Modern Hunting

Hunting has evolved considerably since the the early times of the Native Americans. Though we still hunt for the same reason, (food) it is becoming more of a sport than a way of life. At the same time, however, for members of the Bay Mills community, hunting (like fishing) remains and economically viable way to get food, thanks to our well-managed and accessible wildlife.

Regulations on hunting are carefully developed and enforced so that we do not kill off the animals or severely damage the herds. Instead of using hand made bows that were made out of wood and stomach lining, we now use composite materials, carbon, and many other durable and lighter means of construction, yet bows are no longer the most common type of weapon for taking an animal. Guns have rapidly replaced the bow and arrow. The gun, being more efficient in just about every aspect compared to the bow, made it the most popular type of equipment for hunting. Indeed, Lake Superior Ojibwe first acquired guns from French trappers in the 1700s and they rapidly became the preferred means for hunting--which is why we so strenuously objected to restrictions imposed by the US government on our access to guns in the 1800s. Nonetheless, today, millions of people still use bows today for the excitement of getting that close to an animal, or to hunt how their ancestors did it.