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212 



THE AMEEICAA^ BISO^^S. 



repeated till fifteen, twenty, or even thirty buffaloes are killed before the 

 herd becomes thoroughly alarmed and, in hunter's parlance, '^ stampedes" 



By keeping prostrate the hunter is able to creep up to the herd again as it 



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recedes, till he has killed enough to furnish loads for his teams; and even 

 sometimes he has to rise and drive away the stupid creatures to prevent 

 the living from playfi 



e:orinc>: the dead! When 







ful, it is termed "getting a stand on the herd." A "stand" is most surely 

 made in nearly level ground. In shooting from ravines, the herd usually 



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During the 



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runs aivay after three to five or six of their number have fallen. 



rutting season, if a cow falls at the first shot, the hunter is pretty sure of a 



"stand," and of getting a dozen or more shots, if he keeps prostrate and uses 



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es seem at once to recognize the 



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due caution. As soon as he rises the bu 

 cause of their trouble, and generally immediately stampede ; but so long as 

 he remains prone they seem to have no perception of the character of then^ 

 enemy, and often do not notice him at all. A ^^ stand " can usually be 

 obtained, by due care, at any time from May to December, but during the 

 rest of the year the buffldoes are more wary, and often very lean, and the 

 hunters say that the poorer they get, the wilder they become. 



The Kansas hunter for several years was generally able to reach the 

 herds by an easy drive from either of the railroads that now intersect 



ree four-mule teams, he 



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the State. Generally equipped with one to 

 was able for a part of the season at least, to make daily trips from 

 the herds to the points of. shipment, although not unfrequently two days 

 w^ere required to enable him to load his teams and make the round trip. 

 The chief of a party is usually mounted on a pony, and, riding in advance, 

 often has enough animals killed to furnish loacls for his teams by the time 

 the latter reach the scene of action. The dead buffaloes are then speedily 

 " butchered," * a few minutes sufficing for each. The " saddle," or the two 

 hind quarters, and the tongue are usually the only parts saved, but in the 

 case of calves and very fat yearlings the wdiole carcass is taken. The usual 

 weight of a saddle is about two hundred pounds, which is sold at an average 

 price of about three cents per pound delivered at the cars, the buyer being 

 generally on the spot to inspect it and superintend its packing for shipment. 

 The reo-idar or ^^ professional " hunter formerly followed the buffalo herds 

 the whole year, moving eastward or westward along the lines of railroad as the 



* The hunters appear to generally restrict this term to the dressing of the slain animals ; " butchering," 



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in their parlance, does not include the killing. 



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