New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) does the same job as VMI in the East, and as Canastego speaks of in 1744. Mari Sandoz wrote the Buffalo Hunters known as
hide hunters. Both Wyatt Earp and James Hickok spent time in hide wagons before using Sharps cartridge rifles. The percussion era still used
Springfields and some used lost or issued 1873 45-70 Springfields later. The Sharps were better rifles until the 1885 Winchester SS
came about in 1885 and later. By then the bison were almost wiped out.
