Bison range shifts to fall schedule

The National Bison Range’s new fall hours start after Labor Day, on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

The Visitor Center will continue to be open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. but times for the scenic drives change.

The refuge will be open from 7 a.m. to dark. The actual closing time will change from 8:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. as the sun sets earlier every day.

Visitors will need to begin the Red Sleep Mountain Drive by 6 p.m. to be able to finish before the main gate closes at dark.

This 19-mile, one-way gravel road takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to drive. The shorter West Loop and Buffalo Prairie Drives take about 20 to 30 minutes. If you are unsure about the opening or closing times of any of the scenic drives or the Visitor Center, call 406-644-2211 for further information.

Red Sleep Mountain Drive will close for about a week sometime between Oct. 2 and Oct. 9 to allow staffers to move the bison herd.

During this time, the Winter Drive will be open for use with no fees charged. Red Sleep Mountain Drive will reopen through the next weekend (with fees back in place) but will close completely for the season after Friday, Oct. 18. Visitor Center hours will also vary during this time frame.

The elk at the refuge begin bugling in early September and visitors can sometimes catch action between rival bulls.