CUSTER STATE PARK, S.D. The annual Buffalo Roundup at Custer State Park is more than a wildlife management necessity its a living celebration of Western heritage, complete with the sights and sounds of mounted riders, cowboy marksmanship, and community pride. Each fall, cowboys and cowgirls on horseback, some carrying lever-action rifles as part of tradition, drive nearly 1,400 bison into corrals for health checks and population control. While the main purpose is to manage the parks bison herd sustainably, the roundup has evolved into a cultural gathering that draws thousands of spectators from across the country. Vendors, live music, and historical reenactments add to the atmosphere, making it as much a cultural festival as a working livestock operation. Local historians note that the event preserves the skill sets of the Old West including mounted shooting exhibitions and keeps alive the connection between firearms, ranch life, and American frontier identity. These elements, combined with the dramatic sight of hundreds of bison thundering across the prairie, have cemented the roundup as a bucket-list experience for firearm and Western culture enthusiasts alike.