Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game American (Bison) Buffalo Hunts

Looking for information on how these pay hunts usually go....I’ve only heard about one pay to shoot hunt where the buff’s had a colored circle ⭕️ painted on their sides. Shoot a red painted buff it cost X amount of money... You shoot a blue colored one, it cost more than the red painted buff.

Are these hunts usually free range? I would think fences have to be used or these big boys would be long gone.

Do these private hunts have a feel of real hunting? Or, is it more like you get driven out to a field and there they are...Pick one out to shoot and write a check?

I’ve never eaten buffalo except for store sold “Beffalo” hamburger. Cross a bison with a beef cow, you get “Beffalo.” Is Buffalo good eating like beef?

What would I be looking at cost wise for a hunt to shoot a buff with horns for a shoulder mount? And a hunt to shoot a non-horned meat buffalo?

Thanks...Any pics of your American Bison taken would be appreciated....Mark 😎

Sent ya a pm

Bison hunts run $6500 or so.....find a ranch and ask directly....there's all kinds of deals available....but take a bushel basket of money...it's not cheap.

Yeah, I figured it was a chunk of change...😎

When I last looked they were in the $3500 range.

Wow. I had no clue it cost that much.

Wyoming has state tags through a random draw. $2752 for cow, $ 4402 any bison. They are free range and can be done DIY. With the price increase this year to those levels the odds were twice as good to draw. We have had 3 Wyoming tag bison cows and they taste outstanding

[img]https://forum.eastmans.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21406&d=1526997717[/img]

I find that these hunt are worth the money. As good a time as you make it and the meat (a lot of it) is fantastic and by the pound, its a far better value than many other hunts (for horns or antlers) Ive done them and have setup other folks on such hunts and all have been great experiences.

One thing to remember...once you find them, whether free ranging in Montana, ranch in Wyoming, or in a pasture in Nebraska the shooting is today is pretty much that same as it was a 100 years ago.


Lefty C

There are some pretty good free range hunts available on the Crow and Cheyenne Reservations in Montana.

I am doing an archery cow hunt next June on the Crow Reservation. From all my research, it sounds like a true free range, challenging hunt.

Should be fun, I looked for a hunt like this for a long time.

Fish, sounds like you may have a good hunt..I am hearing that Indian Rez hunts might be a solid option. I'm gonna start my research with Indian land...Mark

Lefty, I either need a horse, bow & arrow or a Sharp's in 45-70 Gov and a set of skins to wear...Grin!

Do they still have tags in the Henry Mountains (Utah)? I know they used to.... and they took a loooooong time to draw.

It was, and always will be, like shooting cattle. They just ain't afraid of much and as likely to stare you down or run you over as to flee. However, if you want to shoot one go do it. Lots of good meat, an impressive mount, nice powder horns, or a good warm robe can come out of a buffalo.

Reservation hunts are behind a fence, that's not free range.It's not a high fence but still they keep them in very large pastures. Prices are very high also.
If you want a chance at a "book" bison you'll have to get a state tag, Utah, Wyoming or Montana, might have missed a state.
A Wyoming cow tag DIY is very affordable comparably. Lodging can be had for fairly cheap, Tag and Drag costs are less than $200 and you can process yourself, we did.
Our resident prices are much cheaper for tags but my cow bison hunt cost us $850 all in, that is tag, lodging, Tag and Drag, and processing for some of the burger.
A state bull tag will get you a monster B&C bull if that's what you want.
The hide was less than $500 to get tanned on top of the hunt cost.

Make sure if you book a hunt ask what you get to keep included in the price, some charge extra for the meat, you're just hunting a hide and head at some ranches. Go late in winter also, best hides.

Dog- They still have the hunts on the Henry Mtns. One might even be on TV later this year...

Wytex- IIRC, a bison from Custer State Park qualifies as well, even though they are technically behind fence. I think AZ has tags as well. AK has tags/hunts as well. Looks like I'll be helping a pard on a hunt there next February.

I shot a cow at Custer a couple years back before the prices spiked. Glad I got in when I did, but it wasn't much of a "hunt".
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr

Great pic Tyler!!

That made a good rug I bet...Nice one. Thx, for the picture. 😎

wytex....Good information. Appreciated! 😎

You're right pointer, great cow. I found the link to the B&C eligibility list of bison :https://www.boone-crockett.org/bgRecords/records_boundaries.asp?area=bgRecords

Quite a few spots after all. I would look into all the states and places for how they draw or sell hunts. Some may have decent odds.