Buffalo Hunts
100% opportunity one day bison hunt/harvest event at the Rockin 4B Ranch
All About the Hunt
Our hunts are a one day bison hunt/harvest event. Our hunters meet at the bunkhouse on Rockin 4B Ranch. After a quick hunt briefing, we will have the hunter check their rifle at our shooting range. Hunters should be able to consistently hit a 4 inch target at 100 yards. Once the hunter is confident that their rifle is sighted in, accurate and they are able to hit the target representative of the aim point on a bison, the hunt will begin.
Our hunts are always 100% opportunity, and usually 100% success. Success depends upon the hunter's ability to shoot accurately. It is important that all hunters understand that compared to an elk or deer hunt a guided bison hunt is more of a field harvest than what many would consider a true hunt. Bison are massive herd animals, that stand out easily in the native grass prairie. Finding the bison herd by vehicle is comparatively easy, we will get the hunter within 75-150 yards. While finding the bison and getting in position is relatively easy, the real challenge is on the hunter to make a precision one shot kill without injuring any of the herd mates standing nearby. This is how bison hunting has always been and is no different from the challenge faced by the very first western buffalo hunters.
Buffalo are unpredictable and do sometimes charge humans and vehicles, so hunters need to stay in the vehicle for their own safety. When we are within range you will get out to shoot the animal. We urge all hunters to take a shot 2-3” behind the ear. This shot severs the spinal cord directly below the base of the skull and is the most humane shot. The shot will kill the bison instantly, prevents waste and allows for a fast bleed.
Once the buffalo is down we move in with a bail bed truck or tractor to load out the buffalo for field dressing. After the bison has been field dressed, we will load the carcass onto hunters’ truck, or we will deliver the carcass to the hunter’s choice of taxidermist and processor in Great Falls, MT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Field Dressing, processing and taxidermy
Field dressing is included with the cost of the hunt. Field dressing is the removal of the internal organs of hunted game to ensure rapid body heat loss, which prevents bacteria from growing on the surface of the carcass. Field dressing “does not” include skinning, halving or quartering.
Cost for meat processing and taxidermy is the hunter’s responsibility and is not included in the cost of the hunt. 406 Processing in Great Falls usually holds processing slots for our buffalo beginning January 3 – September 15th. September 15 – January 2nd they only process bison by pre-arrangement. The hunter is responsible for contacting, scheduling and working directly with their taxidermist & processor for custom cutting and packaging of their meat. We may be available to assist with transporting carcasses locally for an additional transportation fee of $75 to cover labor cost and commercial car wash to wash blood from truck.
Can I bring non hunters/observers on the hunt?
Our hunts take place wherever the bison are roaming on the ranch. The maximum number of people that can accompany us on the hunt is two, this includes the hunter in the front seat and one passenger on the back seat. Our hunt strategy and customized 4×4 vehicle set up does not allow room for more passengers. We will be travelling overland in various off road conditions, through active bison pastures and do not allow non ranch vehicles to accompany us. A second 4×4 ranch vehicle and driver may be prearranged for an additional fee of $200. Non hunters are welcome to stay in the yard area, and participate in pictures and field dressing after the hunt.
Can I have the animal skinned, quartered or caped?
We “are not” offering skinning, and quartering on the ranch for 2025/2026 owing to staffing shortage. It is the hunters responsibility to coordinate and arrange skinning and quartering off the ranch. We recommend contacting 406 Processing in advance of your hunt to assist with skinning and quartering. Field dressing is included with price of hunt, skinning and quartering is not. If we have the manpower available (we do not presently have the manpower available), we may be able to assist hunters who would like to have their carcass skinned, quartered or caped, by prearrangement only, and for an additional fee.
Cow: $250 skinning, plus $150 to quarter, we do not cape for shoulder mount
Bull: $350 skinning, $175 quarter, we do not cape for shoulder mount
Where do the hunts take place?
Most hunts take place at Big Sky Bison Ranch located approximately 20 miles west of Great Falls, MT.
We also work with a couple other buffalo ranches in Montana and schedule day hunts at these locations
When is the best time to book a hunt?
Although there is no specific hunting season, most of our hunts are scheduled from early November to mid December. The best hides are taken from November through December when the condition of the thick winter hair is at its best. Bison gain a lot of weight during spring and early summer, if a winter hide is not important to you, this can be a very good time to harvest a bison with more fat than they will have in the winter.
Recommended firearms and equipment
Owing to bison’s incredible toughness and strength, body size and thickness of the hide we recommend using 30 caliber or larger rifle with a minimum bullet weight of 180 grams. Owing to how we hunt in a herd setting, we do not presently allow archery tackle, handguns or “any semi automatic” firearms. The single best cartridge we have observed on any size bison is 35 Whelen with 250 grain bullet. A 30’06 with a 180-220 grain is also an excellent option for everything aside from the really big bulls. Since follow up shots on bison should be expected, we highly recommend using a suppressor. Absolutely no muzzle brakes are allowed, as the excessive loud sound may cause the bison to stampede. We recommend using one of our custom suppressed .308 Win or 45’70 Government ranch rifles that are deadly accurate, low recoil and 100% proven on bison for a $50 fee to cover use and ammunition. We do not recommend small diameter fast cartridges such as 6.5 “anything” or medium or large fast cartridges such as 300 Win Mag, or other fast Magnum cartridges We will be hunting in a dynamic herd setting and these fast cartridges will exit the targeted bison and risk hitting a non target bison. No drones are allowed on the property as they cause bison to stampede.
Do I need a hunting license?
No Montana Hunting License or Hunter Education is required for these bison hunts. In Montana buffalo that are privately owned and on private property are categorized and managed as livestock.
Price by Age Class & Meat Class
| CLASS | AGE | COST | DEPOSIT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Bull Buffalo | 1.5 - 2 | $4,500 | $2,250 |
| Prime Heifer Buffalo | 1.5 - 3 | $4,250 | $2,125 |
| Young Bull | 2 - 3 | $6,500 | $3,250 |
| Mature Bull | 4 - 6 | $8,500 | $4,500 |
| Meat Heifer/Cow | 2 - 4 | $5,000 | $2,500 |
| Trophy Bull | 7+ | $10,950 | $5,000 |
| CLASS | AVG LIVE WEIGHT | AVG FINAL MEAT YEILD |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Meat Buffalo | 750-850 lbs | 210-260 lbs |
| Prime Heifer Buffalo | 750-850 lbs | 210-260 lbs |
| Young Bull | 1350 lbs | 400 lbs |
| Mature Bull | 1500 lbs | 450 lbs |
| Meat Heifer/Cow | 1075 lbs | 365 lbs |
| Trophy Bull | 1700 -2500+ lbs | 400 - 700 lbs |
