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 mammals, and the shotgun was used for both classes of animals. These two studies show that tribal 

 hunters generally consider the type of prey at hand when selecting the type of weapon to be used. 

 Maya hunters, however, appear to be less concerned about prey type than are tribal hunters when > 

 selecting the type of weapon to be used. 



Characteristics of the Hunt 



Several techniques have been described for bumian hunters in the Neotropics. For example, 

 the Ach^ Indians conducted day hunts through the forest, walking about 15 km on an average outing 

 (Hill and Hawkes, 1983). Matses Indians in the Peruvian Amazon conducted day hunts, but also 

 undertook extended trips lasting several days and conducted at great distances from their village 

 (Romanoff, 1984). In Colombia, the Maraca Indians hunted at night; undertook day-long trips as well 

 as extended hunting expeditions lasting several weeks; and constructed and used a number of special 

 hunting aids, including blinds, stands, and deadfalls (Ruddle, 1970). Settlers and colonists in eastern 

 Brazil used dogs and flashlights, pursued game during the day, waited in stands for game during the 

 evening, and patiently waited along garden edges or near fruiting palms (Orbygnia martiana; Smith, 

 1976). The variety of these techniques indicated that game could be successfully taken by various 

 methods. 



Hunting outings . Maya hunters at X-Hazil Sur used several techniques to obtain game. The 

 most frequently used technique was to track/stalk game (79% of 419 outings). About 82% of the 

 game, by individual, was taken by this method. Game also was taken by traps (10% of outings) and 

 while hunters were positioned in stands/platforms (8% of outings). The average hunter group size for 

 these three techniques was 1.6-1.8 hunters/outing, while the average quantity of game harvested was 

 1.2-1.4 individuals/outing. 



Hunters reported that they used the different techniques under different circumstances. 

 Tracking/stalking was used primarily during the day and occurred in both gardens and forested areas. 

 Usually an outing of this type was undertaken only after a hunter, based on the type of tracks or 



