Hunting Wild Game on the Prairie

As they moved out onto the prairies, many European and American settlers were astonished by the abundance of game. This, of course, made hunting a popular pastime for many westward migrants.

Many European and American settlers noted the abundance of game as they moved out onto the prairies. “Prairie-chickens and quails, when I first went on the overland [stage] line were numerous between the Missouri River and the Platte,” said Frank A. Root, author with William E. Connelley of The Overland Stage to California (1901). “They were seen every day from the stage-coach, numbering thousands.”

Naturally they were the most plentiful along the stage route in Northern Kansas in the vicinity of the settlements and ranches, and there were a great many along the Little Blue River in southern Nebraska. They were multiplying so rapidly that it seemed that they never could be thinned out. For a long time, they furnished much of the choice food for ranchmen, and the freighters and travelers shot thousands of them while on their way across the plains. . . .

There was an abundance of wild game in the ’60’s. In eastern Kansas, large numbers of wild turkeys and a great many rabbits were seen. Along the Little Blue river, there were also many wild turkeys and rabbits, and deer and antelope were also plentiful. In the Platte Valley were a great many deer, antelope, and an occasional elk, while a few miles distant, south from the stream and away from the heavily traveled thoroughfare, buffaloes abounded by hundreds of thousands. A great many came north to the Platte and there slaked their thirst. Buffalo wallows were numerous along the Platte in staging days. . . .

Down the South Platte for 200 miles east of Denver there were occasional sage-hens near the road; but few of the stage boys ate them, because, they said, it required a cast-iron stomach to digest them. Occasionally we ran across a pack of gray wolves on the plains, but usually, they were scarce. The native prairie wolves-the coyote-were quite numerous, and many of them could at times be seen from the stage-coach. A pelican was now and then seen along the South Platte, in the vicinity of old Julesburg, but out of reach of the ordinary rifle of those early days.

Image: Several men and women on horseback during a wolf hunt near North Platte. Circa 1910. (RG2154.PH000006-000116)

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

Siouan Archeology

Siouan Archeology

Nebraska Election Trivia

Nebraska Election Trivia

Marker Monday: Pawnee City

Marker Monday: Pawnee City

About NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

Explore Nebraska

Discover the real places and people of our past at these NSHS sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of NSHS members.

NSHS Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

Nebraska Collections

NSHS's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

Support The Historical Society

Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.