Custer State Park holds bison auction on 7 November
Published on 10/11/2026 at 01:42 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- Custer State Park will hold its 61st Annual Fall Classic Bison Auction on 7 November 2026.
- The auction begins at 10am at the Custer State Park Visitor Center, with live and online bidding available.
- The park covers 71,000 acres and manages a large bison herd as part of its wildlife programme.
- Visitors can combine the auction with the Visitor Center, Wildlife Loop Road and nearby scenic drives.
Custer State Park will hold its 61st Annual Fall Classic Bison Auction on 7 November 2026 in Custer, United States. The auction takes place at the park Visitor Center, where live and online bidding will be available.
Custer State Park bison auction starts on 7 November
The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks has listed the event for Saturday, 7 November 2026, at 10am Mountain Time. The organiser identifies the venue as the Custer State Park Visitor Center and calls the sale the 61st Annual Fall Classic Bison Auction.
The park holds the sale each November as part of its herd management. The official auction page says buyers and spectators from across the United States attend, while the auction can also be followed through online bidding. 2026 auction information gives the date, time and venue on one page. A local report also places the sale at the park Visitor Center on 7 November. Local auction report
The auction connects herd management with the park landscape
The sale is tied directly to the bison herd that visitors encounter across the park. The 2026 visitor guide describes the auction as one way to reduce herd size and prevent overcrowding, linking the November event with the management work begun during the annual Buffalo Roundup.
The park extends across 71,000 acres of grassland, forest, lakes and granite formations. Its wildlife includes bison, pronghorns, elk, deer, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. The official 2026 park guide places the Visitor Center at the junction of Wildlife Loop Road and Highway 16A. That location makes the auction a practical access point for understanding how the herd seen on the roads is managed behind the scenes.
What the November auction means for a visit
The auction adds a specific date to an autumn visit that otherwise centres on wildlife viewing and scenic drives. The Visitor Center explains the park’s bison herd, while the Wildlife Loop Road crosses open grasslands and pine-covered hills where animals are commonly seen.
Visitors should treat the auction as a working herd-management event rather than a wildlife display. Bison remain wild animals, and the park guide instructs visitors to keep their distance, stay in vehicles when wildlife is nearby and use designated roads and pullouts.
Visiting Custer State Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The 61st Annual Fall Classic Bison Auction takes place on 7 November 2026 at the Custer State Park Visitor Center. The listed start time is 10am Mountain Time.
- Live and online bidding are available, and spectators can attend the auction at the Visitor Center. The event is part of the park’s bison herd management programme.
- The Visitor Center stands where Wildlife Loop Road meets Highway 16A, near Custer. The park guide also identifies the Wildlife Loop Road, Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road as key routes.
- Wildlife viewing requires caution. Visitors must not approach bison, feed animals or stop in the road, and the guide advises keeping at least 100 yards from bison, elk and other wildlife.
- The park includes lakes, grassland and rocky terrain. Several trails are moderate or strenuous, with steep slopes, rocky sections or creek crossings.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Custer State Park
When does the Fall Classic Bison Auction take place at Custer State Park?
The 61st Annual Fall Classic Bison Auction takes place on 7 November 2026 at 10am Mountain Time.
Where is Custer State Park and how do you get there?
The park is near Custer in South Dakota. The Visitor Center is at the junction of Wildlife Loop Road and Highway 16A.
What is the Fall Classic Bison Auction?
It is the park’s annual bison sale and a herd-management event. The 2026 auction offers live and online bidding at the Visitor Center.
