Year: 1874


How the Great Monarch OF the Plains is


Hunted.


A late issue OF the Greeley (Col.)
Tribune contains q letter from Mr.. r.
r. Smith IN relation to the haunts of
the great herds OF buffalo throughout
the past few months with other particu-
lars as to the way IN which they have
been hunted, different styles of hunt
ing, the mode of life Of the hunter, etc.
Mr.. 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 October
there was FIRE over one hundred miles
along the north side of the Kansas Pa
cifie rsilroad, and millions Of acres were
as black as they could be. This COM
PEELED the herds to seek new fields
Concerning the, habits of the animal,
AIR. Smith writes


The buffalo live near some stream
or spring, grazing from one to ten miles
from it. They do not 60 more than two
days Without drink. There are three
ways of hunting them-stili- 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 opportunity.
About eleven o'clock A. II. the buffaloes
are seen making their way TO the water.
They are both the sioWest and fieetest
of all animals for their size. They al
ways 90 in file and follow a path. None
break ranks except when feeding or
frightened. When within from one TO
ten rods the hunter selects his victim,
aiming at point just back of the fore
leg and about six inches above the low
est part of the body, fires. If one is
brought down, he waits until others go
to him and get a smell of the blood
then the 'shootist' can generally kill
four or five before the rest really know
what to do. have fired fifteen rounds
in one position, and stopped only be-
cause I did not wish to kill more. I
would then let them see me. and they
went off sans crenlo1lSe. The foot
hunter is compelled TO follow herd,
keeping out of sight by hugging IA
vines, and running at best speed when
an opportunity offers, so as to get
within range If possible. He may get
a shot after mRnosuyering for hours, or
he may not. It is healthy sport, but by
no means profitable, or even pleasing"
Hunting on horseback is thus por-
trayed: "On horseback there is the
most excitement. On one occasion four
of MS came upon q herd of from 80, 600
to $4,000. I should think the plain was
literally covered eight by five miles.
We mounted our horses, and by riding
first one way and then another we got
the herd broken, and after an hour we
brought down all, and more, than we
could desire" OF the camp of the
L 4 EoHT
sketch eft is constructed for COM
fort, and not for convenience. 1t must
be near water. The hunter has blankets.
and in these he sleeps. The sky Is his
tent, snd the cactus his feather-bed.
He has the choicest of meat, and can
cook it his own way. ] have lived On
Graham mash and buffalo meat for q
week at a time, and gained rapidly N
Aesh, altheugh ran aud walked macy
miles every day The hunter enjoys
health, happiness, and fun, especially if
it be pleasant weather bat If storm
comes on he had better start for shell
ter" Relative TO the use put to the
buffalo when killed, Mr.. Smith writes
e There has been great trade in huff
falo beef this winter. In most cases
only the headquarters are used-not
that the rest is not good-but that the
other is best when they are so plenty
nothing but the best ere taken. The
hunter is liable to fine if he kills and
does not bring all that is good to eat
into market. A local market is gener-
ally found at some house along the
main road, where the meat is brought
to sell. This is sold for one to one and
e fourth cent per pound, and the
tongues for fifteen cents apiece at the
huntsrs' headquarters.