The Extermination of the American BisonHornaday, William T. (William Temple)
History
The Extermination of the American Bison
Hornaday, William T. (William Temple)
American bison; Wildlife conservation -- United States -- Sources
The outfit went by rail northeastward to Terry, and from thence across
country south and east about 100 miles, around the head of O'Fallon
Creek to the head of Beaver Creek, a tributary of the Little Missouri. A
good range was selected, without encroachment upon the domains of the
hunters already in the field, and the camp was made near the bank of the
creek, close to a supply of wood and water, and screened from distant
observation by a circle of hills and ridges. The two rectangular
wall-tents were set up end to end, with the cook-stove in the middle,
where the ends came together. In one tent the cooking and eating was
done, and the other contained the beds.
It was planned that the various members of the party should cook turn
about, a week at a time, but one of them soon developed such a rare and
conspicuous talent for bread-making and general cookery that he was
elected by acclamation to cook during the entire season. To the other
three members fell the hunting. Each man hunted separately from the
others, and skinned all the animals that his rifle brought down.
There were buffalo on the range when the hunters arrived, and the
killing began at once. At daylight the still-hunter sallied forth on
foot, carrying in his hand his huge Sharps rifle, weighing from 16 to 19
pounds, with from seventy-five to one hundred loaded cartridges in his
two belts or his pockets. At his side, depending from his belt, hung his
"hunter's companion," a flat leather scabbard, containing a ripping
knife, a skinning knife, and a butcher's steel upon which to sharpen
them. The total weight carried was very considerable, seldom less than
36 pounds, and often more.
Inasmuch as it was highly important to move camp as seldom as possible
in the course of a season's work, the hunter exercised the greatest
precaution in killing his game, and had ever before his mind the
necessity of doing his killing without frightening away the survivors.
With ten thousand buffaloes on their range, it was considered the height
of good luck to find a "bunch" of fifty head in a secluded "draw" or
hollow, where it was possible to "make a kill" without disturbing the
big herd.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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