Buffalo – Hunting Methods

The symbiotic relationship of Indigenous Americans with the bison evolved over thousands of years. The buffalo were not only their primary source of sustenance but also treated as a spiritual guide and relative.

Ancient hunters adapted different methods to hunt buffalo over time. Many involved procuring one animal at a time while others sought to trap multiple animals. One way to secure many animals was to drive them over a cliff – known as a buffalo jump. Holy men would draw the herd near the cliff. They were then stampeded, and the injured animals were then slaughtered.

Once horses were introduced, buffalo jumps became less common. Hunting on horseback became the primary way of securing this vital food source.