This past week I had the chance to ride along to bring in a herd of buffalo from their winter grazing grounds on the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. Dan and Colton had been bringing bunches in all week and we hoped this was the last group.
Their winter pasture consists of 24,000 acres, which can make finding them a challenge. If they are miles away in rough terrain, it may take days to get them close to the river and onto their summer pasture. If this is the case we will either use horses or ATV'S and get behind them at a distance, making a presence, to encourage them to head for home. When they are within a couple of miles we will use a different approach, which is featured in the video. It may not be as sexy as a bunch of cowboys running open with a herd of stampeding buffalo in front of them, but it is less stressful on the buffalo and the people. I hope you enjoy it!
40 comments
So great to watch how the prairie herd is brought in and the care taken to make it less stressful on the herd. thank you.
Love the red winged blackbird in the background.. Excellent buffalo/animal psychology. Happy spring!
Thank you. Enjoyed seeing some of what you all do and am so glad you are not only providing sustainable food for today, but are bringing back the prairies. Take care.
Such beautiful animals!
Thank you for your passion to do the right thing in the right way.
Great video, thanks. Respect is something every living being deserves.
Great video and wonderful explanation of your technique. So many people do not realize that a stressed critter is seldom a tasty critter, so in addition to being a humane practice, your approach ensures peace and harmony in the herd as well as great table fare for the consumer.
The bison and the pronghorn reign supreme as monarch’s of the western prairie ecosystem. Thank you for your work in keeping these iconic and mythic beasts roaming the plains and for making sustainable, grass-fed bison meat available for our tables.
Once again Wild Idea touches us and moves us to a life long ago when the Prarie was full of buffalo and their importance to all who depended upon them. Once sgsin I thank you!
The buffalo, the prairie, mother earth and I are so grateful for you.
I’m sorry Greg R doesn’t get it!
Love the video and the narration! Thanks for sharing. This is why we order from you several
times each year. You treat the animals with dignity and respect and provide a healthy, lean
source of meat.
My father in law had a herd of 26 buffalo back in the early 80s. He loved showing off the herd and once he brought my father to his farm and showed him how Jumbo (2200#) would come when he shook the bucket with the buscuits in. after treating my dad to that show, my FIL put the bucket on the back of the pickup and turned to shut a fence. Jumbo decided he wanted more and he put his leg on the back tailgate of the truck and lifted the front end up into the air, with my father in the cab. The bucket of treats slid back and jumbo let the truck down to enjoy his bounty. Took several days for all the blood to return to my fathers face.
Come on, they are food. Why try to make raising animals to eat sound like a loving and caring loved one you are looking after. They are not pets you let your kids play with, they are a tasty, hopefully, meal!
I thoroughly enjoy these glimpses of your lif with the buffalo and admire the way in which you manage them and their prairie habitat.
After being a vegetarian for over 20 years, my wife and I started purchasing and eating meat from Wild Idea Buffalo, not so much because we had a desire to eat meat again, but rather because we wanted to do something to help support the humane way Wild Idea Buffalo operates. Thank you for taking such care with your herd. You’re a model more should follow.
Living in east river means I don’t get to see many of these majestic critters. We have a few small hers here and there but nothing on your scale. I’ve been privileged to drive past your active grazing land a time or two and my heart just sings! Thank you so much for hanging in there for all of us.