CUSTER, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) Buffalo are a major attraction in Custer State Park, which is one of South Dakota’s most-visited tourist destinations. Among the new regulations that have been proposed include allowing archery hunting for buffalo, in addition to rifle hunting, as well as increasing the number of trophy bull licenses from 8 to 11 and increasing the number of non-trophy bull licenses from 15 to 25.
Game Fish and Park officials argued that hunting is part of managing herd numbers to avoid overpopulation, but some suggested that could be better handled during the annual round up when some animals are already offered for sale for the same herd management reasons. In the end, the Legislative Rules Committee voted 4-2 to allow the rule change to allow bow hunting and the increase in the overall number of licenses.