The place to see them is Badlands National Park, says Lisa Brainard, news editor for the Republican-Leader and Chatfield News inn southeastern Minnesota.

South Dakota is currently my favorite place to go bison hunting, so to speak. You can find them in Custer State Park and in two na-tional parks, Badlands and Wind Cave.

It you absolutely MUST see a bison, you best believe I have advice to offer. I’d give you a probability around 95 percent for spotting bison on the road to and in the area surrounding the remote, primitive Sage Creek campground in Badlands National Park.

From the Pinnacles overlook in the park, which is also just south of the entrance closest to Wall, S.D., on Highway 240, you head west on the gravel/dirt Rim Road for around 11 miles. You’ll get to a point where you’re in the valley and pass over Sage Creek on a bridge. Then, a road to your left leads 1 mile back to the camp-ground. If you continue on Rim Road, you’ll climb out of the valley, exit the park and can continue on to finally reach the somewhat misnamed village of Scenic.

Lisa also wonders what to do if charged by a bison. Here’s one option:

A raised tail is a sure sign of trouble. The higher the tail, the bigger the trouble. Most hunters will not see this behavior exhibited unless the bull is wounded and he is threatened by the approaching hunter. A charge is surely forthcoming! Due to the eyesight characteristics outlined above, you are better off to run to the side, and not directly away from the bull. But, since a bull can out run a horse for º mile, it’s pretty certain he will catch you! Much like that of a charging lion or leopard, you must stand your ground and fire. There is no other avenue of escape! Head waiving, pawing and snorting are other ways they communicate “action will follow”.

Well that would require a shootin’ iron; better to keep your distance and use a long lens, I suspect.