Couple of big herds in Custer state park. Have always seen them when we've ridden in there early morning along with pronghorns, deer, prairie dogs etc.

 

Here is the email I sent my friend from our "Close Encounter last week in Custer. Mind you, we go through Custer probably 6 to 8 times a year - So this was truly a first experience on the bike. I have had the Buff's even come over and lick the car on winter trips. But that is a whole differnt deal when you got some steel between you. Have even had Bulls fight right next to the car.

"Hey Bob, Here is a story for ya,
So we got up and after breakfast got on the HD and went for a ride through Custer Park. Ok – we had a way tooooooo frick’in close encounter with the BIGGEST Bull buffalo I have ever seen.

Here is how it went. Just a little was from the actual entrance to the park but still buffalo area. Couple of cars up the road stopped in our lane and a couple stopped in the on coming. No biggie, that is what people do when wildlife is around to watch. So, I stop a ways back, you know because the frick’in buffalo and I want some space being on a bike. So, this monster Bull is walking down the outer edge of the on-coming lane – way up the road. No biggie, he will probably come on across the road and off into the grasses. But he is just walking straight as ever down the road and goes past the two cars out in front of us. All the while I have been back walking the bike to give me even more distance, But this monster bull gets past those two cars and still walking straight but looks over in our direction. I'm thinking – No No No, don’t even look over here!

We’ll I swear, he looked straight at us and sure as holy hell turns and starts to aim right for US ! I'm thinking like a crazy man now of what to do and keep hoping he is going to turn and cross the road or something other than come over to us. I mean he takes up the entire lane he is that big.

By this time I am getting really nervous about what the hell should I do and Why Why Why is he so damn focused on us???? Well, I see he is not turning and I have nowhere to go but forward, but I was worried he might take that as a threat. He just keeps coming and coming. Finally, he was RIGHT FRICKIN THERE !!!! I mean right there! I just GO! Went past him within inches I ----- I that frickin close ! That was my greatest fear of riding a bike through a park preserve that has lots of 2,000 lb. animals!

I have just never seen one become so focused on something. What the hell was he so interested in – the sound, the vibs, the color ???? Hell, I don’t know but it was damn scary! It’s one thing when they are so close and you have some steel between you and them, but boy is it a different feeling when there is nothing between you and them. He was not pissed, but you never know what might set them off. I just cannot figure out what he was going to do? Sniff us, give a head butt, just brush by ? Damn if I know.

But we had a great ride through the park and seen lots of animals but all were off the road so no worries. Nanc’s first long ride on the FatBoy. She loved it. Really were not very many people at the park. Few more riders than last time I went through there while Nanc was out of town and I was on the Tracer that trip. Fun ride and perfect temps for wearing a vented protected jacket. I stopped and fill the bike on our way out and Prem zero eth was $5.23.

We were about 3 ˝ hours. Little bit of numb butt. But what a crazy ***, never before experience."

 

THIS ^^^ is what concerns me. The unpredictably.
And your a seasoned local!
I'm just looking at it like Slim Pickens riding the nuke.
Will be one helll of a ride!

 

I cannot actually describe how BIG this bull was! That guy was staring straight into my eyes!!!!! I will never ever forget that feeling. Not to sound all macho or anything but having my wife on the bike really put the hurt on the situation.
We see every year at least one person in the local news, that goes over and tries to touch, take a selfie, or something even stupider to a Buffer and get torn up - That was running through my mind too! I DO NOT WANT TO BE ONE OF THEM.....

 

That's my goal too. Don't want a YouTube moment.

 

The idiots in in this photo are way too close. But, it would be funny as hell to watch these same idiots trying to turn around to get out of there in a hurry.

 

Don’t be this:

…

 

That is why I do not like riding in a big cluster, in that situation in this pic I would have made a rapid u turn and went the opposite direction.

 

My wife and I had a bison experience while were tent camping in the Badlands of North Dakota. At around 5:00 am we were both awakened by loud swooshing and snoring sounds. We didn’t know what it was until we peeked out the zipper screen window. A large herd of bison was grazing through the campground. We were inches away and the only thing between them us was the tent wall. There was nothing we could do except wait for them to move along, which took about half an hour.

 

The bison in Custer State Park are used to bikes, just don’t approach them and keep the bike in gear.

Also take some warm clothes, cold weather and snow storms in the Northern Hills are not uncommon in Sept.
The video linked below was early Sept. 2020 just 2 weeks after my Son and I left from tent camping at the Deadwood KOA..