American (Bison) Buffalo

The American Buffalo is an interesting animal in that it is actually a bison. It is often referred to as an American Buffalo, but goes by the name American Bison or Buffalo. The only true buffalo of the world are Water Buffalos and African Buffalos.

What are American (Bison) Buffalo?

American (Bison) Buffalo are large hoofed animals that are often found in the United States and Canada. In 2016, President Obama signed an act into law making the American Bison the national mammal of the United States. A fun fact about the American Bison is that Yellowstone National Park is the only place bison have continuously lived since prehistoric times. Currently, nearly half a million American (Bison) Buffalo live on preserves and ranches where they are raised for meat and trophy hunts.

The American Bison is closely related to cows and goats and is the heaviest animal in North America. It can stand anywhere from five to 6 and a half feet tall and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds with males being typically larger than females. Weight does not slow the bison down as it can run up to forty miles an hour if the need arises. Buffalo can also jump high fences and are known to be good swimmers. While they are not known for their eye sight, they make up for it with their senses of hearing and smell.

American Bison have sharp curved horns that can grow up to two feet long and have a distinctive hump. They are often dark brown in color. They have a live span of anywhere from ten to twenty years but can sometimes live longer. Bison can often be seen rolling around in the dirt to shed their fur and to keep flees away. They also don’t hide their anger. When they’re in a bad mood you’ll know it by just looking at their tail. If it hangs down and switches naturally it’s probably nice and calm and in a good mood. But, if it’s standing straight up, get out of the way. This means it is usually angry and is ready to charge.

Eating Habits of American Buffalo

American Bison like to eat grasses, herbs, shrubs, and twigs. Bisons can typically spend nine to 11 hours a day looking for food and grazing. Grazing time is usually in the morning. They often spit up their food and chew it again before finally digesting it. It is also important for Buffalo to drink water everyday.

Breeding Habits of American Buffalo

Mating season for American Bisons runs from June through September. Females and makes typically live separately until it’s time to mate. Male bison use their large heads to butt each other in order to get the female’s attention. They also tend to wallow during mating season to leave their scent behind for the female and to show their strength.
Female Bison are pregnant for nine months and give birth in April and May to one calf at a time. Females nurse their young for about eight months. Males typically do not have a role in raising the calves.

Newborn calves are reddish-brown in color, giving them the nickname “red-dog”. They also do not have the distinctive hump that adult Bisons have. That typically develops after a few months along with horns after the calves begin to turn brown.

Hunting American Buffalo

Hunting American Bison can be tricky due to its size and speed. That’s why it is a popular trophy hunt. Due to the size of the animal, specific ammunition is typically needed. For younger mammals, hunters tend to go with a bigger rifle with a .30 caliber. For their larger counterparts, high-powered rifles are usually preferred. Many times multiple shots are needed to hunt the American Bison.

In Texas, there are no seasonal restrictions on hunting American Bison, allowing for trophy hunts year-round. American Bison at Squaw Mountain Ranch typically have horns ranging from 18-21 inches, making trophy hunts at the ranch extremely popular.

The terrain at Squaw Mountain Ranch allows hunters to choose from different tactics including safari hunts or more traditional stalk hunts. Hunters can also choose from a Bow Hunt, Rifle Hunt, Pistol Hunt, or Black Powder Hunt.
Squaw Mountain Ranch offers long shooting instructions and caters to all hunters, including those with physical disabilities.

Expert American Buffalo Guides

Expert hunting guides will work with each hunter individually to customize his or her experience. At Squaw Mountain Ranch, hunters can be certain they will receive a fair chase hunt that will provide them with a formidable trophy that they will be proud to hang in their trophy room. Squaw Mountain Ranch prides itself on providing outstanding Trophy American Bison Hunts at an affordable price compared with other ranches.

Call Squaw Mountain today at 830-275-3277 to find out more about the variety of American Bison hunting packages available. 

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