Our Vanishing Wild Life - Its Extermination and Preservation by William Temple Hornaday
page 130 of 733 (17%)
page 130 of 733 (17%)
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deer, an antelope, or a sage grouse within fifty miles of that lifeless
waste. Here is a Montana object lesson on the frame of mind of the "resident" hunter, copied from _Outdoor Life_ Magazine (Denver) for February, 1912. It is from a letter to the Editor, written by C.B. Davis. November 27, 28, 29, and 30, 1911, will remain a red letter day with a half thousand men for years to come. These half thousand men gathered along the border of the Yellowstone National Park, near Gardiner, Montana, at a point known as Buffalo Flats, to exterminate elk. The snow had driven the elk down to the foothills, and Buffalo Flats is on the border of the park and outside the park. The elk entered this little valley for food. Like hungry wolves, shooters, not hunters, gathered along the border waiting to catch an elk off the "reservation" and kill it. On November 27th about 1500 elk crossed the line, and the slaughter began. I have not the data of the number killed this day, but it was hundreds. On the 28th, twenty-two stepped over and were promptly executed. Like Custer's band, not one escaped. On the evening of the 28th, 600 were sighted just over the line, and the army of 125 brave men entrenched themselves for the battle which was expected to open next morning. Before daylight of the 29th the battle began. The elk were over the line, feeding on Buffalo Flats. One hundred and twenty-five men poured bullets into this band of 600 elk till the ground was red with blood and strewn with carcasses, and in their madness they shot each other. One man was shot through the ear,--a close call; another |
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