A Brief History of North American Hunting told through Tools & Tactics
Wes Littlefield 12.23.24
I looked down and saw a perfect arrowhead at my feet. This moment as a child led me to discover dozens of stone tools on my great-grandparents’ property. With each one I picked up, I imagined the stories they would tell if they could talk. These discoveries only fueled my love for history, especially when it coincided with hunting. In my early life, I pondered how hunters transitioned from taking game with rocks and sticks to firearms. While the exact answer can never truly be known, the following article briefly outlines my research on the history of North American hunting based on the tools and tactics the hunters used at that time.
Hunting With Sticks & Stones
I’ve always been amazed at how the first hunters used rocks and sticks to hunt game animals of all sizes. They used spears, bows and arrows, atlatls, harpoons, and nets to harvest giant animals like the wooly mammoth, elk, bison, deer, and any other animals they could find. Stone Age people were masters of using every part of the animals, including making more tools from the bones.
Their hunting tactics didn’t resemble modern ones, as they hunted for survival. Stalking and driving animals was a widespread practice. One such example is when Native American tribes would drive a herd of bison over a cliff. This might seem gruesome and unnecessary to many modern people. However, this wasn’t something they did every day, as one drive would provide enough meat and materials for many months, depending on the tribe’s size.
More often than not, hunters had to risk injury and death because they had to get close to the animals to ensure their spear points and arrowheads penetrated deep enough for a clean kill. Hunting during this time was about survival.
Early Firearms
Eventually, Europeans made it across the pond and brought firearms with them. Matchlock firearms were first, followed by Flintlock muskets. While related to modern muzzleloaders, these firearms were not as nearly reliable as modern muzzleloaders. Hunters used black powder and lead musket balls in their rifles and pistols. Many were also skilled trappers. They set snares and metal traps for fur-bearing animals, primarily beavers, as beaver pelts were the rage in Europe.
While many hunters hunted for survival during this time, hunting also became a way to make money, creating the first inklings of the outdoor industry. In addition to firearms and traps, hunters used metal tools such as knives, bullet molds, and awls to accomplish their daily tasks and increase their success. It’s important to note that not all hunters immediately switched to using firearms and metal tools.
Many Native American tribes and mountain men still used stone or a mix of stone and metal tools. Native Americans’ hunting practices didn’t instantly change during this time. Still, the introduction of the horse made hunting some game animals, like the American Bison, much more manageable for many tribes.
Repeating Arms
The invention of repeating arms significantly impacted the near extinction of the American Bison. Hunters were now capable of firing multiple rounds within fractions of a second of each other, and projectiles were becoming increasingly accurate due to barrel rifling and consistent bullet production.
Hunting methods didn’t vary as much, but the new tools of the trades meant hunters were more successful on their hunts. Many hunters went from using a Sharps 1874, Remington No. 1, Springfield rifles, or other single-shot rifles to Henry, Marlin, and Winchester lever-action rifles.
During this time, hunting was also used as a warfare tactic. Instead of directly attacking the Native American tribes that depended on the Bison for food, clothing, shelter, and tools, the U.S. Government hired and allowed poachers (I wouldn’t consider what these guys did as hunting) to wipe out millions of Bison across the American West.
These poachers nearly caused the extinction of one of the most abundant animals in America in a matter of a few decades. They would leave much of the carcass to rot and had no interest in conservation, as they were essentially trying to starve the Native American Tribes that depended on the animal for survival. Thankfully, for the Bison and many other animals, wildlife conservation became mainstream in the early 1900s, and the species was saved from extinction.
Modern Hunting Tools
Today, conservation is a top priority for many hunters, which is why game animal populations are at or near all-time highs. Hunting seasons and limits have helped reduce poaching. Modern hunters are spoiled compared to those of the early 1900s. We hunt out of heated blinds, using high-powered rifles, and rarely have to worry about our next meal.
Much of our modern hunting practices and tools disconnect us from the environment we claim to love for the sake of comfort. I’m not against being comfortable even while hunting. However, the traditionalist side of my brain enjoys pondering how good of a hunter I would be without my deer stands, bolt-action rifles, hunting knives, and all the other hunting gear I own and instead being forced to make much of it out of the materials I have at hand.
Most hunters hunt for sport or to provide their families with meat, but few (myself included) understand the stress hunters felt just a few generations ago when they had to hunt to survive with tools they had made themselves. Modern hunting tools and techniques are drastically different than they were even a couple of hundred years ago. Still, I believe it’s essential for every hunter to know where we came from and continue the tradition.
