The Buffalo

Custer State Park (Click the pic)
Buffalo Hunts in Custer State Park

The American Bison once covered the Great Plains of the United States. Some estimates puts there number at over 60,000,000. Lewis and Clark entered in their journals about having to wait days to allow a herd to pass. The bison eventually became know as the buffalo or as they say in "Dances With Wolves", Tatanka. By 1886 the sad truth was that these magnificent animals had been killed off to where only 541 animals survived. The decade of the 1870's was one of greed and waste. Hide hunters went west in search for some easy money, the buffalo. The government was looking for a way to subdue the Indian tribes of the Plains. The army couldn't do it but by killing off the food supply of the Indians the government was finally able to force the Indians onto the reservations.

Custer State Park

The hide hunters were an interesting lot. Most of these men never made much money at their profession. On a good day most only killed 5 or 6 buffalo. The stories of hide hunters killing 50 to 100 animals are few and far between. The main tool of their business was their rifle. The most commonly thought of was the Sharps Buffalo gun or "Old Reliable". However the Sharps was not the only rifle used. There were Remington rolling block rifles, government Springfield Trap-door rifles, Henrys, Spencers, Winchesters and several others. The most used rifles were the heavy single shot weapons that were chambered for calibers such as the .44-77, .44-90, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .50-70, .50-90 and a few others. The repeating rifles such as the Henry, Spencers and Winchesters were not well liked by the hide hunter that was serious about his business. The repeaters just were not powerful enough to take a 2,000 pound buffalo down with a single shot. The methods used by these men of the plains to hunt the buffalo fell into two categories. One was "Stand Hunting". The hunter would find a concealled place downwind of the herd at a distance of 200 to 300 yards and begin picking off the animals one by one. The successful hunter might have two rifles and switch when was one got too hot. Shooting was done from the aid of a rest or a set of cross-sticks. The second method was that of "Chase Hunting". This was done by the hunter that would ride along side the animal and shoot at very close range. This is where the repeaters came in handy. Buffalo Bill worked for the railroad suppling meat for the workers. The ready source of meat just happened to be the buffalo. He is credited with killing over 4,000 in his hunting career. The railroad opened the way west.

Click on the pic to learn more about the Transcontinental Railroad

Buffalo Bill used his Smith & Wesson number 3 in .44 Russian to kill several buffalo using the chase hunting method. This was a dangerous method and left dead buffalo scattered over the plains. Another clebrated buffalo runner was the fictional character of "Buffalo Buck". He mainly used the "Stand" hunting method and rarely settled for a stand of less than 30 or 40. Of course he was only fiction.

Indians killed buffalo by using the "Chase" method but also by stampeding a herd over the edge of a cliff. While the hide hunters took only the hide or maybe the tongue, the Indians used all parts of the animal for their daily living. With the killing off ot the herds the Indians had no choice but to move onto the reservations.

Today buffalo have flourished. The largest private owner of buffalo is billionaire Ted Turner. Through his movie production Mr. Turner has furthered the interested of Americans in the Great American West. Buffalo is even served in many restuaruants in the Great Plains and animals may be seen in many of the nations parks. Through conservation efforts of a few the buffalo will be around for a long time. They are the majestic lord of the plains.

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