HUNTING IN THE OLD WEST

Howdy folks, and welcome to another blog about the old west. Today we’re looking at hunting in the old west.

THE BUFFALO EXTERMINATION

Hunting was a primary source of food in the old west. Indians hunted buffalo with bows and arrows to feed their tribes and also used them to make clothes and food. The white man also hunted buffalo with big caliber rifles primarily to use its leather and fur to make clothes and other leather products. The Buffalo pelts business was so profitable that it almost lead to an extinction of the American Buffalo. The U.S government supported the extermination of the bison herds to starve the Indian tribes. 

In 1872 grand duke of Russia Alexie Alexandrovich was brought on a buffalo hunt while visiting America. He got the royal treatment of being led by famous frontiersmen: George Armstrong Custer and Buffalo Bill Cody. 

BIG GAME - SMALL GAME 

Buffalo wasn’t the only Hunted animal on the frontier. Hunters brought down all kinds of Big game and small game animals. There were few regulations when it came to hunting. Anyone can take their rifle and bring down a deer to feed their family during the winter. Hunters used big calibers to hunt their prey. Such as 48-50 caliber rifles. Keep in mind that black powder didn’t have the velocity and strength that today’s smokeless powder had. Frontiersmen used hunting dogs to help them retrieve small game such as ducks or rabbits. 

We hope you found this blog educational and helpful. We wish you a good hunting experience.