Buffalogold

Yes, its not only very difficult....  Its also a really bad idea, and dangerous to both the buffalo and the shearer.  Bison are extremely sensitive to stress. The experience of being caged for shearing can lead to permanent injury (or worse) to all involved.  It is not the best way, we believe, to harvest bison down.   

While bison are basically gentle and non-aggressive, but they are not domesticated.  Remember, always, that they are wild animals... and big ones.  It is rare to find a bison that will let you get near it, let alone shear it.  Our fiber is actually harvested as a by-product.  The increase in the national bison herds is directly related to the growth in demand for a lean, drug free and wholesome red meat  (We know ... not everybody has that demand, my lovely daughter eats only veggies).  Bison are raised to fill that meat market. The hide and it's winter fiber are part of the that left over from this primary production industry.  To let it continue to go to waste ... to be put in landfills or chemically burned off in leather production is neither ecological or practical.  It amounts to the loss of a beautiful and unique material - the bison down that becomes Buffalo Gold products. Our mission was to save both the fiber and the leather... and your enthuasiam helps us continue to work- together - towards that goal. Thank you.