STANDING ROCK

Chief AJ's number one (1) friend and Tribal Leader Buddy Hosick did this write up of our Tribal Buffalo Hunt on the Sioux Standing Rock Reservation on North & South Dakota boarder that started on 10/22.

Buddy has many Tribal duties, like making a necklace for our Tribal Princess, Jeanne!

Buddy's Indian Name:  O’siyo An-Nam-Tay-Say speaks.

After two months of talking to our hunting guide Thunder Hawk. We got the buffalo hunt under way. We left West Frankfort , IL at 5: A.M. and headed to Fort Yates Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota . This trip was eleven hundred miles. I believe we are the last of the buffalo hunters. Yes Chief A. J. did shoot a bull buffalo weighing 2200 lbs.

But before I get into the buffalo hunt I have to tell you about the antelope hunt. The day before the buffalo hunt, was election day and everything was closed. We had to round up the buffalo that were out in the flat lands. That in its self is dangerous as they will charge a truck in a minute and in some cases they have turned over trucks and cars. While Thunder Hawk, Jack, Billie and myself were going to drive the buffalo up closer, Thunder Hawk and Tony told Chief A.J. there was a big antelope buck running with 4 doe. I told Chief A.J., Jimmy Durako the producer of "Any Thing Wild" on Fox channels 27 and 55 and Kevin Reynold's the cameraman to go do the antelope hunt. Just maybe they would get lucky. Thunder Hawk and Tony tracked the antelope. Chief A.J. was in a valley and Thunder Hawk ran the antelope down by the chief. The big buck was running number 5 behind a young buck and 4 doe. A.J. took aim and with one shot killed the big buck. What a shot it was. A.J. didn't know it but the buck he shot was a record buck for both North and South Dakota . This will be recorded in the Boon and Crockett Record Book. A.J. was in 7th Heaven. While A.J., Jimmy and Kevin stayed at the casino, Jack, Billie, and I had wanted to rough it outside. We took a ten man tent and wet set it up on the secret grounds of Sitting Bull, where he had lived right by the mighty river. It was beautiful.

Chief AJ looking upon Brutus the Buffalo thinking of all the work about to take place to get meat like Chief  Tecumseh told us to eat to have strength that only Buffalo can give.

The next day we started at 4 in the morning. It was it cold out side. After Thunder Hawk came we met the chief and the camera crew around daylight. We had 6 big buffalo rounded up. Thunder Hawk, Jack, Billie and I stayed back and let chief A.J., Jimmy and Kevin go out alone. AJ with a South Dakota 416 caliber rifle and a back up shooter with a 300 magnum, their was no place to run or hide if they charged them. They low crawled to a place where they could get a good shot. However, it was a long shot. I think around 400 yards. I saw A. J. take aim. The wind was blowing between 30 to 40 miles per hour. Then I heard the shot. I saw the front buffalo stagger and kind of twist. At first, it looked like the wind blew him off balance, but then he fell.
When he was down the other buffalo got around him and used their hind to try to lift their fallen brother up and then I had a Jesus moment. I though if people would try to pick up their fallen brothers like the buffalo did the world would be a better place.

Our Full-Blood Sioux Guide Casper Thunder Hawk showing Chief AJ "how to" on field dressing Brutus.
We had to take a truck to run off the other buffalo so we could field dress the Brutus, The name Chief A.J. Gave the Buffalo after blessing it.. The chief thanked the creator for the great shot and then gave Brutus a drink of water and sent him to the Spirit world. I could not believe how big Brutus was. There were 6 of us and we could not pick up his head. We had to get a bucket tractor to lift Brutus and put him in the back of Jacks pick up truck. Jack took the buffalo to Mobridge S. Dakota, about an hour drive to West Side Meats, who did the processing. After Brutus was capped and beheaded, the head was sent to the taxidermist. The buffalo weighed 1168 pounds After it was dressed.

The next morning chief A.J., Jimmy and Kevin headed back to Illinois . Being second in command, I decided that Jack, Billie and I stay back a week. While we waited for the buffalo to be processed, we went back to tribal headquarters to say our good byes. I met tribal secretary Geraldine Agard. She is secretary to Ron “His horse is called Thunder” the chief of standing rock. I wanted to meet Ron but he was in Washington D.C. meeting with President Bush. She gave us the royal tour of Ron's office and I got to sit at his desk. Then she unlocked a door and inside it was all round like a big Court room. I got to sit in Ron’s tribal seat. This room was very secret. We got to take a lot of pictures, some of which, you will see on this page below.. I gave her a big hug and we said our good byes

Then off to Mobridge , S.D. We got a motel across the street from West Side Meats. The motel was called Mo-Rest, operated by two very nice people, their names were Denny and Glenda.

The Sioux and Lakota showed we Cherokees much respect and we gave back much respect. I have met so many great people and want to honor them by putting their pictures and names on my web page. I have to give great thanks to my lakota brother and guide Casper Thunder Hawk. Without him I don't think the hunt would have happened. Tony Zonk and my great friend Geraldine Agard tribal Secretary and her son A.J..Agard the security guard. The staff at West Side Meats and Carla the owner. Paul, Steppe and Joe the bartenders at the Wend Jamar lounge. Paul Schneider and a special Cheyenne lady, Katie Kost.

Standing Rock sure is a good place to hunt: AJ w/record class 80 4/8 Antelope 10/22/07

We will be going back for the annual buffalo hunt again next year. If any one wants to do any kind of hunting, contact A-Nam-Tay-Tay. I am ready to go back now.

Buddy with Tribal Drum & Tribal Member Jack

Short cut to Buddy's Web Site: http://www.algotto.com

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