From childhood the American Indian has always fascinated me.
They lived such a pure and free life.
Their methods of hunting held a special fascination.

I began to study all the different ways the Indian attained his food and came across the "surround".
This seemed to be a very interesting and practical means of harvesting Bison meat.
Later on, in my cowboy career, I managed a buffalo ranch in northwestern Colorado.
It was here that I learned much more about the habits of the Bison,
including how to stop a herd of running buffalo.
If the Bison could be wrangled into milling in a circle, they could be kept circling
for quite some time, or until they came to a stop.

It was about then, that I started dreaming about "The Surround".
That was sixteen years ago.
Over this period, my "Surround" dream became a reoccuring event
Eventually I could see every detail.
One night during the dream a voice came and said it was time the story was told.
Nine months after that, "The Surround" was completed.

The thought of cruelty, or brutal killing never crossed my mind.
To the Indian there was no right or wrong in this either -- only the need to survive.
The buffalo was simply given to the people by the Great Spirit, for their survival.
What I focused on was the drama, bravery and skill
as well as what it must have been like to be on the open plains
facing a pray that was much stronger, faster, and
often times more agile than the horses they were riding.
The slightest mistake might mean injury or even death. 

In my dream, I pictured three Indians riding across the open plains in search of a small herd of buffalo feeding away from the main herd.
When the right opportunity presented itself, the Indians started circling the herd
until they had it running in a tight circle.
As the animals milled in a state of panic, the hunters began their harvesting.
They continued this till they had taken all that their band could use.
Then the remainder of the herd was set free to rejoin the main herd.

This method of hunting proved to be one of the most successful, and least hazardous.
Also it allowed the hunters to take only what was needed.