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brought down 3,300 buffalo in one year. James H. Cator, a transplanted Englishman, is said to have averaged 4,000 buffalo hides per year over three years. With the plains boasting an estimated 20 million buffalo, it became obvious to anyone handy with a rifle that there was a lot of money to be made out West. Cator, for instance, probably grossed $12,000 per year from his killings. Taking into account the cost of cartridges at that time (25 cents per), he probably netted $11,000 a year. But for many would-be hidemen, the hunts were not as easy. For instance, more than one bullet was often needed to bring down a buffalo bull. The arduous living conditions and the constant threat from Native American Indians forced many of the buffalo outfits to close down after only one season. Some hardly broke even. Before the 1870s came to an end, huge buffalo processing plants had been set up near railroad stations strung across the western and southern plains. The raw hides were pegged, dried, pressed and baled, ready for transporting back East. The animals' bones, meanwhile, were separated out and shipped to fertilizer manufacturers. With the southern and western plains virtually depleted of the wooly giants, the buffalo hunters followed the remaining herds up to the northern plains. It was there during the next three years the buffalo would be driven to the brink of extinction. Renowned hunter William T. Hornaday observed that no one was fully aware of the buffalo's demise, not even the hide hunters themselves. Little did they know that when they returned at the end of the 1882/1883 season, it would be the end of buffalo hunting as a way of making a living. In the fall of 1883, oblivious to the plight of their quarry, the hidemen went to the expense of outfitting themselves in the usual way and headed out to the known buffalo ranges, but this time they returned empty-handed, broke and bankrupt. In just 11 years the buffalo millions were gone. LEGENDS OF THE HUNT This story will appear in John Seerey-Lester's next book, Legends of the Hunt – Campfire Tales, scheduled for release later this fall. The new book will be a beautiful and exciting sequel to his immensely popular Legends of the Hunt, which features some 80 stories and more than 100 paintings. The big, 11x12½inch, 200-page book is still available in three editions: • Trade – Hardbound, $60. • Elephant Edition – 950 leatherbound, signed & numbered copies, each with a special print, $150. • Lion Edition – 520 leatherbound, signed and numbered books, each with a hand-colored giclee print, $250. To order, call (800) 849-1004 or visit www.SportingClassics.com" www.SportingClassics.com. S P O R T I N G C 28 L A S S I C S