Best Bison Hunting Ranch in Wyoming?

[chasingcoues]

Fellow Hunters,

I will be in Wyoming this fall and would like to go on a Bison hunt on a quality ranch. I have done alot of homework on this in regards to budget, quality of animals available and etc.

I am really trying to stay clear of places with high fences and very few acre's, I understand this isn't going to be the most challening of hunts, but I don't want to be on a petting zoo LOL!

However, I've only seen a few ranches, and was hoping to have a few more options that might not be as highly advertised but hold higher quality. I would like to shoot a 6-8 year old bull, with good weight and horns.

Please feel free to PM or just post on here if you have any helping details!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Againstthewind]

http://durhamranch.com/tours-hunting/hunts/

I drive by this place frequently. There are loads of bison. I didn't actually know they did hunts. It has high fences, but a lot of acres. I think that most bison ranches will have the high fences. Elk and bison both go through regular size fences like they nothing but bailing twine, so I think the bison ranches all pretty much need to have the high fences. It said they had 65,000 acres which could make for a good hunt, especially if you are choosy about your bull but I really don't know. I know one guy who did a hunt in SD on a similar style ranch and he had to work his butt off for it, so maybe it would be fun. Well good luck, and don't be afraid to share if you get a truck load of meat, lol. Just kidding.

 

[shootbrownelk]

I've also heard that South Dakota offered a more challenging hunt. The one's I've seen in Wyoming are akin to shooting dairy cows. That's what I've heard from a few folks that actually hunted on Bison ranches, The Durham ranch south of Gillette was one of them.

 

[Againstthewind]

I should have figured that if that guy chose to drive a couple of hours to South Dakota instead of a local hunt. Thanks.

 

[go_deep]

The application process is done for this year, but Wyoming has an actual wild buffalo tag. The draw odds for a NR are pretty descent.

 

[chasingcoues]

Yeah, I would love to do that sometime. The one that you sent me Againstthewind is slightly farther north then I was hoping, and there only in a 1,000 acre setup. I might be looking for the impossible the more research I do on this. Oh well, I'll keep digging. Thanks for everyones input!

 

[RICMIC]

If you look at a bison hunt as more of a "best meat you'll ever eat shoot", there are a lot of options out there. I got one on an elk ranch in Neb. several years ago; it was primarily set up for elk and only had six bison on 3,500 acres. I intended to use my .454 handgun, but just couldn't get close enough. Finally closed the deal with my 7mm. Unfortunately, the bison prices have gone way up because of the market for bison meat. The hunt that was 1.8K is now 4.5K. I ended up with 603# of wrapped meat, so you can't beat that cost per lb.
I looked into the wild WY hunt after it was in the MRS a few months ago. I was curious as to why the success rates on bulls was quite high ($2.5K), and for cows ($1K) was 68%. I talked to the Jackson F&G, as well as an outfitter who I know in the area. They told me pretty much the same; it's a long season, but the cows generally stay in the NP until they move to the National Elk Refuge. When they move is determined by the weather, and they will actually be prevented from moving too soon. You can apply for a 4 day permit to hunt the refuge, but the dates are not your choice, but if the bison are there it is pretty much a "shoot". The bulls can be found roaming in the forest some on public land out of the NP, hence the higher success rate. In all cases, you better plan on either an outfitted hunt or Tag & Drag to get the meat out. You have to walk or use horses even on the refuge, and the bison can be a ways from the road. Maybe someone who has done it has a different experience.

 

[Againstthewind]

My grandpa did the refuge bison hunt, and that summed it up pretty well from what he said.

I didn't realize that the Durham Ranch only did a 1000 acre set-up. Sorry about that.

 

[okielite]

Rockin 7 ranch in Wyoming offers buffalo hunts. They keep them in a 3,000 acre pasture so they have plenty of room to roam. Robert is the manager you would need to talk to about a hunt.

 

[Hilltop]

The Diamond Tail ranch in southern Wyoming/northern Colorado is something you should look into. I worked on a neighboring ranch in college but have never hunted on theirs. At that time they were doing a horse back pack in buffalo hunt on 12,000 acres. From the outside looking in it appeared to be exactly what you are looking for.

 

[chasingcoues]

I seen the Rockin 7 ranch, has anyone had any experience with their outfit or can vouch for them? They seem like alot better option in terms of where they are located and their set-up. Thanks again for everyones help!

 

[chasingcoues]

Hilltop- I contacted that ranch, they simply were a little higher then I wanted to pay. Looks like a great set-up though.

 

[okielite]

It's a nice lodge. I went on a guided hunt there about 5 years ago and also guided there for a year. It's not cheap but they have a nice lodge and the food is great. Robert is a good guy to work with.

 

[chasingcoues]

Okielite- I spoke with Brad about the hunt. I don't know if you worked with him. I am strongly considering going with their outfit though.

 

[okielite]

Okielite- I spoke with Brad about the hunt. I don't know if you worked with him. I am strongly considering going with their outfit though.

Brad is the owner. Really nice guy who owns about 140k acres of land to hunt. You would never know it when you meet him.

I just looked at their site. Looks like Robert is no longer there and Brad is handling the hunts. He will take good care of you.

 

[wyheadhunter]

there is a buffalo ranch called the twin pine ranch. They sit around 80 miles north of Cheyenne. It is maybe 12000 acres with minimal fences. they have a websight you can look up. Hope this helps.

 

[chasingcoues]

Wyheadhunter- Thank you, that looks like a great option. I believe they might be booked out for the 2015 season. Def my fault for waiting till the last minute to book! Lesson learned.

 

[wyheadhunter]

Ok sorry, When I would help them out a few years back they would always fill there quota on the yearlings and cows but didnt know about there bulls. I was never around when they would have a bull hunter so assumed with the higher price tag that maybe those hunts would hang around a while. It is a pretty place with lots of history. I have guided on the twin pine for deer, elk, and antelope, as well as a few Buffalo. I can tell you it is one of my favorite places to hang out and scout. Sorry again that it didnt work out.

 

[okielite]

I was over in the sandhills today and ran across a ranch that offers bison hunts really reasonable, less than 4k. They do not advertize but I can pass along contact info if you shoot me a PM. They don't' offer the lodge experience that other operations like Rockin 7 offer but if you are wanting to hunt bison in some interesting terrain it's a pretty good value IMO. The owner said the bison come from the Ft Robinson sale which is held yearly over in Crawford, NE.