Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-07-06
Hunting the Buffalo,

In going down the Yellowstone in
Montana, and across the vast region ly-
ing between Glyndive and Mandan, one
is struck with the evident scarcity Of
game. This famous region, where two
or three years ago herds of buffalo, an
telope and deer were to be seen on
every side, is now to all appearances
stripped of its game. The fact is, the
slaughter of buffalo and deer has beer
immense for the past two years, and par
ticularly Of the former. 1t is estimated
that during the past winter there have
been thousand hunters engaged in the
line of the Northern Pacific betweenMan-
dan and Livingston. An eagle-eyed
hunter gave me the following interest
ing details as to the modus operandi
in slaughtering herds of buffalo. In the
first place, the experienced hunter used
the Sharpe rifle, 40-90 calibre. With
this he can kill at 900 yards. When he
sees herd of buffalo he usually slips up
to within convenient range, from 400 to
800 yards, and always selects COW for
his first victim. He does this for the
reason that the COW is followed by both
her yearling and 2-year old calves, and
they will usually stand by her to the
last. But under no circumstances will
the experienced hunter kill his buffalo
outright If he does the herd will STAN.
pedSe .S, at once. The policy is to wound
fatally, but 80 that the animal will dash
round in circle before falling. This it
always does when mortally wounded,
and after few moments lies down.
The remainder of the herd are not
alarmed at this; but continue to Craze,
or look on dazed spectators of the TRACE.
dy being enacted. After his first shot
the hunter passes until quiet is restored,
and again fires at another COW, with sim.
liar results. He always aims to put his
ball just behind the fore shoulder,
which will cause death in five minutes
at furthest. When the COWS have all
Deen slain he then turns his attention ia
the calves, and lastly to the bulls. The
experienced hunter generally bags the
entire herd unless he is so unfortunate
RS to drop his game Immediately, when
all the survivors stampede atonce. The
buffalo does not scare at the crack of
gun. He has decidedly more courage
than discretion. 1t is only when the
crack is followed by an immediate fall
that he realizes its deadly nature and
takes alarm. The policy of killing the
COWS first and then the calves
mas resulted IN the almost utter extlnc.
ton of the female buffalo. Herds Of
melancholy bulls can still occasionally
be seen. sometimes in bands of twenty
or thirty, and often without q single
COW.
AS have said, the bullsare now about
all that are now left Of the buffalo. They
largely owe their safety to the fact
that their hides are. less valua-
BILE than those Of the cows, while at the
nsame time they are more difficult to kill
The hide of the bull is only worth to the
hunter from $l.80 to So, while that of the
COW brings 1925, and that of the 2-year
old calf is worth from ST. to Sl.50 But Of
late there has sprung up quite demand
through the east for the head of the but.
falo bull. The well-preserved head oi
an aged bull decked out with glass eyes
and horns in fact will readily sell fol
$24 in the eastern markets. Consequent.
ly the buffalo hunter of the future will
wage destructive war upon the bull
tribe, and these venerable relics of
by-gone era will also pass swiftly away
Helena (M. T.) independent.