Antelope Island Bison Roundup 2024 in Utah

This annual event draws crowds to the largest island on the Great Salt Lake. It's a unique experience for both the spectators and participants

Dates: October 26, 2024

The Great Bison Roundup is a large annual event held in late October at Antelope Island State Park. Participants include 275 ranches and over 700 bison. It looks very exciting for spectators but can be dangerous for the participants and their horses. The public is invited to help the park officials collect the wild bison spread around the area of 43 square miles (113 square km). The roundup helps to keep the herd healthy, control the number of individuals and gives the participants an opportunity to try themselves in this traditional trade.

Annual Roundup Schedule

This unique event is one of the main reasons people visit the biggest island on the Great Salt Lake. The event takes place in two phases, with the first one drawing the most attention. The roundup begins at approximately 9 am when riders set off from Fielding Garr Ranch and usher the bison north. The main goal of the riders is to join smaller groups of bison into one herd and are driven into an enclosure. The animals can calm down in the resting area, with the second phase continuing several days later. The event lasts approximately until noon, but it can also span until 3 pm due to the unpredictable nature of wildlife on the island. This year, the second phase takes place on October 29-31.

Online Bison Auction (November 6, 2024)

The spectators first watch the roundup from the distance. When it's over, they can get closer to the corrals to see how the bison are going through the health check-up and culling for the auction. Animals are mainly sold out to make sure there will be enough food on the island to support the population. Additionally, selling animals helps keep the growing number of bison in check, since there are no predators on the island. At the auction, people can buy bison to start their own herd or to transport them to a butcher. Those animals not chosen for the auction are released into the wild.

Tickets & Fees

No tickets are required to watch the event. If you wish to become a participant in the Range Ride, you have to register beforehand. The participation fee for riders and their partners is $65 per person.