In the 1840-1860's (when travelling west) what kind of hunting was there and what would you do?

If you were lucky enough to have something cross your path you shot it and ate it. Leaving the trail to pursue animals was time consuming and took you away from the relative safety of your companion travelers.


Common mammals: buffalo (American Bison)


several varieties of deer


bear


rodents: beaver, prarie dog, gopher


rabbits, squirrels


Common birds : waterfowl, prarie chicken, doves, turkey


Reptiles when desperate: turtles, snakes, lizardsIn the 1840-1860's (when travelling west) what kind of hunting was there and what would you do?
bear, deer, elk, moose, buffalo


We used to stalk the animals. Two or three of us would hide in different places and then others would try to flush the game in our direction. Game was so plentiful that we always shot enough food for several families. We would put the dead buffalo, deer etc in a wagon then take it to a group skinning place. The women and children would tend the fires to cook some of the meat and the men would string up the animals on trees head down, slit their throats and bleed them out. Then they would skin the animal, put different pieces into salt to preserve it and then each family would take home as much as they needed. Those that didn't have a cold cellar would hang their meat from a tall trees to keep the bear, and panthers from getting to it.