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Lewis & Clark explored the American West when predators were quite numerous and Indian tribes hunted year round. I doubt that as many animals reached trophy age as they do in 2009. You're allowed to disagree.
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I assume this is open for discussion.
I seriously doubt that herd levels ever will reach the heights they were at prior to the western expansion by the white man. After this influx of people and their repeating rifles most North American herds were nearly decimated. After walking many of the open areas in Wyoming alone, I cannot imagine a band of early Americans making any significant impact on the overall herds of their day. As a combined effort, they and the 4 legged meat eaters also would have concentrated on the sick, weak, stupid, and or slow allowing the breeding bulls, etc to grow and proliferate. The only serious advantage that early Americans and the other predators had was that their survival depended upon knowing their prey. Much more so than the modern hunter. He arrives in his pickup truck and struggles to kill anything unless it is near a road.
elkman06