We have previously reviewed and highlighted the wildlife sightings documented in the lesser known diaries and manuscripts of the two Thomas Jefferson commissioned explorations of the Lousiana Purchase and points west,,,,,,,,,Hunter Dunbar Red/Arkansas River(1804-05), Freeman-Custis Red River (1806).......These, along with the highly documented Louis & Clark sojourn provided President Jefferson with volumes of new knowledge as it related to the economic potential Mississippian West held for the United States...........Not commissioned by Jefferson, but acting within the Presidents sentiments was the 1806-07 journey that Zebulon Pike undertook to explore the headwaters of the Arkansas and Red Rivers all the way to the Rocky Mtn Front............Pike, like the previously mentioned explorers, kept detailed accounts of Indian tribes, fauna and flora encountered along his path that took him through present day Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.....A description of the animal life Pike encountered in the lands now named Missouri, Kansas and Colorado follows.........:

MISSOURI
-July 16-"Killed three deer, one bear and three turkeys"
-July 26-"Killed one bear, two deer, one otter, three turkeys and one racoon"
-July 28- "Killed one deer and one turkey"
-July 29-"Killed five deer, one turkey and one racoon"
-July 30- "Killed three deer"
-Aug 1-"killed 6 deer"
-Aug 3- "killed nine deer, one wild cat(bobcat), one goose and one turkey
-Aug 5-"killed 4 deer"
-Aug 6-"killed two deer"
-Aug 10-"killed four deer"
-Aug 12-"killed two deer"
-Aug 16-"saw elk"

KANSAS

Sept 3--"killed two deer"
Sept 4--"Killed ine deer, one turkey, one racoon"
Sept 6-"killed one deer"
Sept 7-"killed 4 deer"
Sept 9-'killed one antelope(pronghorn), two deer two turkeys"
Sept 10-"killed one elk, one deer
Sept 11-killed one pronghorn, one deer
Sept 12-"saw buffalo, elk, deer, pronghorn and panthers(Cougars)
Sept 13-"killed six buffalo, one elk three deer
Sept 14-"killed one buffalo one pronghorn
Sept 15-"killed tow buffalo"
Sept 17-"killed one buffalo"
Sept 20-"killed three buffalo"
Sept 21-"killed one elk"

COLORADO

Nov 7-"killed three buffao, two wolves,
Nov 10-"killed one buffalo"
Nov 13-"killed one turkey, wounded several buffalo"
Nov 15-"saw large herds of buffalo"
Nov 18-"killed 17 buffalo and wounded at least 20 more"
Nov 22-"killed two buffalo and one deer"
Nov 23-"Killed five buffalo"
Dec 3-"killed three buffalo"
Dec 4-"killed tow buffalo and six turkeys"
Dec 5" killed two buffalo and nine turkeys'
Dec 6-"killed two buffalo, two deer and one turkey"
Dec 7-"killed one bobcat"
Dec 8-"saw great quantities of deer and turkey"
Dec 10-"killed one buffalo"
Dec 14-"killed two buffalo"