03/02/2026
Roam Free Nation Returns to the Field for a Quiet Week.
After hearing of more hunting in West Yellowstone in early February, where at least two bulls, a yearling, and another buffalo were killed on Valentine’s Day weekend, I made plans to get out into the field the very next week.
When I arrived in West Yellowstone Friday the 20th, all was quiet, and it seemed the rest of the group that was with those killed the week before had made their way back to the relative safety of the park. I spent the next four days skiing around and looking for buffalo.
The weather in West (and in much of Montana) has been weirdly warm and weirdly not snowy. Finally a couple weeks ago they got snow, and the area got busy with skiers and snowmobilers. My first day, on Saturday, another couple inches fell, making a ski into the park beautiful, but an effort of breaking new trail. I went about a mile and a half in, and saw no new signs of buffalo.
On a snow covered bluff, looking out over a river winding through snow and trees.
On Sunday, it warmed up enough to make skiing difficult, so I stuck to a hardened snowmobile trail on the south side of the Madison River – looking for signs of the herd that was hit the week before, but again, no buffalo to be found.
Monday it was back into the park along the bluffs looking over the Madison River, further this time, to still see no buffalo. Eagles and ravens above, ducks and geese in the water, and tracks of elk and moose, but no buffalo. This time, though, with the snow melted on some of the sunny slopes, I could see the tracks of the last group to pass, heading further into the park, no doubt fleeing the violence that befell some of their family.
Buffalo tracks on sandy ground, with snow and the tips of skis at the bottom of the frame.
Finally, on Tuesday, the day I was leaving to head up to Gardiner on the north side of the park, I took one last ski led by a friend, probably three miles or more, far enough to leave the sounds of the freeway and the roaring snowmobiles behind. Beneath bald eagles, through willows and across snow covered ponds, past beaver chewed trees and their snow capped lodge – to find a peaceful group of beautiful bulls, bedded down and browsing in the snow. It was so very good to be in their presence again – and even better knowing they were well inside a zone of safety.
Three bull buffalo, two walking and one bedded down, are seen through falling snow.
My time in West Yellowstone was quiet, but worthwhile. The few hunters I saw just drove and snowmobiled around looking for the buffalo that were not there, that had been scared back into the park by the shots fired anytime they cross the boundary. I was also able to speak to some steadfast buffalo allies on Horse Butte – residents tired of seeing the aggression and the disrespect of the current slaughter.
With spring seemingly around the corner, and with most of the hunt seasons – state and tribal – being extended, I don’t doubt that the buffalo won’t be safe for long. But we’ll keep sharing their stories, being there to witness, and joining with others to stop the slaughter.
Thank you for your support that allows us to be here in the field. Next stop is Gardiner, where I will document the buffalo imprisoned in the capture facility, and will hopefully find the free wild buffalo also safe and at peace.
From the field, for wild buffalo,
Cindy
