The group began the hunt by sending out spotters, people who camped several miles away and alerted the group when the caribou were approaching. After the people learned where the caribou were, they may have directed the route by placing piles of stone or brush to funnel the animals in a specific direction, where the hunters awaited them.

When the herd drew near, some members of the group—perhaps children and adolescents—waved skins and shouted to separate a few animals and drive them into a trap such as a natural enclosure from which there was only a single route of escape. The hunters could then skillfully spear the 300- to 400-pound animals.

The leader of the hunt was probably the group’s best hunter. This person’s success was due less to marksmanship than to his or her relationship with animals and special knowledge of caribou behavior. The leader set an example for the group, showing respect to the caribou and obeying certain rules. The group believed that if they adhered to these rules, the caribou in return would give themselves up to be killed.

By 11,000 years ago, our ancestors had perfected the techniques of hunting large game animals such as caribou. Careful planning and organization—as well as a degree of luck—were the key to a successful hunt.

Caribou migrate at approximately the same time every year but do not always take the same route, so the first challenge in hunting these animals is locating them. Our ancestors had an intimate understanding of their environment and of animal behavior, which helped them know when and where the caribou herds might appear.