Feel the Roundup rumble in Custer Sept. 25

Are you ready to feel the rumble of 1,500 buffalo crossing the prairie? 
Cowboys and cowgirls are already gearing up to round up and drive a herd of approximately 1,500 buffalo across the park for the 61st Annual Governor’s Buffalo Roundup, Friday, Sept. 25 at 9 a.m.
Rounding up the buffalo has always been a land management practice in the park. Originally, it was attended by park personnel, and it grew to include friends and family. Then, in the 1990s, the roundup developed into the attraction it is today. 
“I think it’s the experience of getting to step back and see the horseback riders and the bison move across the prairie,” said Lydia Austin, Custer State Park visitor services supervisor. “There’s not too many places left in the world where you get to watch 1,500 bison rounded up by cowboys and cowgirls.”
For the roundup, the park has a group of core riders who are either park personnel or seasoned locals who have advanced in rank over the years. From there, local riders can apply with a resume of their horseback riding experience for a chance to be part of the roundup. Riders are chosen in a random drawing. 
“We try to make it as fair as we possibly can. If they get chosen, they get to come ride in the roundup. They can only apply every three years if they’re chosen,” said Austin. 
Riders also have to complete a phone interview with the herds manager and a riding tour to ensure they are fully qualified. 
“The riders get to see the landscape, make sure that they’re comfortable with it and ask those questions before the day of the event. We do have people who take themselves out and realize they’re in over their heads, and we really appreciate that because we want the roundup to be successful for everybody,” said Austin. 
Austin said the local riders return year to year, are familiar with the park and have a passion for the roundup. In that respect, the roundup remains a community event like it was when it first began.  
The roundup occurs in the southern part of the Wildlife Loop near the Bison Corrals. 
Parking lots open at 6:15 a.m., and Austin recommended getting to the park before 7 a.m. Attendees should plan on bringing folding chairs, cameras, binoculars, layered clothing, rain gear, snacks and sunscreen. Pets and drones are not allowed. 
“Embrace the craziness of it and the fun when you’re down here,” said Austin. “Take it easy. Don’t try to be in a rush. Just come with a sense of adventure to try something new.”
For a fee, pancake breakfasts will be available at both viewing areas, and there is a barbecue for lunch as well. 
Two routes lead to viewing areas for the roundup. Those heading to the south parking lot should take the wildlife turn near Blue Bell Lodge, and those heading to the north parking lot should take the wildlife turn near the Wildlife Visitor Center. 
From the south, the buffalo come toward and past spectators, and from the north the buffalo come toward the spectators and into the corral. The south viewing area fills up quickly, but the north viewing area is on a hill so there’s never a bad seat, according to Austin. 
There are a limited number of golf carts to help individuals with mobility issues get to the viewing area. Bus shuttles will also take visitors from the viewing area to the corral system to watch the buffalo get tested, branded and sorted, which takes place from 1-3 p.m.
“We have park naturalist staff up on the catwalks answering questions and showing them what we’re doing,” said Austin. 
The roundup is still used as a park management tool since Custer State Park is a closed park. 
“Our rangelands can only handle so many animals. That includes bison, deer, elk, prairie dogs. All of that factors into the formula, and we want healthy grasslands too. We don’t want to just mow it all down to have animals in the park,” said Austin. “Our herds manager and range manager work together to figure out what that ‘magic number’ is and reduce the herd size each fall to meet the number of animals we’re going to overwinter, with the plan that we’re going to have calves in the spring.”
Once in the corral system, the buffalo are pushed through a series of pens and chutes to get them down to a single file. The mature animals get health checks, the cows are evaluated for pregnancy and the calves are branded with the year they are born and receive a series of vaccinations. 
“Then, we decide if we’re going to sell or keep them. For the calves, we really try to make it as random as we possibly can. It’s usually every other male and every third female will go to auction. We try to mimic nature as much as we can while also keeping the herd healthy,” said Austin. 
Cows who are not pregnant will likely be sold. Bulls go through a test to see if they are viable and healthy, and then some are sold and some are kept in the park for breeding. 
“There’s actually a lot of science that goes behind it. It’s kind of impressive,” said Austin. 
The auction will take place Saturday, Nov. 7, and a little over 600 head of buffalo will be for sale. 
“We are going to reduce them a bit more this year because of the drought. So we will be selling off a few more animals than we typically do,” said Austin. “We usually try to aim for about 900 to overwinter and about 1,300 to 1,500 in the summertime when it’s a good year.” 
The buffalo slated for the auction will remain in the corrals, and the rest will be released back into the park shortly after the roundup. 
From Sept. 24-26, the 36th Annual Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival will be set up on the festival grounds across from the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center with over 150 vendors. 
It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Visitors can expect to find “everything you could possibly think of, and things you possibly couldn’t think of,” according to Austin. 
There will be food, clothing, leather work, knickknacks, paintings, buffalo products and so much more. Throughout the festival, there will be local and regional bands performing every two hours. More information will be released as the event draws closer. 
For more information on the roundup and arts festival, go to gfp.sd.gov/buffalo-roundup. The roundup will be live-streamed from several locations as well. Lodging for the weekend is available in the park or in town. 
“It’s a once in a lifetime event, and the arts festival is a great addition,” said Austin. 
After the roundup, don’t miss the annual Crazy Horse Fall Volksmarch Sunday, Sept. 27 at Crazy Horse Memorial. Registration begins at 7 a.m., and hikers can start the volksmarch between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. 
There are  5K and 10K routes along dirt trails and gravel work roads with a turnaround point on the arm of Crazy Horse for a close up view of the nine-story-tall face. 
Regular memorial admission is waived with a donation of three canned food items for a local food drive. The American Volkssport Association charges a separate $4 hike fee per participant.