They are remembered as a plains animal because most movies show the Plains Bison, or bison bison.
Bison, also known as the buffalo.
The buffalo, or bison was the main species hunted by the plains tribes.
Bison.
most famously the bison or buffalo live on the plains along side mice rabbits and other small animals.
The American Bison.
i believe it was the sharp decline in the bison(buffalo) population.
The illusive white buffalo
The climate, which had moderate rainfall, combined with the relatively flat landscape to create a grassland. The grassland was home to many large mammals, most importantly the bison. Bison were the greatest resource for the Plains Indians, who hunted them for food, clothing, and shelter.
Buffalo was originally the most common resource of the Plains Indians who used virtually every part of the animal. Bison hides are both durable and light weight for their size making them the best choice for a tepee.
A bison would be preserved because of it's endangered species.
There truly is no official data on the matter. But, most likely one of the Great Plains states (North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, etc.).
The Plains Indians had the buffalo. For most of the Eastern Indians the deer was the key animal. For the Inuit it was the seal and the caribou.