SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Qualified residents who can pay $6,500 can hunt a tropy bison in Custer State Park in South Dakota.
After Friday afternoon’s state Game Fish and Parks Commission meeting, more residents will get the chance to hunt more trophy and non-tropy bison in the state park.
The commission approved increasing the licenses for trophy bison from 10 to 12 and non-trophy licenses from 20 to 25 starting in 2026 through the 2027 season. The license in each category for the Hunt-for-Habitat raffle will also continue.
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In response to a petition, the commission also agreed to reserve no less than 60% of those licenses in a lottery for residents.
Hunters are paying for the chance to harvest a bull that could weigh as much as 2,000 pounds.
The GFP website says “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.”
The Montana Fish, Wildlife, Parks has this advice for bison hunters: “Participants should bring several people with them, or hire an outfitter to assist with the field dressing and handling
of their bison. If participants plan to field dress and load their own animal, axes, knives, saws, and block and tackle may be necessary.”
Jeff VanMeteren, director of parks and outdoor recreation, said at Friday’s meeting the increased limit depends on the herd’s health and the quality of the range land.
“The staff has done a good job of evaluating the herd. The health of the herd is fantastic,” VanMeteren said.
The GFP website says non-trophy bison hunting is a way to remove excess cows and primarily excess two-year-old bulls.
Bison hunting in Wyoming is also used to control the population, according to the Wyoming Game, Fish and Parks Department. Bison hunting has been allowed periodically since the 1988-1989 season.
The GFP took public comment on the bison action during a Thursday afternoon and Friday morning’s meeting. There was no comment on Friday but a public member commented Thursday.
One person commented on Thursday and said she was sickened by the hunt given the country’s past history with bison.
“Custer State Park is now a trophy hunting place for those rich enough (to pay),” the woman said.
The license decreases from $6,500 to $3,250 for a non-trophy bull.
Montana and Wyoming also offer licenses through a lottery type system.
Bison hunting has been allowed since at least the mid-1990s. The park maintains a herd of about 1,400 to 1,500 animals.
In the 1850s millions of bison lived in the Great Plains and Midwest. By 1884, millions had been destroyed and less than a thousand remained by 1890.
