The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-17
WINTER BUFFALO HUNTING.
THE sIORJ THAT rs GOfyG ON Nv 7HE
sASKITtTEU4N yIaIEr.
Where the Huge Bcns,. spend the Cold sen-
snn-0ne tsc "f Samnws- Tossed by II Buii
Running YuHniO-N Very Lively Chase
After "a Jnug-N Jinrd Ox-t Death " uund.

srs engaged in ;ho winter chase 81 bulia'o in
,hc Saskatchewan valley are duiug well. Last
fall Tho hunts proved "a comparative failure a.
the buffalo ia ,hoir annual migrI,iOns had
gone far snutlwdrd. toward thr 'utcuu nj the
Missouri. In winter. however. strange to Say.
the animals come north again and remain
scattered over the face oi he country in small
binds until the returning spring rounds them
NJ into large herds. when they bc:akc thcm-
selves to the opcn plain again. The broad VAL
ley OF the Saskatchewan affords n safe and
pleasant shelter for them durin.. the winter
months. and supplies them VIA plentiful food.
Tho hunt 1T this season Of the year is gem
orally for robos but the scarcity uf provisions
necesstates the saving Of much Of the meat
which. at other times. would become the prey
Of the wolves. In buffalo robes the season
makes great difference. Before November
tho hair is net long enough. and after New
Years Day II gets ragged. and its rich black
brown is blcachrd to the color OF tow. especially
along tho animals back. The foo,s are gem
srnlly taken from the cows sometimes from the
young bulls. but ncyer from the old bulls. whose
hides are much too thick and heavy. The skins
are usually split down the back in dressing
being too bulky to handle easily in one piece
Tho process Of tanning is left entirely in the
hands OF the Indian women. one sauaw being
supposed capable of dressing ten hides per
year. The Indians frequently give as nm eN-
cuse for polygnmy that the more wives they
have the moro robes they able to bring TO
market. The skins retained by them for their
own use are dressed much more beautifully. and
are in every way superior TO those sold to the
traders.
As n general rule buffalo are hunted during
the winter months by stalking them on foot
By this method the hunter takes advantage of
every dcpres sion in the prairie oi bushes show
drifts anything that will conceal his body. to
approach within shooting distance OF the herd
And IL is a very satisfactory mode Of hunting,
when you arc not charged by some old bull
only to find yourself with an empty gun and no
means Of getting out of the way. reca!l an IN
cden. Of this nature which occurred To- me
while hunting some time since near toe Indian
Ebuw.
Ishcudercd my rife one morning and walked
n mil. or two alone into the Hrair.e on the
change o' shooting u IN! cow. The only herd l
could get near WIS feeding in the open plain.
hnt slight undulation enabled me TO get within
- yaIls: nearer ! could act Eoi being already
jgs, pr the edge OF tie wind. The COWS IN
iAr.tiy, We're on the further SIDE. good ilny
is.es beyond the bulls; stu thought II pos
s.h' TO Kill one Before | had got fair ain
however, they took the alarm anu began tomovs
IN. upon which | rather too hastily fired both
once. Tn old bulls instead Of moving OH. too
Remained on the spot following. paving the
was the season when they arc specially savage
i.ouii not load while stretched fat on the turf
II raised myself in the least | came into view;
II l lay still YVES equally sure To- be iscoverrd
owing to shiit in tine wind, which now blew 70;
10 load ut all hazards so. getting everything
ready. raised myself and began 20 Dad oneh;.r
rel us quickly as possible. The buiinlO'r must
have seen me, bur as none % them showed
symptoms Of charging grew holder: Taxing
deliberate aim. fired at the nnarcs; one. A.
soon as the smoke cleared away. saw my game
give conyulsvs start. move OH short dis
ran away. T6inHine he S was done for. walked
slowly toward him. No sooner however did
he catch sight of me than. to my utter HsiOn-h-
ment UP went his tail and down went his head.
and he came nj me like shot
cover th wa" Size re On Go H r OF
II. but he took three steps - my one. Seeing he
was close s,, On me- tried To dodge him
shock. But il was no use; | iailcd IN tho NJ.
tempt To- my horrpr NJ 6olted round moro nor,
sideways. 1 met his charge. in hopes Of get
ting between his horns, when he came plump
Il was like being. hit with u sofa cushion shot
from a cannon, My gun was broken To pieces
! went sailing into mid-ar. ] landed at last,
falling In the snow. wnile my huge sssailant
not tho least hurt. the force Of the tremendous
blows being perfectly deadenod by the enormous
mass OF wool. FUR and hair that clothed his
shaggy headpiece.
-,AIuil; grown bull is immensely shaggy, espe-
such vast quantity Of hair fur. and wool
cealing his horns as 10 give it the nppoarauceu f
being fully one-thirG the size OF the Who'll. body.
To shoot at the head OF a bull wearing this
heavy cushion OF hair a, helmet, Ii a sheer
waste OF ammunition. II has no more effect
than firing at u stone wall, | once found out
this while bunting an Oil bull very tim and
sickiy. hardly Gbl" 10 move. IL WIS "a mercy 20
save him from tho cruelty 81 tne wolvc- -.
he had to die. rode past him and gave him
uu@ine hun n pusziing marx for a beginner.
Bat placed il too high. as on" T. always apt 10
io. and il mersly dropped him on hi, knees. |
!icn d. smounled, and, and, walking close up u
hlli. llred both barrels Vi a smooth hor" gun
tlpush - ecd o! earth had struck him. The bull
remained IN III" same position. slaring at me
= iN ssNas' rycs tie d.nsely matted hair on
his ,n.rs skull had completely ,lrhed the pene-
ti7i'y' iurrc OF II smooth bore, then went t.
'Hi.rnae and borrowed an Enfield rife. At the
~. SHOT the 'onlcal bullet pas ed clear through
i,".i and bone. ana the old buffalo rolled over
Al another time was hunting with n COM
p.hiOn VINO checked Il running bull by Grip
ping II with II broken fole lcg-a thing most
SistbHng 10 y bullhl", owing % the weight OF
MS iinmcnsc fore quarters. Intending To- help
him went pretty mar ihe bull and fired two
shots. aiming Just behind the shou.d"r; Both
Went rather high. but either should have
brought him down. still, be stood ~ firmly rs
before. A shot ia ~" flank did not shnk" MIN.
Al last went very close 70 him. and aimed very
carefully at his heart. NJ other shot was need
ed; over he rolled and expired without stru.-
gle or groan. When an animal dl,S no' inl-
plcdiately drop 70 II body shot in the region u
tho heart he will boar bullet AFTER bullet without
rinching or sinking, until the very hrnin or
heart y penctraied. frrhaIs wien the iirst
70 duh them. producing insrn7ibilty. We had
shot nine times into this buffalo.
The winter thus far has been an exceptional
one. in that littie or no snow hus fallen upon
the plains. IN consequence. buffalo hunting -
carried on as In summer by running thom on
buffalo runner" Tie Luilalh runner belongs
20 no particular nree The, only REQUISITES being
speed. tact in brug tEr rider alongside the -
Treating herd. ana maintaining certain rrla-
tive distance while there, and IN avoiding The
When running bplIalo tho hunter generally
carries u iong me 81 raWhlde rollrd ny hni