The Lazy Daisy Bison Ranch

The day after the belly dancing extravaganza we went to Martinsdale to visit the Lazy Daisy bison ranch. Our hosts Gene and Evelyn Leary were great. We helped Gene load up the custom seats in the back of the pickup truck and then we took a tour. Gene with Willie and George in the cab, and rest of us in the bed of the truck.

Dr. Kerith and a Baby Bison

Set on the eastern slope of the Little Belt mountains, this area has been home to transient native american indian villages for at least a few thousand years.

Why were they attracted to this area? Mostly due to the bison that would also move through transiently. These days, the bison are held in place by electric fencing and the lure of feed hay in the winter.

Bison have a distinct pecking order, and this herd recently had a change in the Alpha leader, with the ex-alpha being banished to live separate from the herd. There is a lot of other game as well, including antelope, hare, bear, and more.

The concentration of Indian villages over the centuries has left it’s mark. There are many teepee rings on the Lazy Daisy property. The older rings are smaller in diameter, as tepees were much smaller by necessity before the introduction of the horse and canvas .

Large Tepee Ring

Winter camp tepees can be distinguished by having both an inner and outer ring for the double wall insulated tepee. There are hundreds of visible tepee rings on this property. However, perhaps the most remarkable native american artifact at

Native American Ceremonial Bowl

the Lazy Daisy ranch is the ceremonial bowl cut into the rock. It’s exact use is a mystery. Was it used a grinder to make pemmican? Was it for a ceremonial fire of some sort? We don’t know the answers to these questions. Near the ceremonial bowl site there are several “Buffalo Washes”.

Ceremonial Bowl in Context

These are spots where the buffalo dig and roll around in sandy soil, perhaps to help

Standing in a Buffalo Wash

provide some insect protection. Bison develop their winter coat and only maintain it for about three months, so if you want to harvest a trophy bison with a thick coat, you do it in the winter when that coat is fullest. Perfect for the hearth of any Montana home! Besides bison, they also have a few cows and a nice herd of beautiful horses. They are used to getting fed from the truck so they approach it eagerly. After the pickup truck tour we got on four-wheelers and just explored on our own. Nothing quite like exploring the Montana

Fearless Gopher

countryside on a four-wheeler! Along the way I shot a picture of this fearless gopher. Pretty darn cute up close. The sun, wind and bumps took their toll and within an hour we were ready to come inside and have some good home-cooked food. We had Cincinnati style chili with Huckleberry pie for dessert.