A public auction to reduce the size of bison herds in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area will be held on Saturday, Jan. 27.
The sale will begin at 9 a.m. at the South Bison Range corral. Bidder registration, and viewing begins at 8 a.m.
Bison purchases may be made with cash, credit card or personal check at time of bid acceptance.
The South Bison Range corral is located on the west side of the Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway (TN 461) just south of the KY/TN state line.
This location is across the Scenic Byway from the Homeplace 1850 historic farm.
The Forest Service will sell approximately 48 bison, each separately to the highest bidder(s), including: seven cows born between 2004 and 2005; three cows born 2009, 2010, and 2015; two large young bulls born 2015; 10 yearling heifers born in 2016; eight yearling bulls; a mix of 18 bull and heifer calves born in 2017.
All animals will be tested for brucellosis and tuberculosis by a licensed veterinarian before the auction.
Preliminary details regarding age, sex, and weights of all animals to be sold will be available after Tuesday, Jan. 23 with the final list available at 8am on auction day.
For a preliminary list or any questions, call Curtis Fowler at 270-924-2061 or email ffowler@fs.fed.us.
An on-site veterinarian will issue Certificates of Veterinary Inspection as required for interstate transport immediately after the auction.
Import permits will be on hand for Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, and North Carolina.
Buyers are responsible for knowing import regulations of the home state before purchasing bison.
If additional state inspection certificates are required, contact 270-924-2061 on or before Monday, Jan. 22, 2018.
Some states have specific requirements as to age and vaccinations.
Buyers are responsible for knowing what vaccinations are required for the home state.
Additional services may be purchased from the on-site veterinarian by cash or check to include vaccinations at time of bid acceptance.
Because of size and temperament, closed-topped trailers or vehicles are required to transport bison.
Once bison step off the loading chute and into a buyer’s trailer, the animal becomes the property and responsibility of the buyer.
Buyers must load animals immediately following the auction.
For an additional $30 per animal fee, arrangements can be made at time of payment to load bison from 8-10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 29.
Land Between the Lakes manages two herds of American Bison.
All bison bloodlines originated from three sources—in 1969 from Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, in 1988 and 2012 from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska, and in 1996 from Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota.
To find more information about Land Between the Lakes, log on to the official website at www.landbetweenthelakes.us or call 1-800-525-7077 or 270-924-2000.