Case Analysis of Buffalo Hunting

There are several differences between Wyatt's buffalo hunting approach and the ways used by the old timers. Firstly, Wyatt's approach was to work his way on foot nearer to the herds than the rifle users like to locate. And weapon they used was the shotgun instead of the weapon of choice at the old time called the Sharps "Fifty" rifle which cost much more than the shotgun in that it was obtainable for long-range shooting and needed continuously rapid fire to ensure the rifle's accuracy. Secondly, Wyatt picked off selected animals, whose hide and meat could be sold for a higher price, within limited range before shooting and had downed all the skinner so that he could handle that day, while the hunters in the old time had just followed the Indian practice of shooting buffalo from the back of a horse galloping full tilt at the edge of a stampeding herd. Obviously, the Wyatt's approach is even better since shooting from horseback could not be as accurate as from a stand, and the animals killed during a run would be strung for miles across the prairie, making a lot of travel for the skinners, with the added certainty that many hides would be missed. Furthermore, Wyatt's approach can also offset the danger of a stampede by finishing the kill before the animals smelled blood and then working the herd away quietly in the direction he wanted it to go. The last but not the least, in contrast to the operation management of five wagons and twenty-odd horses, Wyatt purchased one wagon, four sound animals for harness and one to ride. He engaged an experienced skinner in a straight profit-sharing scheme. Wyatt was to finance the hunt; the skinner would drive and cook so he could save the shares from drivers and any other helpers. At the end of the hunt, Wyatt was to keep the team and wagon, deduct all other expenses from the gross receipts, and share any net equally with his skinner.