This year, it will be held Wednesday, Oct. 22-Friday, Oct. 24. Any stragglers will be “rounded up” by helicopter on Saturday, Oct. 25, information from the Utah Travel Council indicates.
Hundreds of volunteers are pressed into action, whether it be for the actual roundup, on horseback, or in the many activities related to making for a successful roundup of hundreds of bison.
On Friday night, at 6 p.m., the Friends of Antelope Island will host a “Roundup culmination,” said Barbara Riddle, member of that group and CEO of the Davis Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“We will host a celebration dinner in the barn at the Fielding Garr Ranch,” she said. Chef for the chili-themed dinner will be J. Spencer Kinard, a Friends board member of Fruit Heights.
Cost is $5 with the public invited. Many volunteers and others involved in the Roundup are expected to be on hand, as well. Entertainment will be provided.
The Roundup starts Wednesday morning, explains Riddle, who often gets in the saddle and participates herself.
“We will have cowgirls and cowboys meet in the morning, start at the ranch. They will pick up bison from the south, usually start the night before, and determine where the bison are,” she said.
“They will push them on up, along the whole side of the island and into the corals. There’s a good chance we could be done by Wednesday,” she says.
“The bison are getting pretty well trained. We have it (event) booked for Wednesday-Friday, and in the past it has taken at least two days. Some we have to finish up on Friday.”
But it’s almost as though the bison are aware of what’s going on, Riddle says. “The bison seem to be gathering more toward the ranch.”
For those interested in watching from a safe distance, motorists should drive or bicycle along the east side roadway to the ranch. They might also want to check out the action from Buffalo Point on late Wednesday or early in the afternoon Thursday.
Park staff will also be on hand to answer any questions, provide commentary on what’s going on.
The roundup is even mentioned by such a well-known travel guide company as the internationally known Foder’s.
Another part of the roundup comes the following week, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, where visitors may watch as bison are weighed, blood-tested, inoculated and scanned. That happens 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
All bison are implanted with a microchip behind the ear. It serves to provide permanent identification and stores the animal’s health history.
For more information, call 773-2941.
tbusselberg@davisclipper.com
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