Osborne Russell was a "Free Trapper" during the MOUNTAIN MAN era in the Rocky Mountain West circa 1800-1850..................Not only did he have experience trapping Beaver with Nathaniel Wyeth(expedition through the Rockies to the mouth of the Columbia River in 1834), Russell also was a member of Jim Bridger's Rocky Mountain Fur Company (which ultimately merged with the American Fur Company).
As the Beaver trade started to ebb to a close(decade of 1840-1850), Russell still stayed in the Mountains operating as a FREE TRAPPER(an independent trapper not beholden to any one Company or Outfit) until the wagon train migrations of settlers began to pour into the Region bringing the Mountain Man era to a close in 1850.
Operating out of Fort Hall on the Snake River just West of Yellowstone and the Tetons, Russell was one of the rare breed of Frontiersman who articulately observed and kept a "lewis and Clark"detailed journal of his time as a trapper........................
I have attached 50 pages of his 154 page tomb that describe the herds of Buffalo, Pronghorn, Elk, Bighorn Sheep and Deer that he witnessed first hand over his 20 years as a Rocky Mountain trapper................Mention of Wolves, Cougars and Wolverines are also highlighted for your review and delight.
One of the joys that I derive from publishing this blog....................investigating and exploring vicariously the first hand accounts of Early Americas Predators and Prey......................Osborne was a student of the early West and it's inhabitants...............Soak his writings in as I have!--BLOGGER RICK
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