Hunt
Photo © SDTourism
Trophy Buffalo
The hunt is a management tool to remove the oldest breeding bulls from of the herd of Custer State Park. These bulls are typically 10+ years old. After the summer rut, these bulls leave the herd and winter by themselves or in small groups throughout the park.
The bulls are Boone & Crocket eligible. Entries in the Boone & Crocket records are shown as "Custer County, SD." A typical bull will weigh about 2,000 pounds. The meat, hide and head are all the property of the hunter. Typically, bison will dress 50% from live weight to hot hanging weight. From hot hanging carcass to boneless packaged meat will be 60% of carcass.
Local taxidermists are available to prepare a cape for shipping or for complete service in mounting the animal. Contact them early
Season and hunt Information
Hunters have a maximum of three consecutive days to hunt. Hunts are scheduled Monday through Friday excluding holidays. The season runs from November 27, 2017 - January 12, 2018 for up to three days as scheduled excluding holidats and weekends. The hunts begin on Mondays and Wednesdays. Hunters are alotted three days. One guest may accompany the hunter. We do not allow party applications for the trophy hunt. Standard South Dakota big game regulations apply. Minimum age is 12 with hunter safety certificate. Permits are available to both South Dakota residents and non-residents.
South Dakota Administrative Rule requires the hunter to be guided during this three-day hunt. The park provides a guide, field transportation for the hunt, and field handling of the animal. The guide indicates which bulls are eligible, and approve the location that they may be shot.
This is a firearm only hunt. Rifles must be at least .270 caliber and generate a minimum of 2,200-foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. Typical shot distance is 50-100 yards. 8 licenses available to residents and nonresidents will be available. 2 trophy bull licenses are allocated to a resident-only online draw. Successful applicants will be contacted by Custer State Park officials to schedule the hunt the week following the draw. The fee is $6,006, only successful applicants will be charged.
Any leftovers after the first draw will be available in a second draw to all applicants.
Standard South Dakota big game regulations apply. Minimum age is 12 with hunter safety certificate.
Deadline: September 6, 8 a.m. CST.