Before they acquired the horse, Indians put their lives in the line every time they hunted the buffalo. Most commonly the buffalo traveled in small bands of between five and fifty animals. On face value, the beast, with dim eyesight and slow wits, may have appeared easy prey for the cunning hunters. Yet, the sheer size and ferocity of the buffalo was able to cause havoc and lead leave a trail of human blood.
None of the methods devised to hunt the buffalo in pre-horse times were particularly effective. Hunters disguised as white wolves were sometimes used to creep up on grazing herds. Others wore Buffalo skins and tried through bleats and motions to lure the beats over an escarpment. If the animals stampede, however, these warriors were almost certainly goner. Most commonly, entire tribes were organized to form shouting, robe-waving columns that would try to stampede a herd over a cliff. Men waited below with lances to finish the animals off.
None of the methods devised to hunt the buffalo in pre-horse times were particularly effective. Hunters disguised as white wolves were sometimes used to creep up on grazing herds. Others wore Buffalo skins and tried through bleats and motions to lure the beats over an escarpment. If the animals stampede, however, these warriors were almost certainly goner. Most commonly, entire tribes were organized to form shouting, robe-waving columns that would try to stampede a herd over a cliff. Men waited below with lances to finish the animals off.
