Kansas Wildlife to auction surplus bison at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is conducting a public auction of surplus bison from Maxwell Wildlife Refuge.
The auction will begin at 11 a.m. Nov. 6 and take place at the refuge, which is north of Canton in McPherson County.
A total of 66 bison will be auctioned this year, according to a news release from the KDWP: four cows, five 2-yr-old heifers, 13 yearling heifers, 12 2-yr-old bulls, 16 yearling bulls, eight bull calves and eight heifer calves.
Heifer calves older than 6 months will be vaccinated for brucellosis and certificates issued.
Because the refuge can support only a certain number of animals, surplus bison are occasionally sold at a public auction, the department said in the news release.
Those interested in bidding can preregister by filling out the bidder registration form and emailing it to sarah.navarro@ks.gov. Preregistration is preferred; however, 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. Animals become the buyer’s responsibility upon settlement on auction day.
Load-out help is 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 release.
For questions about the auction, contact Maxwell Wildlife Refuge manager Cliff Peterson at 620-628-4592 or the KDWP Pratt Operations Office at 620-672-0797.
