5.30 am, the alarm is ringing. It is early but you can already see a long line of vehicles. We all have the same goal: being at the parking lot at 6 beaucause the gate close at 9. But why are we such on a hurry?

Once a year, the buffalo roundup gather 1 400 bisons and not less than 14 000 curious. As the park is to small to feed so many bisons the park has to remove some of them and what was only a management measure is now a major event in South Dakota.

9.30 am, everybody is waiting the cowboys. In a few minutes, they are here with horses and pickups, leading a few hundred bisons (some of them were cought earlier). The animals are fast, bisons like horses and it takes not much time to put everybody in the coral, even a pronghorn which seemed to be lost.

Once in the coral, each bison is identified. The new born are marked: a S because they belong to a state park and a 4 because they are born in 2014. For the "pregnant" femelle they go back to the herd, for some of the other bisons, they receive a nice label and we can hear "Sale!" With 1 000$ you can buy one late november. 

We spend a really good time, with a great weather. Thanks to the indian summer. 

We also discover a local artist, who, since more than 40 years, carve quarters. Really good job! We couldn't left without buying one of them. 

Don't forget that you can enlarge pictures by clicking.