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.

I would agree it's not "true" free range but about as close as you can get. After considerable research I am very confident it is not going to be like shooting one in a small pasture or corral.

I am not worried about record books or anything like that. I want to thrill of hunting a buffalo with a bow. Always wanted to and can't draw a tag in MT or anywhere else with my drawing luck. I can assure you I've tried!

Cost isn't too bad, I'm doing a five day hunt for $ 3,500.

To each his own but I think it will be a challenge and a lot of fun and hopefully a freezer full of meat.

No judgement here, I would do a ranch hunt if they were cheaper.
Good luck!! Which reservation are you going on? Some I looked at were very expensive.

Bison raffle going this morning from BOW, bowhunters of Wyoming. $50 ticket and almost sold out. Get's you a Governor's bison tag, no cost to you.

I'm hunting on the Crow Reservation.

The hunting area is actually up pretty high in elevation and not accessible until mid to late May is what I've been told so my hunt is in June. I'm not all the concerned with hide quality or anything like that.

There was a hunt report on another forum from a guy who was bow hunting and that is what really piqued my interest. I was going to provide the link here but for the life of me I can't find the damn thing.

And you're right, I think the trophy bull hunts are more than twice what I'm paying. If the hunt goes well and is a quality experience I'm planning on doing a bull hunt (but non-trophy sized) the next year after my cow hunt.

Edited to add link to Bowsite hunt report:

http://forums.bowsite.com/tf/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=469914&messages=150&forum=12

Sounds awesome, good luck !! You might keep the Wyoming bison draw in mind next year. If you could draw an any bison tag you would get a real trophy, or meat bull or cow if wanted.
Some nice bulls fall to bows up there every year.

All good....Never felt insulted. I was curious how these hunts worked, and the cost... Unless these Buffs are running all over "Kings Ranch" in AZ or NM. I figured they would be fenced. I just started looking into Rez hunts, so i don't have a single direction, yet.

Here's an option for a chance at a tag :http://bowhuntersofwyoming.org/bisontagraffle

Raffle for an any bison tag in Wyoming. 500 total tickets, $50/ticket. Any area and the license is included in the cost, winner will only have to buy a conservation stamp to hunt. We're for 2 tickets.

Tag

4 aces ranch and outfitter in Oregon. Their price starts at $3,400. I've hunted there four times and will go again next week.

I work on the crow rez. The area where they do the buffalo hunts is down toward the big horns and is pretty remote and country. You will not feel like your shooting one in a pen.

Can someone tell me if the road into the 4 Aces Ranch is paved or gravel?

Thanks

Cool info, thanks BWalker. Wasn't trying to disparage your hunts there.

The only bison meat I have eaten was in resturants. Not that impressed. Like resturant trout. Don't bother (or fish of any kindif you are used to self-caught.). DIY bison free-range is likely to taste better.

We have free-range permit bison hunts in Alaska.

40 years of applying for a permit, and NADA!!

Nice that I like I like caribou and moose!

Good luck for your bison hunt!

Most of the way is paved. But it is so winding you might drive a sports car.

Just a few more days and I'm going for my forth time.

Go fourth, and enjoy....

But why not go first, second, or third???

Ring, That’s doable! You shooting freezer meat? Or, banging for horns to mount? 😎

Las, To my palate, grass feed beef is schitty! I know angus ranchers who’s specialty is selling “Grass fed” beef to restaurant and lean meat only lovers...Give me an animal that’s eating alfalfa, corn, wheat any day. I want some nice fat between the hide and meat. 😎

Your milage differs from mine....

I hunted on the Crow last year with Chaz, great guy. We had four guys shoot antelope. I shot mine the first day and then got to go with the other two guys on their Buffalo hunt. It was a hunt, they were on top of the mountain (long ride on a rough, off road, road). Was really pretty on the way up there. Both the guys shot Buffalo we spotted the heard and put a mile stock on them, just trying to keep up with them. Split up and once close and dropped two of them. Lots of work once they’re down.

Had a blast out there I’ll be back this year late August taking my wife and another couple to lope hunt then down to Wyoming to guide bear hunters Sept 1st. It’s becoming one of my favorite 2 weeks out of the year and look forward to it all year

Best of luck to you and be sure to let us know how you do

I keep hearing stories about these "canned" hunts.....