Year: 1874

Incidents I'm Frontier Experimentation


the Monarch of the Plains Is Hunted,


A late issue of the Greeley COL
Tribune contains a letter from Mr.. r.
r. Smith in relation to the haunts of the
great herds OF buffalo throughout the
past few months, with other particulars
as to the way in which they have been
hunted, different styles of hunting, 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 custor,ary pasture
grounds were burned over In Octo-
ber there was fire over 100 miles along
the north side of the Kansas Pacific
Railroad, and millions of acres were as
black as could be. This compelled the
herds to seek new fields. Concerning
the habits of the animal Mr.. Smith
writes "The buffalo live near some
stream or spring, grazing from one mile
to ten miles from it. They do not go
more than two days without drink.
There are three ways of hunting them
-still-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 watch
ing his opportunity. About II A. NJ.
the buffaloes are seen making their
way to the river. They are both the
slowest and feetest of all animals for
their size. They always go in file and
follow path. None break ranks ex-
cept when feeding or frightened. When
within from one to ten rods the hunter
selects his victim, and aiming at a
point Just back of the foreleg and about
six inches above the lower part of the
body, fires. If one is brought down,
he waits until others go to him and get
smell of the blood then the shoot
ist' can generally kill four or five before
the rest really know what to do. have
fred fifteen rounds in one position, and
stopped only because I did not wish to
kill any more. 1 would then let them
see me, and they went off, sans cere-
monte. The foot hunter is compelled
to follow herd, keeping out of sight
by hugging ravines, and running at
best speed when an opportunity offers,
so as to get within range, if possible.
He may get shot after maneuvring
for hours, or he may not. 1t is healthy
sport, but by no means profitable, or
even pleasing" Hunting on horse
back is thus portrayed: con horse
back there is the most excitement. On
one occasion four of us come upon a
herd of from 80, ,000to $4,000. I should
think the, plain was literally covered.
eight by i've miles. We mounted our
horses, and by 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 buffalo hunter, we have the
following sketch 1t is constructed
for comfort, and not for convenience.
1t must be near water. The hunter has
blankets, and in these he sleeps. The
sky is his tent, and the cactus his feath-
er bed. He has the choicest of meat,
and can cook it his own way. [ have
lived on Graham mush and buffalo
meat for a week at time, and gained
rapidly in flesh, although l ran and
walked many miles every day. The
hunter enjoys health, happiness, and
fun, especially if it be pleasant weather,
but if a storm comes on, he had better
start for shelter" Relative to the use
put to the buffalo when killed, Mr..
Smith writes "There has been o
great trade in buffalo beef this winter.
In most cases only the headquarters
are used-not that the rest is not good,
but that the other is best; and when
they are SO plenty nothing but the best
is taken. The hunter is liable to fine
if he kills and does not bring all that is
good to eat into market. A local mar
ket is generally found at some house
along the main road, where the meat
is brought to sell. This is sold for one
to one and fourth cents per pound,
and the tongues for fifteen cents apiece
at the hunters headquarters"