel
Active member
May I ask what your taxidermy bill was?
Custer State Park SD Bison Hunt
- Thread starter drwbuckshot
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Bluffgruff
Well-known member
Can you elaborate on why you wouldn't hunt a bison because of your friend's heritage?
SD_Prairie_Goat
Well-known member
Always wanted to do this hunt, but no way I can justify those prices! Plus the cost of tanning a bison hide, outlandish.
I looked back previously on why the GFP justified a price so high, it was something to the affect of: Well this is what a guided hunt costs on a closed fence farm in the region.
I get the logic here, but by the same standard a world class whitetail on that same farm will cost $5k+, does that mean we should charge all residents $5k for a deer tag in South Dakota? No, that's not how the gov't was set up.
Such a hot bitter topic for me personally, and lest we talk about the fact that they no longer have a cow tag available...
All the tags in the park are significantly more expensive. They’re good at making money that’s for sure. I don’t know, between the price and the fact you have to be escorted and told what animal to shoot, it’s never really peaked my interest. That’s just me though.
SD_Prairie_Goat
Well-known member
Don't quote me here, but I think yes to an extent. They don't want you shooting a bull that isn't trophy, or too young. So if you pass on one mature bull you can look for another mature bull I think.
But a call to GFP would be needed to confirm this.
That is not correct. The price is set based on what the bison sell $/lb at roundup. Immature bull is 1000-1200 lbs and the mature bulls are ~2000 lbs.
They offer the hunts but can't offer them for less than they can sell the animal for at auction. I'm much more ok with this, the free market is setting the price. It sucks its so expensive but it is a reasonable way to do it.
SD_Prairie_Goat
Well-known member
I'm not going to go find the old meeting mins from the GFP, but I can assure you that is correct and what they told the public/commission.
You can shoot any mature bull. You have a few days to get it done on a mature bull. You can not shoot an immature bull. Your guide will know all the buffalo and aren't going to waste your time taking you to anything other than the mature bulls.
I was on the hunt which takes place after they auction off buffalo and they told me the 1000-1200 buffalo were selling for ~$3k which is what they set the hunt price at. I wouldn't be surprised if a private land bull hunt was a similar price.
I have no idea honestly. I don’t know anyone thats been on the hunt. It might be worth it to ask a couple of the other posters that have. I agree with SD prairie goat with the call. I’d probably call CSP instead of game and fish though. I’d imagine that it would take longer the get one of those critters broke down and out of the field than it would to find and shoot one. The trophy tag is rifle only btw. Like I said I’m not that interested, just not my thing.
warmer
Well-known member
48 guys applied for 8 tags. That's why the price is high. If they ever run out of applicants the price will drop. The price is set by the GFP Commission.
SD_Prairie_Goat
Well-known member
Alright you won't accept my response, so here's the facts:
May 2017 GFP meeting Mins:
Let's look at average price nationwide:
Montana resident bison hunt cost (Obviously not looking to Montana for the basis of this statement):
Wyoming (getting closer, but only with respect to non resident):
Now lets look at some farm raised/high fence areas:
Now I could go on and on, but I won't because I think I illustrated both the GFP reasoning and the local market for private hunting.
But to put a ribbon on top of the present, here is the bill of sale from the 2017 round up:
I think you will quickly notice that they are not matching the price of tags on the auction price of the bison at round up. They are charging far more than that.
I'm sure I came off sassy, but you wouldn't believe me and this is a bitter topic for me personally.
ClearCreek
Well-known member
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- Jul 13, 2017
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What is the difference between shooting a bison in Custer State Park and shooting a bison off a private ranch? Is it because the CSP bison qualify for the B&C Record Book and the others don't?
ClearCreek
ClearCreek
shall12matt
New member
Does anyone who has done the non trophy bison hunt remember approximately how much meat they got after processing?
SD_Prairie_Goat
Well-known member
Difference is a public sanctioned hunt by the GFP, and a hunt that is private and overseen by the USDA (I think they have jurisdiction, but I could be wildly wrong here).
I know they sound similar in theory, but they are vastly different beasts.
Never done it, but GFP estimates you get 40% of live weight in boneless meat at the end of the day. They estimate the non-trophy bison at 900-1100lbs, so that would come to: 360-440lbs. For some more quick math, that comes to approx. $7.40/lbs assuming you get the high end bull at 1100 on the hoof, also assuming you do all of the processing yourself.
Not trying to be argumentative, I'm just relaying what I was told by my guide. Looks like he was off the mark with what he told me. Good info in your post.
I got over 300 pounds and I think it was 350ish but I didn't have it weighed. I flew up there and bought 4 120 qt ice chest to drive it home in. We are still eating on mine and love every bite. I will put in for the hunt again once we finish off this bull.
Not sure I could justify the cost of the trophy hunt.
ClearCreek
Well-known member
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- Jul 13, 2017
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I understand the public sanctioned hunt deal, but what I am getting at is the bison herd in CSP is managed just like a private bison herd would be managed. They are rounded up annually and certain animals are culled (sold off or hunted). I believe they are winter fed just like cattle.
I am not sure what role the USDA would have regarding a private bison herd. The South Dakota Dept. of Agriculture would most likely be the regulatory agency of private bison herds when it comes to branding, disease issues, etc.
Given this type of management how are they "vastly different beasts"?
ClearCreek
npaden
Well-known member
Wow. I remembered the price going up but I had forgotten how high it had gotten..
My Alaska Bison locking tag is $900. Hunting License was $160. Roundtrip flight $650. Tresspass fee $500. Cabin rental $600. Flying meat home $500 - $600.
That's less than the non trophy bull tag all in. I'm thankful to have a friend who is going with me and using his truck or that would set me back another $750 or so but even then that would get me right at the price of the tag for the non trophy bull.
Of course the .27% draw odds are a little tougher than 8 out of 48 (16%).
Really starting to get excited, less than 2 weeks away. Weather is looking pretty reasonable so far, highs in the lower 20's and lows in teens. I've hunted in worse weather in Montana several times growing up.
My Alaska Bison locking tag is $900. Hunting License was $160. Roundtrip flight $650. Tresspass fee $500. Cabin rental $600. Flying meat home $500 - $600.
That's less than the non trophy bull tag all in. I'm thankful to have a friend who is going with me and using his truck or that would set me back another $750 or so but even then that would get me right at the price of the tag for the non trophy bull.
Of course the .27% draw odds are a little tougher than 8 out of 48 (16%).
Really starting to get excited, less than 2 weeks away. Weather is looking pretty reasonable so far, highs in the lower 20's and lows in teens. I've hunted in worse weather in Montana several times growing up.
