To a certain extent, big game did live on "the prairie," but it had little to do with "the white man." Instead it had to do with more food. There always has been relatively little food in the mountains for herd animals, whether elk or bison. This involves elevation, not white men.
Amazing that wolves have turned into "super predators" in deep snow only in "mountainous country." They always have been more effective in deep snow, wherever it occurred--as have coyotes.
Also good to know that you have done extensive analysis of the type and amount of browse available in YNP over the past 45 years. The results from actual scientists (such as the late Les Pengelly, one of the most respected wildlife biologists in the world) came up with different results.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
