If you’re riding to Sturgis, there’s a pretty good chance that at some point you’re going to find yourself sharing the road with something that weighs more than your motorcycle — and doesn’t care one bit about your personal space.
I’m talking about bison.
During the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, thousands of motorcycles pour into the Black Hills, and many riders make the trip through Custer State Park and the Wildlife Loop Road specifically to see the park’s famous bison herd.
It’s an incredible experience.
It’s also one where you need to remember one very important thing:
That isn’t a motorcycle attraction. It’s wildlife.
And a 1,500-pound-plus wild animal doesn’t know — or care — that you’re trying to get the perfect Instagram picture.
How Many Bison Are We Talking About?
Custer State Park covers roughly 71,000 acres and is home to about 1,500 bison.
The 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road is one of the best places in the Black Hills to see them, and roughly 2 million people visit the park each year.
During rally week, that means you can have cars, SUVs, motorhomes and motorcycles all stopping along the road when a herd decides to make an appearance. (Game, Fish, and Parks)
And that’s where things can get interesting.
Bison and Humans Have Had Some Bad Encounters
This isn’t one of those “don’t worry, they’re used to people” situations.
They’re used to seeing people.
They’re not domesticated.
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks has specifically warned visitors that bison are wild, unpredictable and dangerous. The agency reported four bison goring incidents that resulted in injuries during the previous summer and said visitor-bison interactions have increased in recent years. (South Dakota State News)
And 2026 has already guy provided a pretty serious reminder.
In May, a 70-year-old woman was fatally injured after being struck by a bison while hiking in Custer State Park. Another visitor, a 22-year-old hiker, was injured by a bison earlier that month. (People.com)
That fatal incident was the first reported fatal bison attack in Custer State Park in more than two decades.
That’s not meant to scare you away from the Black Hills.
It’s meant to remind you that these animals deserve respect.
What About Bikers?
Here’s something important for riders:
There isn’t a reliable publicly reported statistic that breaks down Custer State Park’s bison incidents specifically by motorcycle riders versus pedestrians versus people in cars.
But motorcycles present some unique challenges.
A motorcycle doesn’t give you a steel cage between you and a 1,500-pound animal.
You also can’t simply roll up the windows and wait for the bison to wander away.
And when a herd is beside the road, it’s easy for a group of motorcycles to become part of the spectacle.
One rider stops.
Then another.
Then somebody pulls out a phone.
Before you know it, you’ve got a line of bikes and cars stopped while bison are walking through the middle of everything.
Local park officials have specifically discussed the combination of bison and bikers on the Wildlife Loop and stressed awareness and distance. (News Center 1)
The 100-Yard Rule
Here’s the big one.
Custer State Park recommends remaining in your vehicle or staying at least 100 yards away from bison, elk and other wildlife.
And there’s an even better rule:
If the animal changes its behavior because of you, you’re too close.
If a bison stops eating, stares at you, becomes agitated, starts moving toward you or otherwise reacts to your presence, back away.
Don’t wait to find out what happens next. (Game, Fish, and Parks)
Don’t Get Out for the Perfect Picture
This is probably the biggest mistake people make.
You see a bison standing beside the road.
You pull over.
You get off the bike.
You grab your phone.
Then you start walking closer.
Don’t.
That animal may look like a giant, furry cow.
It isn’t.
Bison can move surprisingly fast, and their behavior can change in an instant.
The National Park Service’s research on bison injuries found that 80% of people injured in Yellowstone had actively approached the bison before the incident. (National Park Service)
The lesson is pretty simple:
You don’t need to get closer to the bison. Use your camera’s zoom.
Don’t Feed Them
This should go without saying, but apparently it doesn’t.
Never feed a bison.
Not even a little.
Not because you think you’re helping it.
Not because you want it to come closer for a picture.
And definitely not because somebody in your group thinks it would make a great video.
Feeding wildlife is prohibited in Custer State Park, and it can make animals associate people with food — creating dangerous situations for both the animal and future visitors. (Game, Fish, and Parks)
Don’t Try to Touch One
I shouldn’t have to write this.
But every year somebody apparently needs the reminder.
Don’t touch the bison.
Don’t pet it.
Don’t slap its rear end.
Don’t try to get a selfie with it.
Don’t walk up behind it.
And don’t assume that because it ignored the last 50 people standing nearby, it’s going to ignore you.
Wild animals don’t follow a schedule.
What Should You Do on a Motorcycle?
This is where things get different for bikers.
If a bison is close to the road:
Slow down.
Don’t blast past it.
Give it plenty of room.
If you can safely increase your distance, do it.
Be prepared for unpredictable movement.
A bison can cross the road without giving you much warning.
Don’t rev your engine at it.
You aren’t in a rodeo.
You don’t need to see what happens if you rev a Harley next to a bison.
Don’t surround it.
If you’re riding with a group, don’t box the animal in.
Don’t stop in the middle of the road.
Custer State Park specifically warns visitors about stopping, parking or standing in the roadway because of the danger to traffic and distracted drivers. Use designated pullouts when stopping. (Game, Fish, and Parks)
And if wildlife is close, staying on the motorcycle may not necessarily be the safest option. If you can safely move away from the animal, do so.
Watch for the Ones You Can’t See
One of the biggest dangers isn’t necessarily the bison you can see.
It’s the one around the corner.
Park officials specifically warn visitors to be extra careful around blind corners and ridges. (DRGNews)
That matters even more on a motorcycle.
You’re already dealing with curves, elevation changes, wildlife, tourists stopping unexpectedly and other motorcycles.
Don’t enter a blind corner like you’re on a racetrack.
Ride like something could be standing in the middle of the road.
Because in Custer State Park, it could be.
And Don’t Forget: You’re the Visitor
There’s something pretty special about riding through the Black Hills and seeing a herd of bison spread across the landscape.
But remember who belongs there.
You do not.
The bison do.
We’re the ones riding through their home.
So if a herd decides to cross the road, stop safely, give them room and let them do their thing.
You might have ridden hundreds or thousands of miles to see them.
They don’t care.
They’re just trying to get to the other side of the road.
My Rules for Riding Around Bison
If I were giving a buddy the quick version before we headed into Custer State Park, I’d tell him:
1. Stay at least 100 yards away whenever possible.
2. Stay on the bike or in your vehicle unless you’re safely away from the animals.
3. Never approach a bison.
4. Never feed or touch one.
5. Never try to get a selfie with one.
6. Slow down around blind corners and hills.
7. Don’t rev your engine or intentionally provoke an animal.
8. Don’t block the road while watching wildlife.
9. If the bison changes its behavior because of you, back away.
10. Remember that it’s a wild animal — not a roadside attraction.
The Bottom Line
Riding through Custer State Park during Sturgis week can be one of the highlights of the entire trip.
The roads are incredible.
The scenery is unbelievable.
And seeing a herd of bison wandering across the landscape while you’re sitting on your motorcycle is something you’ll probably remember for the rest of your life.
Just don’t turn that incredible experience into a stupid one.
You don’t need to get close.
You don’t need the perfect selfie.
You don’t need to see how close you can get before the bison reacts.
Give them space, keep your eyes open and enjoy the view.
Because the goal isn’t to have the best bison story at the bar that night.
The goal is to ride back to Sturgis and tell the story.
Ride smart. Respect the wildlife. And remember — that big furry thing doesn’t know you’re a biker.
— TVBikerDad