Dunn Ranch Prairie in Hatfield offers a beautiful, tranquil backdrop as visitors drive the gravel roads bordering its vast prairie. Along the road, travelers will see a fenceline adorned with several cautionary signs warning against the very thing they are hoping to catch a glimpse of: bison.
It’s difficult to tell what is more impressive to see: the herd of massive bison grazing on the horizon or the seemingly endless sea of grasses beyond them. The breathtaking view of land is what some of the state’s first explorers might have encountered, undoubtedly feeling the same awe as they walked through rolling waves of big bluestem, Missouri’s colorful, deep-rooted grass system.
Today, Dunn Ranch Prairie, which is owned by The Nature Conservancy, offers 4,000 acres of grasslands. The sprawling ecosystem has over 300 native grasses, sedges, and trees and is home to prairie regulars like the show-stopping bison, as well as avian friends like the meadowlark, bobolink, Henslow’s sparrow, and prairie chicken. Besides driving along the prairie, visitors can get a great view of the peaceful expanse by hiking the half-mile long Lordi Marker Prairie nature trail and heading up to the observation deck.
The bison were brought to Dunn Ranch in 2011 by The Nature Conservancy, who transported 30 genetically pure species from Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. The herd has been steadily growing, with over 200 bison today. Brett Perkins, grazing and grasslands coordinator, says bison are their partners at Dunn Ranch Prairie. “A lot of these other species—the birds and critters that occupy this landscape now—could not exist without the bison’s presence here.”
This article originally appeared in the May 2025 edition of Missouri Life.
