How the Timucua Hunted

WHAT ANIMALS DID THEY HUNT WITH SPEARS AND BOWS & ARROWS?  The Timucua hunted alligators, bears, deer, dolphins, ducks, raccoon, seals, sharks, turkey, and wild pig (after the Spanish brought them to the New World).  The Timucua did not hunt armadillos because these animals did not live in Florida until the 1920’s when they escaped from a traveling circus.  Armadillos originally come from Mexico and South America.

WHAT WERE SOME OTHER WAYS THEY HUNTED IN THE WATER?  The Timucua used traps, hooks & lines, nets and weirs (fence-like fish traps to capture fish, crabs, and shrimp).  They did not use fishing poles; the fishing line was held by hand or tied to a canoe.

WHAT ANIMALS DID THEY COLLECT BY HAND?  They collected oysters, whelks, clams, turtles, turtle eggs, and bird eggs by hand and stored them in baskets or canoes as they worked.

HOW DID THE TIMUCUA HUNT DEER?  They hunted deer by hiding under a whole deer hide, with the fur, antlers, and legs still attached.  This way they could sneak up on the deer and shoot them with a bow and arrow.  Click here to see a French drawing of this hunting technique.

HOW DID THE TIMUCUA HUNT ALLIGATOR?  They hunted alligator by sticking a pole in the alligator’s mouth.  Then they could turn the pole over, and the alligator would get flipped too.   The Timucua hunters could spear him on his softer belly.  This was extremely dangerous.  Sometimes the men got killed trying to hunt alligators.  Click here to see a French drawing of this hunting technique.

Go to Activity Page
Return to Kids' CenterPage

Provided by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve
http://pelotes.jea.com