For thousands of years the natives of North America hunted the bison.
These people became entirely dependent on the animal for their livelihood using as much of the carcass as possible.
Hides would be used for clothing, shelter, and bedding.
The hair and tail could be used to make rope and fly brushes.
to make it feed, clothe, and shelter a community, mass hunting was necessary.
A single jump could provide an entire village with food and clothing for months to come.
The first task for the jump kill was to find a suitable cliff.
Others would then rain down onto the land below.
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The fall would kill some beasts and cripple others.
Those surviving would then be finished off.
Immediately after would begin the massive task of skinning the animals.
The fresh meat would be consumed but most would be dried and stored for later use.
No part of the animal would be wasted.
The bison jump quickly became an obsolete method for hunting.
Buffalo Drive, 1947.
Oil on canvas.Photo credit
Sources:Wikipedia/UNESCO/National Park Service/Texas Beyond History
