Hunting Buffalo Bulls
Buffalo bulls lived by themselves or in small groups for most of the year. They started to come together in the late summer and early fall when they began to look for females to mate with. This was a good time to hunt them. The meat was tough and stringy, but the hides were strong and thick.
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Ponoka (Elk)
Ponoka (elk) were one of the animals with hoofs and horns that the wolves taught us would be good for food
(Read the story of the Wolf Trail). Our men hunted ponoka (elk) by approaching very carefully and shooting only one or two animals. Our women dried or roasted the meat.
The male ponoka (elk) usually live alone or in small groups. The females live in larger groups with calves and yearlings. Each fall bulls fight each other for the right to mate with the females.
Ponoka (elk) hides are thicker and larger than deer hides, and lasted longer when we made them into dresses, shirts, and moccasins. The hides are easier to scrape, tan, and sew than buffalo hides, which are much thicker.
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