How A Buffalo Hunt Actually Worked

The buffalo hunt was the cornerstone of life for many Plains Indian tribes, such as the Lakota, Cheyenne, Blackfoot, and Comanche. It was more than a means of obtaining food—it was a complex, highly coordinated social, spiritual, and logistical endeavor that required planning, skill, and teamwork.

Buffalo hunting was traditionally done on foot before the arrival of the horse, which transformed the practice entirely. On foot, tribes used stealth, drives, and communal strategy. One common method was the buffalo jump—a coordinated stampede that forced herds off a cliff. Hunters and runners disguised themselves in wolf skins or crouched in tall grass, gradually funneling the animals toward a drop-off. Below, tribe members waited to finish off wounded animals and begin butchering.

By the 1700s, the introduction of horses from the Spanish revolutionized buffalo hunting. Mounted hunters could now pursue the buffalo at a gallop, using short bows or lances with deadly accuracy. This new method was far more efficient and allowed tribes to take down individual animals from a moving herd. A good horse was trained to ride alongside a buffalo without fear and respond to subtle cues while the rider drew and fired a bow at full speed.

Hunts were never random. A tribal council or respected war chief would determine the best time, often after scouting parties located a herd. Scouts were vital—they reported herd size, direction of movement, and terrain. The tribe might then move camp closer to the herd’s location. Once in position, the hunt began at dawn or in the early morning hours when the animals were calm and visibility was good.

In mounted hunts, the group would often encircle or flank the herd in a half-moon formation. Each rider targeted specific animals, often going for bulls or cows depending on the tribe’s seasonal needs. Hunters aimed behind the ribs to pierce the lungs or heart. A skilled warrior could drop several animals in a single run. Success depended not just on marksmanship but also on reading the herd’s movement and controlling one’s horse with precision.

Once the animals were down, the women of the tribe moved in quickly for processing. Speed was critical to prevent spoilage or scavenger interference. Butchering teams skinned and stripped the carcasses on the spot. Every part of the buffalo was used: meat for food, hides for clothing and shelter, sinew for bowstrings, bones for tools, and bladders for water storage. Large communal hunts could provide food for months, especially when meat was dried into pemmican or jerky.

Hunts were spiritual events as well. Tribes conducted ceremonies beforehand to ask for success and give thanks to the spirits of the animals. Many believed the buffalo offered itself to the people, and disrespect could lead to failed hunts or danger.

The buffalo hunt was a defining feature of Plains life—blending martial skill, communal effort, spiritual respect, and ecological knowledge into one of the most remarkable traditions of Native American history.

To learn more about the importance of the buffalo to the tribes of the Great Plains, check out the HOKC episode “The Second Battle Of Adobe Walls”, linked below. Brought to you by History At The OK Corral: Home Of History’s Greatest Shootouts & Showdowns!