Hunting Buffalo

Hunting the North American Bison, often called a buffalo, is a long tradition in North America. Buffalo hunting predates the arrival of European settlers and historical artifacts link it to the earliest records of humanity in North America. While the practice of hunting buffalo has evolved over time, some still prefer to hunt buffalo in the traditional way via free-range hunts.

  1. Native American Hunting Methods

    • Native Americans began to hunt buffalo on foot when they first reached America. It was later, during the 1590s when horses arrived, that buffalo hunting became much easier. Early Native American buffalo hunts were done using a bows and arrows. Indians also used dogs to force buffalo over cliffs and use the force of the fall to kill the animal. Indians also used other buffalo-hunting methods such as forcing the animal onto frozen lakes where the buffalo could not move easily or into deep snow where they were also helpless and easy to kill.

    Early Uses for Native American Buffalo Kills

    • Nearly every part of the buffalo was used by the Native Americans. The hunters would kill the buffalo and harvest the meat and hides. The hides of the buffalo were used to make blankets and clothing and the sides of tepees after weatherproofing. Native Americans waterproofed the hides by making the brains of the buffalo into a paste and rubbing it onto the hide. The meat of the buffalo was dried and preserved for later use. Buffalo muscle was also used to make strings for bows.

    Scheduled Hunts

    • Today, buffalo are mostly hunted during scheduled hunts where participants are "guaranteed" a trophy buffalo on a private ranch. Hunters stay at one of many hunting lodges where meals and lodging are included in a package price. The package price, in most cases, is equal to the size of the buffalo that you wish to hunt. The greater the size of the buffalo, the more you pay. Some call this type of hunt a "fair chase" in a setting that is typical to that of a buffalo out in the wild.

    Free Range Buffalo Hunts

    • For those who choose to hunt their buffalo in the wild, there are free range hunts available in six states in the US and four provinces in Canada. Permits are necessary for hunters who wish to participate. Receiving these permits is very difficult and may be considered a once-in-a-lifetime event. This type of hunt may be more difficult for the hunter, as it is primarily done on foot without the aid of a tractor or ATV to deliver you to within rifle range of the animal.