Happy Bison Month.... Day 24!!

Hope you have a truly great day!

From a friend, and yes, I laughed...

Bison on the Caprock: Donald Beard’s Passion for Texas’s Living Legacy

The official Texas State Bison Herd—genetically distinct descendants of the southern plains bison nearly driven to extinction in the late 1800s—roams freely at Caprock Canyons State Park. At the center of this remarkable conservation story stands Donald Beard, Park Superintendent at Caprock Canyons State Park and owner of Caprock Bison Company. His dual role bridges public stewardship of the state herd with private, conservation-minded bison ranching, helping ensure these majestic animals endure for future generations.

A Legacy Saved from the Brink

Bison once numbered in the tens of millions across North America. In Texas, the southern plains herds were devastated during the great slaughter of the 1870s. By the late 1880s, fewer than 1,000 bison remained continent-wide. In 1878, rancher Charles Goodnight and his wife Mary Ann rescued orphaned calves from the southern herd near what is now the JA Ranch. They raised them on their property, building the nucleus of the Goodnight Herd, which grew to over 200 head. These animals, along with a few other private herds, became the foundation stock for nearly all bison alive today. T

After the Goodnights’ era, the herd dwindled to about 50 animals. In the 1990s, wildlife conservationist Wolfgang Frey alerted the state. Genetic testing by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) revealed a rare genetic marker identifying them as likely the last remaining group of southern plains bison. The JA Ranch donated the herd to TPWD in 1997, and it was relocated to Caprock Canyons State Park—its ancestral range.

Today, the herd is the official Texas State Bison Herd. It carries unique genetic markers not found in most other bison populations and represents one of the most successful conservation efforts in North American history.

Donald Beard: Steward of the State Herd

Click the image to watch Donald's behind the scenes part in the Native film... it's so good

As Park Superintendent, Donald Beard oversees the daily management and long-term conservation of this living treasure. The park’s bison program focuses on three key objectives:

• Re-establishing bison as a keystone species in the prairie ecosystem.
• Protecting the herd’s genetic integrity through careful monitoring and selective practices.
• Contributing to the broader conservation of bison across North America.

Every winter, TPWD conducts DNA testing and full health checks on the animals. Vegetation studies, controlled grazing, and prescribed burns help maintain healthy habitat. The herd’s natural behaviors—grazing that promotes plant diversity, wallowing that creates mini-wetlands, and nutrient-rich waste that fertilizes the soil—help restore the prairie ecosystem.Recent park expansions have given the bison even more room to roam. In 2024 and early 2026, TPWD added roughly 2,200 acres (including the Rocking W and Hawkins Ranches), bringing the park to about 17,500 acres total. Beard highlighted how these additions protect viewsheds, watersheds, and—crucially—give the herd potential access to the high plains.

The herd now numbers over 300 animals, thriving in this rugged landscape of canyons, grasslands, and escarpments. Visitors to the park (a designated International Dark Sky Park) often spot these shaggy icons while hiking the 90+ miles of trails, though safety rules are strict: maintain at least 50 yards distance, as bison are wild and powerful.

From Park Passion to Private Enterprise: Caprock Bison Company

Beard’s deep connection to bison began with the park herd. After moving to the Quitaque area around 2009 for his TPWD role, the animals “grew on” him. That fascination led him to start Caprock Bison Company in Quitaque, Texas—right in the shadow of the Caprock Escarpment.

The company raises a production herd of 75–100 high-quality American bison for breeding stock and meat. The animals feature strong genetics: cows with Wind Cave National Park lineage (Montana origins) and bulls from Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico (Yellowstone genetics). Importantly, Beard’s herd is entirely separate from the state herd at the park.The company’s mission is explicitly conservation-minded: raise bison sustainably to support families nutritionally and economically, improve the land, contribute to species conservation, and positively influence the community. Practices emphasize low-stress handling, holistic land management, and avoiding habitat degradation. Bison are not domesticated—they remain wild in temperament—but are raised commercially with top-tier care.

Beard and his team participate in auctions (such as the Texas Bison Association Southern Plains Bison Auction), sell breeding animals to other ranchers, and offer educational resources about bison, sustainable ranching, and their facilities. The company also ties into local tourism through overnight lodging options in Quitaque.Why Bison MatterBison are far more than a symbol of the American West. As keystone species, they shape entire ecosystems through grazing, wallowing, and nutrient cycling. Their return to Caprock Canyons helps restore biodiversity in a landscape once shaped by vast herds. Beard’s work—both at the state park and through his private company—supports genetic diversity, sustainable use, and public appreciation of these animals.New calves (often called “red dogs” for their reddish-brown coats) continue the legacy, with births typically peaking in spring. Each new life represents the perseverance of a species brought back from the edge of extinction.Looking AheadUnder Donald Beard’s leadership, the Texas State Bison Herd at Caprock Canyons stands as a proud symbol of successful conservation. His parallel efforts with Caprock Bison Company demonstrate how passion for these animals can extend into private stewardship that supports both ecology and economy.Whether you visit the park to watch bison roam the red canyons, learn about their history at the visitor center, or explore sustainable bison ranching through Caprock Bison Company, you’re witnessing living history in action.The bison of the Caprock are more than wildlife—they are a powerful reminder that dedicated people like Donald Beard can help restore what was nearly lost.

Visit Caprock Canyons State Park (near Quitaque, TX) to see the Texas State Bison Herd in person.

Check out Caprock Bison Company Here

Braised Bison Short Ribs (one of my favorites)

Short Rib Ingredients:

4 Buffalo short Ribs (Approx 1 lb. Each)

Salt Freshly Ground Pepper

2 Tbs Vegetable Oil

1 lb Carrots, Peeled 2 large White Onions, Quartered

4 large Garlic Cloves 3 Bay Leaves

1 cup Tomatoes, Chopped 2 cups Beef Stock

2 12-ounce Bottles of Dark Beer 1 small Dried Chile

1 oz Dried Mushrooms, Chopped 1 Tbs Puréed Chipotles in Adobo

4 large Pitted Prunes (I usually skip these) 1 1/2 Tbs Tomato Paste

8oz Small Fresh Mushrooms

Short Rib Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 375°. Season the ribs with salt and pepper and brown them evenly in the oil over medium heat, 4 to 5 minutes on each side.

When dark golden brown, add the carrots, onions, garlic, bay leaves, tomatoes, beef stock, and one bottle of beer, mixing well. Cover tightly and place in the oven for 2 hours.

Make sure the lid is on tight and liquids do not evaporate. After braising for 2 hours, remove from the oven, take the ribs out of the stock, and let the juices run through a sieve into a bowl.

Discard the cooked vegetables. Skim the fat off the surface of the braising juices and return juices to the pan. Return the ribs to the pan and add the chile, dried mushrooms, puréed chipotles, prunes, tomato paste, fresh mushrooms, and the remaining bottle of beer.

Place the pan on top of the stove over very low heat with the lid on tight. Cook for 1 hour. Skim the fat off the surface of the rib sauce before serving.