Interested in being a bison owner? Kansas is having a public auction

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will hold a public auction of surplus bison on Nov. 1.

The bison are from the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge and the Sandsage Bison Range. The auction will begin at 11 a.m. and take place at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, north of Canton in McPherson County.

The auction is open to bidders and other members of the public, according to a news release from the wildlife department.

Bison and elk, both species that are native to Kansas grasslands, are maintained at Maxwell, and surplus bison are occasionally sold at a public auction, the release said.

A total of 62 bison will be auctioned this year.

Those interested in bidding may preregister by filling out the bidder registration form (click to download) and emailing it to sarah.navarro@ks.gov. Registration will also be available on site.

Buyers must pick up bison on the day of the sale or make arrangements with the refuge manager before the sale. Load-out help will be available until dusk on the day of the auction. Trailers should be covered or lined, as bison transport best in dark conditions, according to the news release.

For more information, contact Maxwell Wildlife Refuge manager Cliff Peterson at 620-628-4592 or the KDWP Pratt Operations Office at 620-672-0797.

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