The weather and the economy are cool but the bidding was hot Saturday as hundreds of people gathered for the 43rd annual Custer State Park Fall Classic Bison Auction.
Ranchers and onlookers crowded into the buffalo corrals complex for the event, which is open to anyone, whether they're planning to buy dozens of bison, only one or none at all.
This year, Custer State Park offered 192 head of buffalo and eight burros for auction. The number of livestock offered is determined by the drought conditions and the results of the annual buffalo roundup.
The bison sold in eight classes for an average of $777, just $2 down per head from last year, park Superintendent Dick Miller said. The number of bidders was typical at about 110, he said.
"We're happy with it," Miller said. "We were optimistic. We were hoping for some increases, and we did get some, but we lost in other areas."
Gary Brundige, Resource Program Manager for Custer State Park, estimated this year's sales total at about $150,000.
Last year, the park offered 214 buffalo and brought in almost $170,000.
Fewer bison were offered this year because of improved drought conditions. The park held back some of its younger animals this year to help rebuild the herd size.
The auction comes six weeks after the annual buffalo roundup.
"One of the most important events of the year is the auction, and the roundup is really to manage the herd and bring in the surplus animals," Brundige said.
He said the market seemed good, especially for females. Like the park, the managers of private herds are looking to restock after a solid year of precipitation. "We're hoping for a good year," Brundige said during the auction.
The bison offered are range-fed with no supplemental feed. The park offers assistance to harvest, field-dress, and load animals to those who bought them. Proceeds from the auction will go into next year's general operating fund.
This year's auction also included a buffalo of a different kind. Nancy Cambier of Custer was commissioned to create a buffalo statue made from local materials. The statue, "He Sapa Tatanka," or "Black Hills Buffalo," is decorated with black tourmaline, garnets and black mica.
The buffalo's flanks were painted with two murals of sites within Custer State Park: Sylvan Lake and Cathedral Spires.
"He Sapa Tatanka" was one of the Fiberglas bison created and auctioned as a part of the annual Custer Stampede Buffalo Art Auction. It was held back for auction until Saturday, and it sold for $2,600, with proceeds benefitting the Custer Art Gallery.
