Okay, now where was I? Oh yeah....

Last week my son Jon and I drove out to South Dakota to hunt The Great American Bison, aka, buffalo. I am not a trophy hunter but I enjoy the meat so I wanted something I could have turned into steaks, roast and burger not just burger. A meat bull is what I wanted. Getting a nice hide and a European style skull mount was a plus. The 8 year old has claimed the hide for her bed when it gets back from the taxidermist.

I had been planning this trip for the better part of a year, mostly sorting through various guides and outfitters. I finally decided to go with Willie Dvorak who owns and operates the Jim River Guide Service and Outfitters in Mellet, SD. https://jimriverguideservice.com/ He was not the cheapest but I went with him for two reasons. First, when you hire Willie he is your guide. Second, when I emailed him on the first questions he sent me a list of previous clients and phone numbers for me to call if I wished. It was a very long list. No other service did this. In SD Willie operates out of his home. He has quarters for hunters in this home, a private bathroom and shower, a pool table and wide screen TV. Evening meals are taken with the family and in addition to hunting Willie is quite the accomplished chef. The prime rib was outstanding as was his selection of wines.

He operates in SD and Alaska. Hunts include buffalo, prairie dogs, deer, birds, coyotes, bear and moose.

Now to the hunt. We saddled up a little after 8 AM and headed out. Searching turned up a couple of Trophy Bulls, a herd of buffalo cows and a Super Trophy Bull. This guy was a monster. Looked like a brown fuzzy mountain moving across the plain. But no meat bulls.

We finally found two up on a knoll near some scrub trees. We went around the other side and parked. An 800 yard walk brought us up behind the stand of trees. A little stealthy walking and I spotted them. Willies says he will try to get you within 100 yards but that sometimes it's more like 200. In this case I was about 75 yards out near a small tree. Using it for a support I watch them. Unfortunately, they saw us. As the larger one turned to leave I shot him. The Remington factory 270 grain soft point fired from my .375 H&H Whitworth Safari Mauser turned him. He did a complete circle and fell. This is when his friend got squirrelly, running up then back and finally leaving.

Anyway, the buffalo got trailered and moved to the butcher in Ipswich, SD. Family Pride Processing is owned and operated by Donnie Lund. He had that buffalo gutted, skinned, split and hung in the cooler in 20 minutes. I was amazed. The whole thing was processed, vacuum packaged, labeled and frozen for pick up in 36 hours. We loaded it into coolers for the trip back to NC.

All in all one of the best hunts I have been on. My many thanks to Willie, his family, Donnie and everyone else who worked with us to make this a very enjoyable time.


Jon and me and the bull.

Mighty nice Dave. Thanks for sharing with us and me
on the side. Enjoyed your story.

How much was it like shooting a cow out in the pasture though? I've heard others claim that is how their "hunt" went.

George

quote:

runs away and again that may be fore miles

I don't think any Bison in SD on a commercial operation could run for miles before hitting a fence shortly after it was shot.

Any way you’d like it is fine.

Dave, I have been waiting for you to post this report. I have wanted to go on a meat bison hunt for years.
I realize the hunt is less a battle of wits and stalking skills than it is just being patient for the right opportunity, but you get wonderful meat, a fine robe and a nice memory out of it. Works for me.
And p dog, if bison want to ignore a fence, they are capable of doing so.

quote:

Originally posted by just-a-hunter:

Please repost your report so the people who aren’t pricks can enjoy it...

Todd

I'd sure like to read it, and I don't think I'm a prick.

I would like to read the report. I work with buffalo on a ranch here in north Texas and we have done a shoot for some of our surplus bulls and would enjoy reading about peoples experiences at other places.

As far as the comment George made:

quote:

How much was it like shooting a cow out in the pasture though? I've heard others claim that is how their "hunt" went.

Most Buffalo hunts are as George suggested, like shooting a cow in a pasture, has nothing to do with their "wildness" or lack there of, they just are not all that impressed with so-called human superiority.

Don't know how many on here have hunted Musk Ox, but from my personal experience and what videos I have watched Musk Ox are not really all that different.

I would also like to read your report.

Ignore p-dog. Most people do. He is just a prick that thinks he knows everything except how to use the word "will". He never gets that one right. He makes law enforcement look badly educated and arrogant. Sad.

I too would like to read your report,I have been on two Bison hunts,enjoyed both,the meat was a bonus.

I would also enjoy the read.

I read the report first thing this morning (about 7am on the east coast). It was a very quick read through and wanted to read it again. Was interested on how the gentlemen was getting the processed buffalo back home. Had a quick break at 10am and noticed it disappeared. Shame. Really wanted to read it again.

Re-posted for those who were interested.

Thanks.

Nicely Done and thanks for posting again.

quote:

Originally posted by drhall762:
Re-posted for those who were interested.

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by drhall762:
Re-posted for those who were interested.

Thanks.

Great! Thanks for doing that. I like seeing the photo of that great beast and really hope to go chase bison someday myself. Looks like a dandy way to have some fun outdoors and get a freezer full of good meat. Beats the hell out of buying beef and sitting around in front of the boob toob.

quote:

Originally posted by DesertRam:

quote:

Originally posted by drhall762:
Re-posted for those who were interested.

Thanks.

Great! Thanks for doing that. I like seeing the photo of that great beast and really hope to go chase bison someday myself. Looks like a dandy way to have some fun outdoors and get a freezer full of good meat. Beats the hell out of buying beef and sitting around in front of the boob toob.

Agreed and thanks.

Thanks for the report!

I enjoyed reading it.


.

He looks pretty big to me.

Thank You for re-posting your hunt.

Such hunts are what the person involved makes of them.

You are happy with how things worked out and have every reason to be.

Congratulations on your bull.

Sounds like you enjoyed the heck outta your hunt.....congrats! Enjoy the spoils as well.

Haters gonna hate. To hell with 'em. I added that jackass to my ignore list years ago.

Thanks for sharing your hunt with us. This is something on my bucket list but doubt if it will ever happen. Sigh.

Thanks for the report - well done!

I enjoyed your hunt and report too.

I had gone to Big Timber, Montana and purchased a 1874 Sharps rifle. I want to take it out for buffalo and have looked at several hunts. Unfortunately I couldn't get to the hunt this year, but sometime in the next couple of years when I have shot the Sharps more I want to go for buffalo with it.

It is fun reading these hunts. The history of men hunting in North America is buffalo hunting. You have joined into those ranks.

Several years ago I shot two buffalo with my 4-bore double at Triple U Ranch, outside of Pierre.
Great fun. The price was adjusted as they kept the meat. (I was traveling the Lower 48 for six months and could not use it). Great fun and highly recommended. 60,000 acres is a fair hunt. The ranch was where Dances With Wolves was filmed.
Cal

Thanks for you honest report.
Just out of interest, how much meat did you pack home ?
Did you take pretty well everything ( stew meat, shins, neck chops etc ).
I’m unlikely to get this opportunity but on a cost per pound basis it would be interesting to compare against some of the Deer venison we recover in NZ and Australia.
Thanks again.

He weighed right at 1500# on the hoof and I got 490# of steaks, roasts, burger, etc to carry home. I took everything and dropped the head and hide off at a local taxidermist in Frederick, SD. When he gets done with them the hair is beautiful and the skin like glove leather.

I really wanted to take my Sharps but just wasn’t as comfortable with it as I was with my Whitworth. Maybe for moose this coming year or elk, depending on the order of the hunts. Last two American animals on my list. Hope to get both before I turn 65. Looking good so far.

I think when I factor in the hunt cost, processing cost and travel costs I could have ordered the meat cheaper but it wouldn’t have been near the fun. A big plus was my son and I got reacquainted after 5 years. Definitely worth every cent.

That is awesome. Someday I would wanna take my son to get a buffallo.

quote:

Originally posted by drhall762:
He weighed right at 1500# on the hoof and I got 490# of steaks, roasts, burger, etc to carry home. I took everything and dropped the head and hide off at a local taxidermist in Frederick, SD. When he gets done with them the hair is beautiful and the skin like glove leather.

I really wanted to take my Sharps but just wasn’t as comfortable with it as I was with my Whitworth. Maybe for moose this coming year or elk, depending on the order of the hunts. Last two American animals on my list. Hope to get both before I turn 65. Looking good so far.

I think when I factor in the hunt cost, processing cost and travel costs I could have ordered the meat cheaper but it wouldn’t have been near the fun. A big plus was my son and I got reacquainted after 5 years. Definitely worth every cent.

Fantastic job & report! Thanks for sharing!!

Dave,

Glad you enjoyed your bison hunt. Well done and good shooting.

Congrats,

Mark

that sounds like a BUNCH of fun! Thanks for reposting! pretty animals, too! no pics of the massive buffalo?

quote:

Originally posted by drhall762:
He weighed right at 1500# on the hoof and I got 490# of steaks, roasts, burger, etc to carry home. I took everything and dropped the head and hide off at a local taxidermist in Frederick, SD. When he gets done with them the hair is beautiful and the skin like glove leather.

I really wanted to take my Sharps but just wasn’t as comfortable with it as I was with my Whitworth. Maybe for moose this coming year or elk, depending on the order of the hunts. Last two American animals on my list. Hope to get both before I turn 65. Looking good so far.

I think when I factor in the hunt cost, processing cost and travel costs I could have ordered the meat cheaper but it wouldn’t have been near the fun. A big plus was my son and I got reacquainted after 5 years. Definitely worth every cent.

My first hunt ever was for a Bison,I used a Shiloh Sharps in 45-90,following the guides advice,I put a 400'ish hard cast right behind the ear about 100 yards,the cow just ran around with the herd with a neat little hole in her neck,after chasing it up & down the prairie & the herd finally settling down,I shot it a second time with a 480 gr soft lead bullet in front of the shoulder about midway up,the effect on the animal was spectacular,she just dropped where she stood,there was a small cloud of dust above her,made a believer outta my guide ha ha ha, the following year,I hunted Elk with another Shiloh in 45-110,one bullet one Elk down,I have not hunted with a Sharps since,but one of these days they are coming back out of my safe,they work real well

My Shiloh is a .45-110. I like it but it is still quite new to me. Hope to get it into action on an upcoming hunt. Let's face it, big bullets are great but bullet placement is critical.

My Sharps is 45-90 as well. I had casted up some bullets and had good accuracy, but just not enough time shooting it.

I also had done as I read here in another buffalo (bison) hunt thread with a Sharps, and modified one of bullets some. I cast some 500 grain Saeco semi points but I had my machine shop buds mill them off for more frontal area and meplat with using them on buffalo in mind. I haven't loaded or tried them yet but I am going to see how they shoot.

So I quite well like and was interested in the buffalo hunting reports here as others here on AR obviously are too

quote:

Originally posted by 724wd:
that sounds like a BUNCH of fun! Thanks for reposting! pretty animals, too! no pics of the massive buffalo?

This may be him. It was taken a few days after mine. I knew another hunter was booked.

Ive hunted Bison 4 times..My method of getting the meat back was quarters in bags, a kids swimming pool and 15 bags of ice in the back of my pickup..stayed frozen for 5 days..

My latest method of transporting meat is a 5 cubic and 7 cubic freezers purchased from Lowes or Home depot and 100 yards of extension cord..The freezer cost about $150 or less, Stick the quarters in the freezer, they freeze overnight and your good forever..Get home have the buther thaw them out some and cut and package..Its worked like a charm for a number of years, stop at a motel, just plug it in..I use the 5 cu. footer for transporting and the 7 cu. ft.for processed meat storage along with the big freezer in the house..

CAl,
The triple U is no more,such a shame, the folks retired and sold out..I booked for them for a number of years.

I had one buffalo hunt in Nebraska that was pure torture to hunt, high hills and rough, thick timber. They had lots of buffalo and wild as hell, as they got hunted hard. tt was an ideal Bison hunt..Sent Phil Shoemaker, 458 on AR, for a buffalo and he wrote a great article in his magazine..It later went by the wayside, from a top notch outfit to not much, The owner sold it and the buyers got in financial strates, service went to hell and I dropped them..They went broke later on..I hated that.

I have a horse back hunt for Bison now that's a good hunt, and you can walk if your amind to..Its in Northern New Mexico..Its the best I could find.

Sometimes clients go with unreasonable expections on hunts,and Bison are not particularly wild, and not real hard to hunt, but a good outfit isn't like shooting a cow in a pasture unless the Bison are made tame so they can move them around..Not all bison hunts are the same and its dumb to class them all in one lump, that just shows a lack of knowledge from the poster. Bison hunting is today exactly what it was back in the day btw..thats why they got decimated..

I shot a record bull and got 820 lbs. of meat off him..the other I got 375 to perhaps 400 lbs of meat, and they ate better...Bison is much like beef but sweeter, and I prefer the less sweet beef, and my favorite is elk and deer.

quote:

ly

Congratulations, you definitely built lasting memories. That's all any of us could ask for.
Thanks for sharing and go get your moose.

Thanks Dave,

How do you measure buffalo? Tip to tip, base to tip, etc.? What makes a trophy bull?

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Thanks Dave,

How do you measure buffalo? Tip to tip, base to tip, etc.? What makes a trophy bull?

I am told it it from tip to tip. Now if that is not correct I’m sure we have someone that can shed light on the correct method.

Congrats Nice one!

I too have considered one of these hunts. Definitely going to use a sharps or muzzle loader just to make it a little more challenging.

Congrats on the Bison!

They are fun to watch, and some of the best eating!

Dave, this turned from a good thread to a sour thread to a great thread. Thanks for staying with it, friend. I will do this!