Custer State Park is home to nearly 1,500 buffalo, otherwise known as American Bison. The animals have free run of the park and can often be seen crossing roads and highways as they move from pasture to pasture.
Each fall, the 71,000-acre park holds a buffalo roundup in the true spirit of the Old West. The buffalo drive is done on horseback and the animals are herded into corrals for sorting.
The buffalo roundup has a practical purpose. The general health of the animals is checked, then most are released. Some are vaccinated, then held in the corrals for the November auction. This helps control the size of the herd and prevents overgrazing of their environment.
The Annual Buffalo Auction is part of Custer State Park's conservation program. Traditionally held the third Saturday in November, the public is invited to attend. All proceeds go toward the costs associated with maintaining the buffalo herd.
The Annual Buffalo Roundup is combined with a three-day Annual Arts Festival held each fall that features exhibits, craft booths and Native American and Western entertainment. Pancake breakfasts are a favored tradition.
