The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-02-19
Wild Horse On the plainr.

they come from or now GnSJ CAME
to exist in such numbers it is hard
to tell, but probably some Of them
are from Indian herds, while others
came from cattlemen's ponies run
wild. Nearly every cattle herd
has its pony herd, and very often
some of these wander off into the
hills and are never found. There
are large horse herds, and occasion
ally a band becomes separated from
the main body, strays into the
mountains and go wild. l am in
,clined to believe, however, that
most wild horses on the plains had
their origin with Indian herds, and
that wild bands existed long before
the white man inhabited the west.
Whatever may have been the
origin Of the wild horses they have
increased and multiplied wonder
fully during the last few years, and
have become now almost an unen-
durable nuisance to the cattle and
horse growers of the plains. Their
obstruction has been fully deter
mined upon, but it will take years
OF persistent effort to eradicate them.
They Craze in bands and it is very
difficult to approach them unob-
served. An old stallion generally
occupies an elevation where he can
see over the surrounding country,
and the moment danger appears he
trumpets the alarm and the herd is
off like the wind. These wild stall
lions are great nuisances to the cat
tie and horse raisers. They are
regular mormons and always prose
| lyting for their bands. They cross
and recross the country looking out
tor mares. If cattleman's cow po-
MES stray too far out and a wild
stallion discovers them, he immedi-
ately captures the mares, drives
them off into the hills, and they will
probably never again be heard of by
the owner. Often wild herd will
discover a band Of tame horses graz
ing quietly in a valley with no in
tention Of becoming wild, but the
wild herd, led on by its stations,
dashes down upon them, captures
them and drives them off. The
wild stations are shot without mer-
, cy by the cow men. If one is seen
grazing he is cyept up upon, and if
the hunter can get close enough be
is dropped in his tracks. 1t seems
cruel to kill such fine beasts, but
the herders only think Of protect
ing their herds. In the days when
the Indians were all over the PLAINS,
no doubt the wild horses had hard
time of it, and few escaped capture
at one time or another, but since
the Indians have been confined to
reservations, the white men have
proved no match for the wild hors-
es, and the bands have greatly in
creased. This winter a systematic
effort is to be made to get rid of the
wild fellows, and men have been en-
couraged to go out and hunt them.
A reward win be paid in some To-
calitles for wild horse ears, while in
others men will be regularly hired
and paid to destroy them The In
dians are the best wild horse hunt
ers, but they cannot stand the cold
as well as white men, and do not
like to be out in stormy weather, or
even kill the horses when found.
A storm is the best time to hunt
them, SIS then one can run on band
without being seen, and get in some
shots before they can get away. It
is perfectly useless for = hunter to
undertake to run them down, as his
horse, burdened by the weight of a
man, soon tires, and the unburdened
wild ones easily escape. Sometimes
the hunters discover the tracks or
where the wild herd comes to water,
and by hiding or crawling along a
bluff overlooking them some good
shots can be got in. It is difficult,
however, to catch them, as they
seem to know when hunters are
about and will Immediately leave
the locality. 1t is said a smoke or
anything unusual in their vicinity
will cause them to stampede for fifty
miles.
The best time to hunt the wild
horses is in the winter, when the
SHOWS are deep, as they seem then
to be less on the lookout for danger,
and less able to get away. In win
ter, also, the hunters can unite the
business of wild horse limiting
with ''wolfing." Perhaps you do
not know what a wolfer is? A
wolfer is simply man who hunts
wolves for their pelts, and some
times for the reward offered for
Welt scRlps. In earlier times the
wovles were killed not only fer their
pelts, but to save the game. Next
to man, the wolf is the greatest de-
stroyer of game The gray wolf |
will attack anything from a buffalo
to a chipmunk, and when hungry
has been known to attack men.
The killing of buffalo on the plains
for their hides gave the wolves
plenty of meat, and they greatly
increased in numbers. A few years
ago the plains literally swarmed
with gray wolves and coyotes, but
as the buffalo became scarce, the
hunters turned their attentions to
the wolves, and now in some local
tiles they are nearly wiped out.
Armed with good gun and sever
al pounds of strychnlne, the wolfer
goes to 8 locality where the wolves
are thckest and builds himself a
cabin. He will next kill some game
and poison the carcasses. In this
way he goes all over the country
shooting buffalo, elk, deer, antelope,
or whatever he can find, and set
ting them for bait. The wolves
eat the poisoned flesh, die, and the
wolfer returns and skin them for
their fur. Sometimes the wolf bait
is set in candles, the wick is pulled
out and the hole filed with strych-
nine, then the candle is cut into
pieces about three inches long, the