Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire how much will a buffalo cost me?

I harvested a monster (1,700 pound) bull in Chadron, Nebraska, 5 or six years ago. At the time, I paid either $3,500 or $3,900 (can't remember) and kept it all: hide, head, meat. The place I went has a website: elkplanet.com Yes, I know it says "elk" planet, but he also periodically has bison available. Not sure what his current prices are, but the owner of the place is a nice guy and you might wanna check him out.

Dunno anything about this place other that it's close enough that when I go to Albuquerque to see my daughter, it would be a nice side trip. http://www.lamontbuffalo.com/index.html Looks like you can go shoot one or buy already processed meat. Which ever way you want to go. I'll be passing through the area in a couple of weeks but am on my way to an cow elk hunt in Raton.
Paul B.

HC- I'm on the other side of the state, but could use a freezer filler as well.

If there is a good deal east of ya, I might be in to split gas and costs from your place.

High Country/Mad Mooner:

Might give this guy a try. It's been a couple years since I was on the place, but he might still be in the business. Located in Halfway, Oregon, which would not be too heavy of a run. There's a good motel available there too for an overnighter.

Buffalo in Halfway

I'd join you, but both freezers are full at the moment.

Edited: When I was last there, he had just completed preg checking, and any that were barren were marked and available. It was about this time of year too. Two year olds and up and a few bulls too. He had a couple skinners on site, and would break them down to quarters. There was a cutter in Halfway assoicated with a grocery store and they would pack them there for processing if that is what one wanted. Personally though, I'd be inclined to work up my own and not have to return for another meat haul. With present temps here in the northwest, hauling and hanging should not be much of an issue.
Good luck,

You coudn't GIVE me beef if I could get grass fed buffler. Short grass country bison is the best chow I've ever put a bullet in. Sent you a PM.

I shot one here about 10 years ago. http://www.swrbiggamehunts.com/hunting.html ,as a partial trade for some wages. Great people. Although there was no golf cart like they hunt from in Texas, the heated cab of the john Deere was nice, and the hay bale in the grapple made a good rifle rest.

actually if yah can get beef raised on the same sorta prairie it gets pretty close....bison has an edge but not as big as you would think over good prairie raised beef....

I'd rather go to Texas and hunt a few Axis.

We have shot two in the last 4 years but unfortunately the ranch sold to an out of state interest and no longer offers the product.
Price was per pound or about $750 for yearlings. They would cull a dozen each year.
Lots of weight in hide and bone but good lean meat.
K

I killed a 2 year old bull in April 2009 in SE South Dakota. Animal cost $700, processing/packaging was about $300 and it was about $200 in extra travel to pick up the final product - total of about $1200. Now, I will qualify my numbers and say the buff was bought from my BIL and his partner and killed in their pasture (about 90+/- acres) . . . NOT in a pen, but definitely not a physically demanding stalk/hunt either. If you can find a hunt/processing package for $2000 to $2500 it would be a good deal. I do know that since I took mine, the cost of already processed buffalo meat has risen fairly substantially, so even my guess might be low. Good luck in your quest.

Couldn't agree more. So much so, that my wife has "ordered" another one. Took just over 2 years to finish the first one. Going back to Wyoming next Thanksgiving to re-supply.

Axis deer, on the other hand, is some of the finest venison I've had. The whole animal tastes like tenderloin to me

Homestead Ranch Buffalo Hunting
Price List
2013-2014



Indians Choice (young female) - 1 � yrs. Old - 750-850lbs. - live
The Indians always killed the fat heifers (young females) when they had the choice. Why? The meat was the best and the hides were unbelievable!
$2650 hunt
Yields approx. 350 lbs. of boneless packaged meat.

1/8 Buffalo
$497.15 $419.00
FAMILY VALUE PACK

10 lbs. boneless Bison Roasts
20 lbs. Ground Bison
2 Bison Filet Mignon Steaks
4 Bison Ribeye Steaks
4 Bison New York Strips
4 Bison Top Sirloin Steaks

Shipping Included

http://www.buffalogal.com/Meat-Gift-Packs-FREE-SHIPPING-C4.aspx

http://www.fortpecktribes.org/fgd/contact.htm

anyone done this? the numbers work good for me and i can visit family too.

lol thats the guys i was talking about in my post.....

High_country_: I have given a hand on several Buffalo "harvests" - I love Buffalo meat!
I have never killt one of these ranch raised Buffalo myself but I sure like to eat them - so I go along with my friends when they want to harvest one for their families fare.
The word is Buffalo meat is much better for the human that consumes it than Beef!
In addition to often getting a small batch of Buffalo meat to eat, one year I earned a nifty Buffalo skull that I had "Demastid Beetle" treated.
It hangs on my fireplace and is very attractive there.
Not far from you is one of the ranches I went along to.
Its west of Ronan, Montana (which is 46 miles north of I-90 near Missoula) and the owners name is Bernard Hakes and his phone number was 406-676-3068.
He really helps out with retrieving and then gutting and skinning your Buffalo.
Once you see him you might recognize him - he is the subject of the "Duck Boy" postcard which is titled "Montana Designated Driver" and that is his dog on his horse. The dog is "driving" the horse home and has the reins of the horse in its mouth, Bernard is slumped over asleep in the saddle.
It is really a funny postcard.
That postcard is by far the best all time seller for the Duck Boy Company.
If you get to Hunt on Bernards ranch be sure and ask him about the picture and the financial "wrangling" leading up to it.
Buying a side of Beef may be easier - I don't know about cheaper?
But the buffalo meat will taste good and may just add some days to your life as well as lots of conversations?
Buffal hides are beautiful things once tanned with the hair on - those hides would have value should you wish to trade it off to diminish your "overall costs".
I had a mature Bull Elk hide tanned with the hide on some years ago - my plan was to use it as a comforter or bed warmer on the master bed.
Well that hair on Elk blanket was so warm and so heavy it was uncomfortable to sleep under (for my wife and I anyway!).
Instead my Bull Elk hide is now displayed on a stairwell protecting bannister - it is very attractive there.
I suggest you not forget about the Buffalo "robe" - it has value and would look nice once tanned with the hair on.
Best of luck should you decide to go for a Buff!
Hold inot the wind
VarmintGuy

Many years ago I hunted the 7W Ranch in SD for a bison bull. I used a black powder buffalo replica rifle & wore a traditional period outfit. I also visited the old fort where they filmed Dancing With Wolves. A lot of fun & plenty of meat. Got a shoulder mount, skull w/replica horns, tanned the back pelt, & had a rifle rack made with the hoofs.

My big MT bull from 2007.
Shot with a Sharps with blackpowder cartridges and hand cast bullets.

Not a hard hunt but fun and lots of meat!

I hunted my buffalo at the Triple U Ranch in South Dakota just north of Pierre. You might try looking them up. I'm on my iPhone and have problems with internet searches at the moment or I'd provide you the link. Good luck.