Park personnel took reporters, photographers, and at least one network film crew for an early-morning tour of the buffalo herds at Custer State Park this morning to get them used to the smells and the sounds. Custer State Park herd managers have run the part of the herd that will be rounded up Monday morning to the south pastures. Park personnel like to leave the big buffalo bulls in the north pastures. And right away the bulls gave a demonstration why.

      The big bulls can be difficult to handle and downright dangerous in some circumstances, so more of the bulls will probably be separated from the herd before Monday morning. Meanwhile, Custer State Park personnel say the rest of the herds usually position themselves pretty well for the big push into the corrals. Gary Brundige says, "We then opened the gates from the west side to the east side and let some them drift this way. And they went through there yesterday on horseback and cleared that west side. So, now, we have everything staged here in the southeast part of the Park."

     All the outdoor equipment for the parking lots for the north and south viewing areas is set up. The parking lots are marked out. More fire trucks are being staged in the viewing areas this year because of the drought. Herd managers say about a thousand buffalo will be part of the roundup on Monday morning. The Roundup starts at 9:30, but Park personnel warn all spectators to get settled into a spot well before then. The parking lots open at 6:15. They close at 9 A.M.

Al Van Zee