National Bison Day Resolution

National Mammal

U.S. National Mammal   The American Bison, I think might be the only native species that the public started preserving decades before the Government got involved. While the laws for protection started about the same time the public started preserving them, they in some cases were already gone from the state. In other cases, they were not upheld, nor did they cover protection for them as a whole. In 1871 bills were brought before congress and argued for in 72′, 74′, and 76′. (amendments) By the time they decided on how to word it, most of the bison were already gone.  … Read more

Southern Plains Bison: Oct 2014

Plains Bison Going in to November is all about planning and making the best decisions possible during the seasonal shift to winter operations. Once again, as with all other seasons, it’s all about feed. Personally I like to enhance the already bountiful cool season in the southern plains, by adding seed to my system to feed bison and benefit my ecology. That’s right, my ecology. My ranch is an ecology that I accept responsibility for with regard to the whole system and its functionality.  Personally; I wish Aldo Leopold were around today and could see, perceive and write about the … Read more

Southern Plains Bison: June 2014

    Just a word before I write about southern plains bison realities that are current, but less about ‘meanwhile-back-at-the-ranch’ stuff. That word is worms!  I will follow that by saying worms, worms, worms, worms, worms!  They are the enemy and the #1 production and reproduction challenge to bison of the southern plains. In much of the southern plains we are enjoying plenty of moisture, guess what! – worms will come with that moisture and with specificity to a very real enemy, the liver fluke. This is a nasty little cuss that you should research for yourself and learn to hate … Read more

Southern Plains Bison: Oct 2013

National Bison Day Resolution This month I would like to shift the focus of my comments from managing herds, to managing destiny as a bison producer and/or bison-species restoration partner. You may have already read;it’s official that November 2nd is now National Bison Day! Woohooo – yee-haw and job well [done]right? From my perspective: wrong! The job has only just begun. Senate Resolution 254 only begins the arduous task of accomplishing the Bison Legacy Act at some point in the future. There has been a great deal of interaction and discussion among and between the communities that now make up a very dynamic and … Read more