HOME ON THE RANGE

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HOME ON THE RANGE

• THE DEMISE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BISON

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WHERE THEY ROAMED

• 50-60 MILLION BISON ROAMED THE GREAT PLAINS OF
  NORTH AMERICA FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

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PLAINS INDIANS SLAUGHTER BUFFALO FOR SURVIVAL
KIOWA
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PEGGING THE HIDE
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HOW MANY HIDES?

• THE GUN CULTURE OF THE WHITES BROUGHT TO THE
  PLAINS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF BISON HUNTED BY
  THE PLAINS INDIANS AS WELL

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SURVIVAL FOR NATIVE AMERICANS
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THE HUNTERS
Bat Masterson
Pat Garrett
Wild Bill Hickok
Buffalo Bill
Wyatt Earp
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THE PROFIT

• 3.00 PER HIDE (SOME COULD KILL 250/DAY)
• .25 PER TONGUE
• 8.00 PER TON OF BUFFALO BONES (100 CARCASSES)

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BUFFALO HIDES-1872DODGE CITY, KANSAS
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SLAUGHTERED BUFFALO 1872
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BUFFALO SKULLS
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THE DEMISE OF THE BISONTHE DEMISE OF THE
AMERICAN INDIAN

• In the spring of 1869 the train on the Kansas
  Pacific Railroad was delayed at a point between
  Forts Harker and Hays, from nine o'clock in the
  morning until five in the afternoon, in
  consequence of the passage of an immense herd of
  buffalo across the track. 

• "Let them kill, skin, and sell until the buffalo
  is exterminated, as it is the only way to bring
  lasting peace and allow civilization to advance."
  
• - General Philip Sheridan

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THE END

• 1884 1200-2000 BISON LEFT ON THE PLAINS
• 2007 150,000 HERD BISON DUE TO THE WORK OF
  PRESERVATIIONISTS
• THE AMERICAN INDIAN? GONE EXCEPT FOR
  RESERVATIONISTS AND COMMUNITY DWELLERS.