Custer State Park Buffalo

[JudyJB]

While I was in Custer State Park last week, I took an expensive ($43) jeep ride, but it is too hard to watch out for animals as I drive my motorhome. Also, the jeep tours keep in touch with one another so they can go down dirt roads to find the big herds and ones that are near the road. I finally was able to get my long video I recorded of buffalo uploaded to YouTube. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsgP8S6KqaM&feature=youtu.be

Here are a couple of photos of the big herd across the road from this smaller herd with the bulls. We did an estimate and figured the total of the two herds had to be about 350-400 animals. Normally, like elephants, buffalo bulls are solitary, but many of the cows had recently given birth and these big guys were looking for "eligible" dates!

[JudyJB]

I think my upload speed is too slow here, but I wanted to add a couple more photos:

Here is one of the babies with his umbilical cord still attached.


And a solitary bull down the road who walked within 6 feet of our vehicle. These guys are usually not aggressive because they know they can do anything they want to do.

[monik7]

Wow!!! Great pics Judy. I really need to get there some time soon. I just love that type of country. Thanks.
Sandi

[cnq50b]

Amazing, Judy!!! Thanks for posting these. Buffalo must be massive in person!

I'm going to be passing through some of the same areas you've been wandering in lately so I'm taking notes.

By the way, I loved your blog!!! Fantastic pics & commentary on where you've been & what you're experiencing.

Thanks for givng those of us still doing that 5-day a week thing some ideas for our dreams...

[Olive600]

Wow, I knew they were big, but not that big! Judy, thanks so much for posting the pics, your blog, and the video. Really great.

[Rufflesgurl]

Thanks for sharing your photos Judy. I've got one similar to the close up of the buffalo from when I was there. Of course, I was inside the car. LOL
Just wanted to get his massiveness in a photo. Enjoy your trip.

Linda

[JudyJB]

Don't miss the video. Those big guys were really checking out the ladies!

Glad you are enjoying my blog.

[Bethers]

Neat, Judy. I always love seeing the buffalo ... amazing how many you were seeing at once!

[JudyJB]

Beth, that's why the $43 jeep tour was worth the money. I almost skipped it, but I really wanted to see buffalo and had driven the wildlife loop without seeing much of anything. Not only did I see hundreds, but close up. I would NEVER drive my private car or even 4-wheel drive truck down those roads and get so close to those huge animals!!!

[Bethers]

Beth, that's why the $43 jeep tour was worth the money. I almost skipped it, but I really wanted to see buffalo and had driven the wildlife loop without seeing much of anything. Not only did I see hundreds, but close up. I would NEVER drive my private car or even 4-wheel drive truck down those roads and get so close to those huge animals!!!

Some tours are definitely worth it. Others not. Sometimes it's hard to know which is which! Glad you made the right decision on this one. I think that was a good price for what you got to see.

[snowball]

looks like you got your money's worth for sure!!! They are massive Last week they were celebrating the 100 years of the TA Moulton barn (one of the barns that is shown in lots of pictures of the Teton's) He is my great uncle and the other barn is my grandfather's...anyway the girls decided that they wanted to walk down to "our barn" and to the house I grew up in was able to get to the barn..but couldn't go the extra 1/4 mile as the buffalo's were milling around right on the road...they opted not to challenge them.... wise idea I think...when I was growing up there we didn't have the creatures...now there is a size able herd now of the few that left Yellowstone and came down and stayed . I rather enjoy watching them...but they are a plains animal they just don't know it
sheila

[avalen]

awesome pictures Judy, thanks for posting them. Also, thanks for posting the link to your blog, I've enjoyed reading that as well.
Off to watch the video.

[Nasoosie]

Fantastic pics, Judy! I have never been that close to buffalos! And, as you mentioned, best do it in someone else's vehicle rather than your own! You have really seen some neat things since you left Disneyworld! thanks for the posts and the pics----will have to click on your blog now and check that out, too!

[mitch5252]

..
Great pictures, Judy! What a trip you're having...
..

[retiredhappy]

When I went to Custer I was driving my tow vehicle, a 1974 bright yellow VW bug. We stopped in the road cause of all the buffalo crossing the road. They were bigger than my car. It was awesome. I wouldn't be afraid to drive thru again in a car - they're so used to tourists that unless someone does something stupid, they're not going to harass you. They are absolutely awesome creatures and its amazing they survived the "white" man. They were slaughtered almost to extinction.