My understanding is that Buffalo Gals were hookers. Its possible that they were called that because of canallers heading for Buffalo NY which is the last stoop on the Erie Canal. I really doubt this.

I would guess they where called Buffalo Gals because they followed the men in the buffalo camps who where shooting the herds. The camps would set up as a small, movable city and ship out hides, bones, tongues and salted meat back east. With lots of commerce came money and the men on the shoots needed places to spend it. Saloons, gambling houses, and prostitutes where the most likely places.

The herds would be shot out and the camps would move further out on the prairie. The prostitutes would the buffalo hunters. Hence the name.

I suspect that Buffalo Gals was chosen as a name because nobody at that time knew what an Independent Sub-Contract Hostess is.

Don