Author Talk: Buckley T. Foster

"So Great Was the Slaughter"

An account of the rise of sportsmen and conservation groups in Arkansas who made common cause to save the state’s wildlife resources.

Dr. Buckley T. Foster will discuss his new book, So Great Was the Slaughter: Market Hunters, Sportsmen and Conservation in Arkansas.

So Great Was the Slaughter reveals the untold story of Arkansas conservation pioneers who saved the state’s game and fish populations. As Arkansas entered the twentieth century, the national demand for meat and the ability to ship millions of animals to hungry cities like New Orleans, Memphis, and Chicago had driven many species, including bison and passenger pigeons, to extinction in Arkansas. Many others, including deer, bear, turkey, quail, and fish, were in danger of disappearing.

In response, an unlikely coalition of Arkansas sportsmen, hunters, and conservationists created a vision for conservation legislation, game laws, and the establishment of fish hatcheries and wildlife refuges. With support from influential outsiders like E. A. McIlhenny and the United States Biological Survey, they waged a long battle against entrenched political and commercial interests.

Buckley Foster’s meticulous research reveals how these pioneers fought to save the state’s wildlife resources from destruction and laid the foundations for sustainable, modern wildlife management in Arkansas. So Great Was the Slaughter will fascinate hunters, conservationists, historians, and those interested in the history of wildlife conservation and conflicts between market hunters and sportsmen in the United States and the American South. 

Books will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation. This program is free and open to the public. No registration required. 

About the author

Dr. Foster holds a Ph.D. in 19th-century Southern History from Mississippi State University, with subfields in environmental history and the application of science and technology to the study of history. He earned both his B.A. and M.A. in History from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. His research explores Civil War military campaigns, rural life in Arkansas, and the history of hunting and conservation. His latest book (Chosen as an Arkansas Gem for 2025), So Great Was the Slaughter, adds to his growing body of scholarship that includes Sherman’s Mississippi Campaign (2006) and an edited Civil War diary of one of Stonewall Jackson’s colonels, scheduled for release in 2026.

Dr. Buckley T. Foster is an accomplished historian and professor with over twenty-five years of experience teaching American, Southern, Military, and Arkansas history at both two-year and four-year institutions across the South and Midwest. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Arkansas History at the University of Central Arkansas. His service record includes appointments to the Prairie Grove Battlefield Commission, the Arkansas Historical Association Board, and the Arkansas Humanities Council. He also created the James L. Foster and Billy W. Beason Award to promote graduate research in Arkansas history. His commitment to public history, teaching excellence, and regional scholarship defines his academic career.

He is an advocate for sporting ethics and a lifelong practitioner of the art of waterfowl hunting. Winter break will find him in the sloughs, swamps, and waterways in pursuit of whistling wings.

All abilities are welcome. For disability accommodations, call 479.856.7250 or email questions@faylib.org 2-3 weekdays before a program. Plan your visit by viewing our building map and details on accessibility services.

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