My good friend, Paul Muth of Mitchell, went on a Custer State Park trophy bull bison hunt last December. I wanted his story, and I much enjoyed his relating his experience. Paul’s hunt was scheduled for December 11-13. CSP dictates the day(s) of the individualized hunt that is personally guided by Chad, CSP’s chief bison man. Paul thoroughly enjoyed his experience with Chad.

The hunt began at 8:00 a.m. the morning of the 11th. Paul was permitted to have two observers along who also enjoyed the experience. What they perhaps relished the most was seeing the entire park from vantage points not observed from the many trails. After observing a dozen potential trophies, one particular bull caught their attention around 1:00 p.m. It was a 13 year-old bull, its age identified by its brand. Chad advised that better-eating meat could be had by taking a younger bull, but if Paul wanted a trophy of Boone & Crockett proportions, he wouldn’t find better. The B&C record book accepts CSP trophy bison.

Although Paul could have hunted for two more days, he elected to take the bull. There’s an old hunting adage that says if you see a trophy on the first day that would satisfy you on the last day, you take it. While small groups of bison were skittish and not easily approached, they approached on foot within 35 yards of the lone bull, and Paul took him with one well-placed shot from his .300 Weatherby magnum. Now it was photo time.

Following the shot, Chad called for a flatbed truck with loading winch. After loading and meticulously covering the 1850 pound bull with a tarp so as not to offend passing motorists, the bull was taken to Western Buffalo for processing. Paul had all but the tenderloin ground into hamburger that was shared and much appreciated by his peers. Paul will be receiving his shoulder mount most any day from his taxidermist. He also saved the skull and is having the hide tanned.

While the fee charged by CSP is a bit pricey, consider the value of a thousand pounds of lean meat, not to mention the value of the skull and a tanned bison robe. Supporting our most beautiful state park is also a good cause. I might have done one thing differently. I would have taken the old buff with a vintage rifle, and I would have happily loaned Paul my .45-70.

Custer State Park bison hunts are offered to residents and nonresidents as two separate units. One is for Trophy Bulls, the other for Non-Trophy Bulls. If you are interested, the application deadline is today, September 2nd. The non-trophy season runs October 20th to November 13th, and the trophy season runs November 16th to January 15th. Our SD Game, Fish, & Parks offers 15 non-trophy tags of which 7 are set aside for residents, and 8 trophy tags of which 2 are set aside for residents. The remaining tags are in a pool of residents and nonresidents. The trophy tag costs $6506 while the non-trophy tag costs $3256. Three days are allotted for the guided trophy hunt while a half day is allotted for the non-trophy hunt.

This past June the governor of Iowa signed a new bill into law. Iowa joined 38 other states in making it legal to use dogs in the recovery of wounded deer. This might be something South Dakota should consider. I suppose it is illegal for fear that some unscrupulous hunter might use dogs to trail deer, but with our TIPS program, I feel that good hunters would “blow the whistle” without hesitation.

See you next week. Paul Muth and his trophy buffalo .