This past week my grandson Lincoln and I happened to notice the buffalo grazing and watering down by the river. He loves buffalo, and when I asked him if he wanted to go and see them his 21 month old legs took off running for his coat.
We approached the herd very slowly and occasionally called out "Come Buffers, Come Buffers", while drumming the side of the vehicle.
Lincoln caught on quickly and once we were stopped he started tapping the 4-wheeler and softly muttered "Buffah, Buffah".
The buffalo circled around us and we listened to their soft grunts and spoke back to them in the same manner. Lincoln watched them closely and occasionally let out squeals of joy!
We noticed the expecting mother buffalo, heavy with their calves.
Even with their extra weight they looked content (How do they do that?).
Lincoln only lost his focus when I left the vehicle, which he then thought gave him the go-ahead to be the driver! (Emergency brake was fully engaged and I was within feet.)
He pursed his lips together and made his best tractor/vehicle noise.
We stayed for a couple of hours, until the last of the buffalo were ready to cross.
We said our goodbyes and thanked the buffalo for allowing us to be among them. I tucked Lincoln close to me and we buckled up and headed back to the house. His eyes were shut within minutes. I relished in his warmth as we slowly made our way home.
33 comments
TO BECKY REGARDING GOOD BUFFALO PHOTO- Custer State Park is the best I have ever seen, no crowds to speak of, and herds just crossing the road.
You can also take an off road tour and get close enough to smell them!!!
Re Buffalo Wings………I had my credit card out and just asked my wife how much we should order……..she took my credit card away from me!!!!
Enjoy Spring.
I stop by every summer to get buffalo meat and bring back down to Louisiana. I was born and raised up there and come back every summer. My question is do you let people photograph the buffalo? I have been trying to get a good picture of a buffalo, but just can’t seem to get what I want. When I saw these pictures I thought If I could do something like this, I could probably get the shot that I have been looking for. Or maybe you know where I could go. Thank you and adorable little guy you have there??
Love the photos of the buffalo and your grandson. He is cute and his expression at seeing the buffalo is adorable.
Awesome story. I love watching the Buffalo roam. Can’t wait to go back to SD again to see more.
These are the most comments on any of Dan’s writing I’ve ever seen. Gee, I wonder why!
thanks for sharing. he is a precious little boy.
Truly these are precious moments to treasure! Thanks for sharing them with us.
ANOTHER great children’s book just waiting to be published!!!
If he turns out to be a Vegan………..well…………..“grass fed” kind of sounds Veganish………………….
Bone in Rib Eye……..no need for salad or veggies or dessert……or knife and fork, just fingers……..
Gorgeous! The baby boy! The bison! The land! How truly blessed you all are!
WOW, THAT HAD TO BE AN EXCITING DAY FOR BOTH OF YOU. YOUR GRANDSON IS TRULY LUCKY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE BUFFALO AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE AND UP CLOSE. MY FIRST ENCOUNTERT WITH BUFFALO WAS IN 1954 AND IT WAS AT THE DETROIT ZOO, IN DETROIT MICHIGAN.
NE native now living in Buffalo, NY.. Lincoln is a lucky lad living on the plains with the beauty of the wildness surrounding him. Great to see parents like you teaching life as I remember it in the 1950s.
God bless you!
Home, home on the range.
Where Lincoln and the buffalo play.
Enjoy it all and thanks for sharing.
What a sweet little boy, Lincoln. And not afraid of the buffalo. The animals can be called gentle giants. Very tame and friendly.
What a great spring story! Little children understand the joy being with the wild things that adults have sometimes lost. I really enjoyed looking at the wonderful pictures, and thank you so much for sharing them with us. You are doing such a wonderful thing with your land and the buffalo. I particularly like the fact that you make it possible for many of the native American families to continue raising buffalo too because you help them with marketing their animals. I eat your wild idea buffalo stew meat for lunch and dinner every single day, as it is just about the only pure meat on the planet. May you and all your dear ones always have God’s blessings.