Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-16
THE BUFFALO.
Incidents I'm Frontier Experiences
How the Monarch of the Plains is
Hunfah

HOW the IAOuaECh u thC GA"AAaS -
Hunted.
A late issue of the Greeley (COl)
Tribune contains a letter from Mr.. r.
r. Smith in relation to the haunts of
the great herds Of buffalo throughout
the past few months, with other par
ticulars as to the way In which
they have been hunted, different
styles of hunting, the mode of
life Of the hunter, etc. MIR. Smith
SAYS the main herds of the buffalo
have been on the north side of the
Platte river during most of the past
winter. They crossed from the south
about the last Of November, owing to
the fact that their customary pasture
grounds were burned over. In OctO-
Der there was a fire over 100 miles
along the north side of the Kansas
Pacific railroad. and millions of acres
were as black as they could be. This
compelled the herds to seek new fields.
Concerning the habits of the animal,
Mr.. Smith writes:
1.-The buffalo live near some stream
or spring. grazing from one to ten
miles from it. They do not go more
than two days without drink. There
are three ways of hunting them-stln-
hunting, on the plains on foot, and ON
horseback. The hunter who still-hunts
finds where they come for water, and
keeps under the bank, watching his op-
portunity. About IL o'clock AN. the
buffaloes are seen making their way TO
the water. They are both the slowest
and heetest Of all animals for their size.
They always go IN file and follow a
path. None break ranks except when
feeding or frightened. When within
from one to ten rods the hunter selects
bis victim, aiming at a point Just back
of the foreleg and about SIX inches
above the lowest part Of the body, fires IL
one is brought down, he waits until
others 90 to him and get smell of the
blood; then the 'shOotist' can generally
kill four of five before the rest really
know what to DO. l have fired fifteen
rounds in one position, and stopped on
ly because l did not wish to kill more.
| / would then let them see me, and they
went off sans ceremonie. The foot
hunter is compelled to follow herd,
keeping out of sight by hugging ra-
vines, and running at best speed when
an opportunity offers, so as TO get
within range if possible. He may
get a shot after manGuverIng toI
hours, or he may not 1t is healthy
sport, but by no means profitable, OF
even pleasing" Hunting on horse
back is thus portrayed: "On horse
back there Is the most excitement. VI
one occasion four of us came upon 9
herd of from $4,000 TO $4,000. lshoulc
think the plain was literally covered
eight by five miles. We mounted Oul
horses, and by riding first one way ano
then another we got the herd broken
and after an hour we brought down
all. and more, than We could desire. u
the camp of the buffalo-hunter we nave
the following sketch: g 1t is construct
ed for comfort, and not for convenience
1t must be near water. The huntel
has blankets, and IN these he sleeps
The skv is his tent, and the cactus hl:
feather-bed. He has the choicest o.
meat. and can cook it his own way. !
have lived on Graham mush and butfalC
meat for a week at a time, and gained
rapidly in flesh, although l ran anC
walked many miles every day. In,
hunter enjoys health, happiness, anc
fun, especially if it be pleasant wealth
er; but if a storm comes on he had
better start for shelter" Relative e
the use put to the buffalo when killed
Mr.. Smith writes: There ha:
been a great trade in buffalo beef tins
winter. In most cases only the hind
quarters are used-nOt that the rest Ii
not good-but that the other Is best
and when they are so plenty nothing
but the best are taken. The hunter Il
liable to fine if he kills and does moi
bring all that is good to eat into mar
ket. A local market is generally founC
at some house along the main road
where the meat is brought to sell. This
is sold for one to one anda fourth cen
per pound, and the tongues for tfteeI
cents apiece at the hunters headquar
| farS -