GOLDEN POND, Ky., Jan. 9, 2026—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service plans to host a public bison auction, Jan. 17 at the Elk & Bison Prairie corral, to help manage herd size at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
Bidder registration and viewing is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. before the auction starts at 9 a.m. Bison can be purchased with cash, credit card or personal check at time of bid acceptance.
The Forest Service plans to sell approximately 30 bison, each separately to the highest bidder, including:
- 2 large bulls, born 2023
- 8 yearling bulls, born 2024
- 6 yearling heifers, born 2024
- 13 bull and heifer calves, born 2025
- up to 3 cows, born 2008-2012
Bison herds are reduced annually in order to meet the appropriate carrying capacity of the prairies.
Preliminary details regarding age, sex and weights of all animals to be sold is slated to be available after 2 p.m., Jan. 13 with the final list available at 8 a.m. on auction day.
All animals will be tested for brucellosis and tuberculosis by a licensed veterinarian before the auction. Additional services may be purchased from the on-site veterinarian by cash or check to include vaccinations at time of bid acceptance.
An on-site veterinarian is scheduled to issue Certificates of Veterinary Inspection, as required for interstate transport immediately after the auction. Import permits will be on hand for the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama and North Carolina. Purchasers must know the import regulations of their state before they place a bid. If a different state import permit is needed than what is listed here, call 270-924-2061 on or before Jan. 14 for it to be available at time of sale.
Because of size and temperament, closed-topped trailers or vehicles are required to transport bison. Once bison step off the loading chute and into a buyer’s trailer, the animal becomes the property and responsibility of the buyer. Buyers must load animals immediately following the auction. For an additional fee of $40 per animal, arrangements can be made at time of payment to load bison on Jan. 20 between 8-10 a.m. only.
The Elk & Bison Prairie corral is located on the east side of the Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway (KY453) just north of the Elk & Bison Prairie entrance in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
For a preliminary list of animals to be sold or for any questions, call Curtis Fowler at 270-924-2061 or email frederick.fowler@usda.gov.
The Forest Service manages two herds of American Bison at Land Between the Lakes. All bison bloodlines originated from three sources: in 1969 from Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota; in 1988 and 2012 from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska; and in 1996 from Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota.
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