Antelope Island bison roundup returns Oct. 24

Annual event brings riders, visitors and wildlife managers together to move and manage the island’s nearly 800 bison

ANTELOPE ISLAND, Utah — Hundreds of horseback riders will help move nearly 800 bison across Antelope Island later this month during one of Utah’s most distinctive fall traditions.

Antelope Island State Park’s annual Bison Roundup is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24, beginning at 9 a.m. Riders will gather smaller groups of bison from across the island into a single herd, then move the animals north into holding corrals.

The roundup is more than a spectacle. Utah State Parks uses the annual event to manage one of the nation’s largest and oldest publicly owned bison herds and keep the population within what the island’s habitat can sustain. The park aims to maintain a herd of roughly 500 to 550 animals. Between 100 and 200 calves are typically born each year.

Visitors do not need to register to watch the roundup. The park recommends viewing the final push from White Rock Bay, where the Roundup Rendezvous will include food vendors, educational booths, activities, and other displays beginning at 10 a.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring a camp chair or blanket.

While riders begin at 9 a.m., the park says the roundup typically finishes sometime between noon and 3 p.m. Because the bison are wild animals, the exact timing can vary. Vehicle access along the island’s east side road will also be limited during the event.

The second phase of the roundup, known as the Working of the Bison, will take place Oct. 27-29. During those three days, staff will sort, vaccinate, and health-screen bison individually. Staff will check females for pregnancy, and the animals will receive identification tags linked to their health records. Free public tours will be available during that portion of the event.

Utah State Parks provides more information about the roundup, viewing areas, and rider registration.