Each year, Custer State Park, located in western South Dakota, is home to the Trophy Bison Bull Hunt. Custer boasts one of the largest free-roaming bison herds in the world, totaling around 1,500 on 71,000 acres of park, as of 2009.
The hunt requires prospective hunters to complete an application and submit a $5,000 fee that will be refunded if the application is denied. It is recommended to apply for two consecutive years; second-year applicants get chosen prior to first-timers.
The bison hunt is used as a tool for eliminating the oldest bulls of the herd.
The hunt is done from a vehicle, provided by the park, and must be done with firearms that are at least a .270 caliber rifle that produce 2,200-foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. Every hunter is allowed one guest and is accompanied by a park guide. Hunters are allowed three days.
The hunter may only hunt bulls predesignated by the park. Hunters own all meat, head and hide of the bison they shoot. The park will recommend meat lockers and taxidermists for preparing the animal.
A typical bull that is tagged for the hunt is more than 10 years old and weighs approximately 2,000 pounds.
