OK Ranch Buffalo Round Up

Here’s how the big day went down...
It’s a celebration, and here’s why.
Finally, we did what seemed impossible. What kept me up at night for months, strategizing, worrying.
We loaded my first herd of bison onto a trailer for their last journey…
And we did just in time.
Before the snow covered the plains at the foot of the Tetons…
Before the bitter cold would make it nearly impossible to get water to the bison…
Before they could lose weight in the harsh winter, or jump the fence when the drifts rose too high…
It was touch and go (as you can see in these wild few minutes of video footage).
From the morning I woke up on the scheduled day, tension was high. The trailer was slated to arrive mid-morning, and with a few friends, I waited at the pen, watching the bison.
They hate confinement. It’s anathema to their nature.
But over the past two weeks, they’d acclimated-to an extent. They were accustomed to running through an open chute so that when the trailer pulled up at the end of that chute, they’d theoretically walk right in.
Only that trailer didn’t arrive until close to sunset. We were tense and apprehensive.
There’s no dry run with this. You have to get it right the first time, or the bison are too spooked to try again.
But I’d studied their natures and set up a plan that aligned.
The first six walked on easily enough.
But the remaining four caught sight of the trap. They tried to evade it, only, as much as they wanted to avoid the trailer, they wanted to avoid me more.
So, when they’d run in the wrong direction, I’d stand in front. It was a game of chicken with bison. And sure enough, they’d turn.
More than anything, I needed to avoid triggering a panic.
In one near-disastrous moment, a bison caught his leg on a rope and pinned himself against a gate. I couldn’t free him alone. It took three of us to pop the gate and release the bison.
At that point, there was no way to get the last bison on the trailer without getting in the chute with them, which is what you see in the video.
Those were very intense minutes when things could have gone either way.
But when the trailer pulled away, and the sun was setting, the realization set in, too.
We’d done it. Brought bison back to the Tetons after some 75 years…
Raised them well with respect for their natures.
And because it was a success, in the New Year I’ll be able to offer a very limited selection of bison boxes that are truly local.
For that, I am truly grateful this Thanksgiving.
From our little shop here in Jackson Hole to you, I’d like to say thanks for being with us on this journey.

[@lindahollister5530]

This is awesome to be able to watch how they are taken care of. Thank you for your video. ❤

[@customerservice4940]

Thanks Linda, hopefully we can continue to share with you!