William J. B. “Ike” Melton and Clarence “Cy” Young Interview, circa 1965

William “Ike” Melton chronicles moving to Montana in 1912 and homesteading on the Flathead Indian Reservation. He discusses how he came to work at the Bison Range and describes the buffalo disposal program. Melton talks about the increase in buffalo, how the animals were handled when they were killed, and tells the story of the first buffalo he shot. He recalls working for Frank Rose, the Range manager, and describes their working relationship. Melton discusses working on the Range during the filming of The Big Trail in the summer of 1930. He tells how Frank Rose was fired after the shooting of the film due to animals being injured and dying during the process. Melton details managing his own private bison stock beginning in 1948, then deciding to sell after he suffered a stroke in 1961.