Let's Talk Bison!

[colonel00]

So I was lucky enough to nab a Non-resident cow bison tag in Wyoming this year. As discussed in muleman's thread here, this draw opened up last year and had a 100% non-res draw. I figured odds would only go down so I jumped on it this year and I was lucky enough to have a successful draw.

So now I am starting this thread as I embark on the process of doing research and preparing for the hunt. With that, I also started this thread to hopefully get a good discussion going not only for myself but others that may draw in the future. I am about as green as you can get on the bison hunting front so I am open to any and all comments, suggestions, tips and stories.

As far as timing, I have an Alaska trip planned for late August, a Canada trip the first week of October and a Montana trip the first week of November. I'm guessing I may have to actually work somewhere in there to but other than those trips, I have a pretty good amount of flexibility for the hunt.

I think I would like to give it a shot with my bow as well but I definitely want to fill the tag so I will have a rifle on the trip as well.

So, let's hear it and thank you in advance...

 

[bbrown]

Congrats! Let me know if you need someone to tag along and help.

 

[muleman]

The majority of the cows are shot in December and January on the Elk Refuge. Remember to apply for the Refuge permit.

View attachment 25155

 

[dotman]

Based on your schedule I would go over Christmas and New Years .

 

[colonel00]

Congrats! Let me know if you need someone to tag along and help.

Might have to make it a Rondy

The majority of the cows are shot in December and January on the Elk Refuge. Remember to apply for the Refuge permit.

View attachment 25155

Thanks. Your attachment isn't coming through unfortunately. Definitely looking at a later hunt.

Based on your schedule I would go over Christmas and New Years .

Perhaps but then that gets into ice fishing season Not a bad plan for backup trips if I need though

 

[muleman]

Thanks. Your attachment isn't coming through unfortunately.

It is a screenshot of the 2007-2013 Wyoming bison harvest by location and month PDF. I got it from the WGFD website. WGFD has a lot of info available on bison in PDF format.

 

[mtnrunner260]

Unless your a gluten for punishment hire tag and drag. Best money you can spend.
You can go the opening day and get one fore sure with the rifle and decent odds with the bow.
Gets scarce for a while until weather pushes them back onto the refuge.
I've tagged along for a bull and cow tag over the last few years. They are big animals.

 

[colonel00]

Congrats! Let me know if you need someone to tag along and help.

The majority of the cows are shot in December and January on the Elk Refuge. Remember to apply for the Refuge permit.

View attachment 25155

It is a screenshot of the 2007-2013 Wyoming bison harvest by location and month PDF. I got it from the WGFD website. WGFD has a lot of info available on bison in PDF format.

Cool. I've been looking over the site but I'm travelling and on spotty wifi so it's hard to find some stuff. If you come across a link, I would appreciate it.

Unless your a gluten for punishment hire tag and drag. Best money you can spend.
You can go the opening day and get one fore sure with the rifle and decent odds with the bow.
Gets scarce for a while until weather pushes them back onto the refuge.
I've tagged along for a bull and cow tag over the last few years. They are big animals.

Yeah, definitely interested if anyone has any to recommend. It's sounding like this might be more of a group outing as a few buddies are already wanting to tag along. Still, I would definitely consider having someone else get it out and maybe even process it. After all, this "hunt" is really more about a meat harvest and I don't want any to go to waste.

Probably not going to make it opening day so later in the year is sounding more like the plan.

 

[bearstalker]

The meat is wonderful. I killed a bull last year on a drawing permit up here in Alaska. Congrats on your draw.

 

[colonel00]

For those that have harvested a bison like bearstalker, how much value would you put in having a butcher professionally process all of the major cuts just like processing a cow versus more of a DIY approach like I(we) do with most wild game where we pull the straps and loins and maybe some roasts and the rest is pretty much ground. Also, kind of along these lines, I love to smoke meat and I would definitely like to keep major cuts like the ribs and brisket if possible but is a bison too lean to smoke cuts like this and they would be better off ground?

 

[dotman]

Wish I could tag along, I'm fully expecting some smoked bison

 

[colonel00]

Well, isn't Wyoming on the way to Montana?

 

[Clarktar]

Man, awesome that you got a tag!! Maybe I'll cruise by

 

[dotman]

Well, isn't Wyoming on the way to Montana?

It is on the way home

 

[kaboku68]

The meat is wonderful. I killed a bull last year on a drawing permit up here in Alaska. Congrats on your draw.

Which hunt?
I drew Copper River Bison this year. I will hunt in October and then again in March.

 

[mtnrunner260]

The tag and drag will gut and load it into your truck for you to take home or to a processor.
I really enjoyed the bone in steak cuts so my vote would be to have it done by a pro.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

Definitely jealous! Congrats! I would love to tag along haha. But anyways my family has cut up numerous buffalo over the years. In fact one year we cut three. That was rough. But coming from a family of butchers it gets to be a little bit protective when it comes to meat. We like to do it ourselves so as we know the fat/meat ratio when making burger and how the steaks are cut. I am anxious to hear how it goes.

 

[Nick Muche]

That's cool, good luck! Two blade broad head and a heavy arrow will do you well.

 

[JFKinYK]

I was on a successful bull bison hunt a few years ago up here. Yes, they are big. We did all processing ourselves in the field in -15C temps and I was the lone strong dude on the trip. We had snow machines and boggans right to the animal, so that helps. We loaded all meat in a boggan, heaped it with snow and left it overnight by camp. That worked great.

Skinning was tough, especially around the neck and head. It took a long time and the hide is very heavy. It dulled knives fast, especially because they tend to have sand and grit in the hair too, so making the cuts up belly and around head eats the edge (didn't cape it). The neck hide was easily 2 inches thick.

All meat we brought back and worked on ourselves. It wasn't THAT big, compared to a moose anyway. I regular smoke lean moose meat, and smoked some of the bison. It turned out great after a wet brine and about 8 hrs over alder chips. The steaks were pretty tough. Lots of slow cooker and roasts on the wood stove. Lots of jerky and smoker meat. And decent amount of burger.

PM me if you want some more details and pics and stuff.

 

[Matt W.]

Speaking of Bison.. : )
http://www.sportsmenforbison.com/