re: Is Dances With Wolves Buffalo hunt the grandest spectacle in a western?

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Yes, they hunted them and chased them on horseback to get close enough to kill them.

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Horses were (re)introduced to the American West by the Spanish in the 16th century. Which is still relatively recent in the timeline of American Indian civilizations.

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They sure as hell didn't just stroll up to the herd and take their pick.

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I'm guessing the Indians used various tactics depending on what was available to them. Maybe horses weren't ubiquitous across all tribes, at least not at first. Very reasonable to assume different tribes used sneak attacks or hide & wait plans when horses weren't available. They adapted fairly well.