43rd Custer State Park Buffalo Round Up: September 29th, 2008
- Stamped of Buffalo
There’s just something exciting about the idea of venturing out into the open plains of South Dakota and experiencing for a few hours what it was like to see the horizon fill hundreds of stampeding buffalo. I’ve been to the annual Custer State Park Buffalo Round-Up and I must admit that it’s a thrill every time. The event itself can be a bit boring in the beginning as you’re packed into a make-shift prairie parking lot along with thousands of others. But when you see the flutter of dust race from your foot as you walk through the dirt you can’t help but say to yourself, today I’m a tough guy! I mean, who doesn’t feel a bit of the western Clint Eastwood coming to the surface? Here I am buffalo, you don’t unnerve me, ‘Make My Day”.
The adrenaline runs just a little when you walk towards the southern edge of the southern parking lot and realize ‘there ain’t no fence’ protecting you from the stampede. Of course there is a fence that runs north and south along the pasture but ‘what if’ they don’t go that way. Buffalo are known for their unpredictability. Watch out, they turn on a dime and can out run a quarter horse. If you don’t believe it, come to the ‘Round-up’ you’ll more than likely get a chance to see for yourself! Check Youtube or Flickr for some great stuff!
If you want a great view, stay on your feet and be a little mobile. I always start at the Southern Parking lot, watch the cowboys do their best, with horses, whips, trucks, and guns, to guide the 1,000 strong herd towards the corrals. As they come into the valley near the Southern viewing area, the herd can break apart and you see the stubborn ones that won’t listen. They become the crowd favorites! You can hear… RUN!…”don’t let’m tell ya what to do’!! Some folks even start there own personal voice-over monologue for the ‘maverick’. “Listen, I’ve been running for half an hour and I’m tired of seeing every one’s rear end!” or ” Look Mr. I know you got a whip but I got horns and I’m the boss” or even “I forgot my horn polish.. I gotta go back!”
No matter what anyone thinks, seeing the Custer State Park Buffalo Round-up is a once in a lifetime experience that won’t soon be forgotten. You will come away with your own favorite moment. For me, I’m always looking for that last renegade bull that won’t go into the corral and forces about 5 cowboys on horses to go speeding down the ridge line to turn it back… Go maverick GO GO GO!
See ya there!
Photo couresy of SD Dept of Tourism
Posted under Events
This post was written by admin on September 28, 2008
