candidate: Other large free - ranging , publicly controlled herds of bison in the United States include the Yellowstone Park bison herd ( 3,500 bison ) , the herd in Custer State Park , South Dakota ( 1,300 bison ) , the Henry Mountains bison herd in south - central Utah ( 300 to 500 animals ) , the herd at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota ( 350 bison ) , and the 400 - strong National Bison Range Herd near Flathead Lake , Montana .