As someone who loves cooking with bison meat, I’m always on the lookout for high-quality ranches raising this tasty game animal. So when I recently discovered Cross Timbers Bison located right here in Oklahoma, I knew I had to learn more about this local ranch producing amazing bison.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into Cross Timbers Bison, covering topics like:
- An overview of the Cross Timbers Bison ranch
- The location and history of the ranch
- Details on the bison herd and ranch operations
- Ways to purchase Cross Timbers Bison products
- Delicious recipe ideas using Cross Timbers bison
Whether you’re a fellow bison enthusiast or just enjoy supporting local food producers read on to learn what makes this Oklahoma ranch so special!
Cross Timbers Bison is a family-owned and operated bison ranch located in Sulphur Oklahoma. The ranch is owned and run by Dusty Baker who oversees all aspects of the operations.
Dusty first started raising bison in 2015 on family land passed down through generations. He currently manages two locations in southern Oklahoma with over 50 head of bison between the two ranches.
According to the Cross Timbers Bison listing on MadeInOklahoma.net, Dusty raises his bison with a focus on conservation and careful breeding practices The goal is to preserve the health and continuity of the herds for generations to come
The Locations and Landscapes of Cross Timbers Bison
Cross Timbers Bison operates two ranch locations in Oklahoma:
The Main Ranch near Sulphur
The headquarters ranch is located just outside of Sulphur, Oklahoma in Murray County. This area of southern Oklahoma has been in Dusty’s family for over 100 years.
The landscape here consists of gently rolling grasslands and prairie, dotted with clusters of cross timbers trees. These timber “islands” provide shade and shelter for the grazing bison.
Several ponds and streams cross the property, providing fresh water sources. The bison herd on this ranch numbers around 35 head currently.
The Secondary Ranch Near Dougherty
A smaller satellite ranch is located near Dougherty, Oklahoma in Garvin County. This ranch sits further east, closer to the Oklahoma-Texas border.
Similar to the main ranch, this landscape is dominated by native prairie grasses interspersed with stands of trees. The terrain is relatively flat and ideal for bison raising.
Between 15-20 bison currently graze the pastures at this secondary location. The herds are rotated between the two ranches as needed.
Why Raise Bison? The Benefits for Land and Table
So why did Dusty choose to raise bison? Here are some of the key advantages of bison ranching:
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Sustainability – Bison are indigenous grazers, well-adapted to the native grasses and landscapes. Raising bison promotes sustainable land management.
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Low Impact – With their lighter weight, bison cause less compaction and erosion issues compared to cattle.
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Healthy Meat – Bison are natural foragers eating a diverse diet. Their meat is low in fat and cholesterol.
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Profitability – As demand grows, bison ranching can be quite profitable for smaller acreages.
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Conservation – Managed bison herds help preserve these iconic American animals almost lost to extinction.
Both the local environment and food supply benefit greatly from bison ranching operations like Cross Timbers Bison!
All About the Cross Timbers Bison Herd
The bison herd at Cross Timbers Ranch exhibits impressive genetic diversity. Dusty has carefully curated his herd for optimal health and continuity. Here are some key facts about his bison:
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50+ Total Head – Herd numbers are constantly changing, but totals 50+ currently
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Multiple Bloodlines – Dusty ensures genetic variation by selecting varied breeding stock
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Grass-Fed – The bison forage entirely on native grasses and vegetation at both locations
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Rotational Grazing – The herds are rotated between pastures to prevent overgrazing
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Low Stress Handling – Dusty uses low-stress handling practices for health and temperament
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USDA Compliant – All processing is done at USDA certified slaughter and processing facilities
Dusty’s selective breeding and conscientious management produces healthy, hardy bison perfect for harvesting flavorful cuts.
Touring the Cross Timbers Ranch and Facilities
While the ranch is not officially open for tours yet, visitors can get glimpses into the operation via the Cross Timbers Bison Facebook page. Photo updates highlight the latest happenings on the ranch.
Based on the photos, key points of interest include:
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Herds of bison grazing on open pastures at both locations
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Watering holes and ponds where the bison congregate
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Small barns and paddocks used during sorting and handling
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Loading chutes to move bison between locations
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Dusty working hands-on with the herds
Hopefully in the future, Cross Timbers will offer public tours. For now, follow their social media for inside looks at this working bison ranch!
Purchasing Delicious Cross Timbers Bison Products
The best part about Cross Timbers Bison is having access to their deliciously healthy meat products. The ranch sells packaged cuts of bison meat, plus value-added products like jerky and snack sticks.
According to their Made In Oklahoma listing, Cross Timbers products are currently available at:
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Direct ranch pick-up – Buy directly from the ranch by appointment
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Online via special order – Check Dusty’s Facebook page for ordering information
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Select farmers markets – Find Cross Timbers at local markets around Oklahoma
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Restaurants and retailers – Some local shops carry Cross Timbers Bison cuts and products
Be sure to call ahead to confirm availability before visiting any retail locations. Ranch pick-up and online ordering ensure access to these popular products.
Crafting Amazing Meals Using Cross Timbers Bison
The flavorful meat
What happened to Cross Timbers Bison?
FAQ
Who owns Cross Timbers bison?
What is the Cross Timbers ecoregion?
What is the history of Cross Timbers?
What is the Cross Timbers transition?
Where are Cross Timbers bison made?
VDOMDHTMLtml> Cross Timbers Bison | Made in Oklahoma I raise the American Bison in Southern Oklahoma. We currently have over 50 head between two locations. We raise them for their continued conservation success thru focused breeding. Producers Retailers Gift Baskets About Shop search Join ProductsFood and DrinkMeat Cross Timbers Bison Dusty Baker
What is Cross Timbers Bison?
Cross Timbers Bison, Sulphur, Oklahoma, is a local company that believes in producing a healthy meat through production and conservation. Cross Timbers Bison, Sulphur, Oklahoma. 47,400 likes · 8,386 talking about this.
What is a cross timber in Oklahoma?
CROSS TIMBERS. The term “Cross Timbers” refers to an ecological region of woodland and forest vegetation in central and eastern Oklahoma. Although Cross Timbers also occur in Kansas and Texas, over half of the estimated 4.8 million hectares of that region are found in Oklahoma, making it the state’s most abundant woody vegetation type.
Are Cross Timbers a forest?
Albeit the Cross Timbers are the western most extension of the oak-hickory forest of the eastern United States, it is not accurate to describe Cross Timbers simply as forest. In fact, the Cross Timbers is a mosaic of forest, woodland, and prairie. Nevertheless, the most important tree species in the Cross Timbers are post oak and blackjack.