The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-09-03
HUNTING BUFFALO.

Hunting the buffalo is very different
sport from stalking either the antelope or
the red deer, aud is intensely exciting,
They are seldom, except by those who
make tn il livelihood by selling the skins,
shot with rife, the usual method being
to ride at full gallop into herd, select the
most promising animal, and then shoot at
it with revolver. A good deal of prac-
tice, and might add nerve, is required
before man can expect to become an ac-
complished buffalo hunter; a. well-traned
horse is also necessary to insure success.
The first precautions to be observed after
sighting herd which it is proposed 'to
rum" are to tighten yourself and horse of
all superfuous gear, which we always
handed over to our orderlies, tighten up
the saddle girths, unbutton your holster,
and see your revolver handy and ready for
instant use. When everything is r,ady
advance toward the herd at a brisk trot or
cunter AS rule they will allow you to
approach within about 200 yards, when,
being alarmed, the whole herd will scam.
per off. This is the time to make the run
ming, for, after having retreated about
100 yards, they will invariably stop and
| look around to see whether they are being
pursued or not. Before they can make
up their minds to be off again the hunter
ought to be in their plidst, splitting the
herd in two, and scattering them IN all dl-
rections ahead of him. Singing out a
particular animal-if only the skin is re-
quirod, or year old COW is selected;
if food is wanted 3-year old is chosen-
the hunter dashes up alongside, and when
within about two or three yards discharges
his revolver rapidly into his victim, stick
ing close to the poor animal until 1t falls
The buffalo is wonderfully tenacious OF
life; l have myself chased an old bull,
whose head II was desirous of obtaining as
trophy, for distance of eight miles, and
he only succumbed after twenty five bullets
had actually taken effect, the majority OF
which had entered vital part! When
wounded they are naturally very savage,
and, maddened by the pain, will charge
, furously, but are easily evaded by we'll
mounted horsemtn. When they see their
efforts are futile, they will stop short,
stamp their fore feet vicously, snort, and
, shake their heads and shaggy names with
a impotent fury. An infuriatrd buffalo bull
e is very ugly customer at close quarters,
= but is really harmless if the hunter is
mounted on q tractable horse. The rapid
= ty with which these clumsy, awkward
looking animals get over the ground Is
e perfectly marvellous; apparently shutdlnG
d along like q drove of COWS, they are IL
$ reality travelling at great speed, and mar
: must be well mounted indeed to who ex
+ poets to overtake them if they haven't the
e advantage of good start, OF even to keel
{ up with them after he has once ranged
alongside. An inexperienced hunter Is ap
: to think after q short chase that his Vlctln
1t must soon succumb, from the fact that 1t
1 head is hanging down and its tongue pro
!, truding, but these are not Indications
|; exhaustion, and buffalo, unless made It
- bite the dust" will tire out the very beS
II horse carrying rider OH its back.-Cap
Markhan, IN Good Words.