I AGREE. I was just going with the meme that God-awful humans without proper gun control were responsible.
I also think the herds were a lot smaller than the awed reports of the time stated.
60 million buffs in 1873.
In 1873 you set up camp and waited for the buffalo to come to you. By 1877 you had to travel to find them, sometimes long distances. Other maladies were probably common in the herds as well.
From an interview with a former buffalo hunter in the early 1900s. He also stated that most buffalo hunters went broke in their first year out. Very tough industry.