Bison Field Dressing
Friday - October 31, 2025 by Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
John Washington, Jr., a student at the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy, is getting hands on help from Southern Ute Wildlife biologist Chris Jones at this year's bison field dressing demonstration, Thursday, Oct. 23. The annual program is hosted by the Tribe’s Wildlife Resource Management Division.
On the start of a cool autumn day, spirits were high as the drum was being warmed up next to the firepit at dawn.
Students and parents gazed in amazement (and repulsion) as Ian Doughty, the Tribe’s new Bison Manager and Southern Ute Wildlife Biologist, Danielle Austin conducted the field dressing demonstration.
SUIMA student Matthew Carillo looks on with anticipation as Southern Ute Wildlife Biologist, Danielle Austin shows the proper way to skin an animal.
Maria Rivera is helping SUIMA student Izen Mills skin the harvested bison by pulling the hide down as he makes cuts.
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Crisp fall weather brought the annual bison roundup to the Southern Ute Reservation, and the field dressing workshop hosted by the Tribe’s Wildlife Resource Management Division, Thursday, Oct. 23. Students from the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy were given the opportunity for hands-on participation in the field dressing process. The event saw parents and teachers join students from the Academy, interested in learning the steps to cleaning and skinning a bull bison once harvested.