Butchering a Bison With Stone Tools | Ancient Tools in Modern Hands

[@izzyc.6559]

Awesome that you get to experience what it must have been like for our ancestors, processing huge animals like bison. Appreciate you showing us!

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

My absolute pleasure. We did right by the bison and gained a ton of knowledge. Appreciate you watching!

[@joe_origlieri]

I love how practical your approach is to all of this stuff on your channel. So many people get caught up in the mystique and pretentiousness that's everywhere on youtube about stone age tools and technology, but you really just break it down in as simple a way as possible.

[@brianlawson363]

Thank you for another absolutely productive and educational vlog. I am sharing this post with a friend of mine who is a surgeon. He has all of his scalpels made for him by hand using obsidian. He said that he was BLOWN AWAY from the first time he used one, never having seen anything else that was even as remotely sharp. He said that one of the best things about obsidian, aside from the sharpness, is how minimal the scarring is upon the healing of the incision. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos. Peace and blessings 🙏

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Awesome in every way. I appreciate you watching and your comment. One thing to consider with these tools is a raw flake is perfect for slicing and an edge that has been worked, meaning pressure flaked has an edge that will lacerate. I’ve given myself stitches many times from deep slices and need my thumb chemically cauterized from a laceration that removed a quarter sized piece of flesh from my hand. It’s cool that all knappable stone can do both.

[@chucklearnslithics3751]

I've seen some archaeologists claim that your cortex backed blades are a common, and intentional, part of the Clovis culture. Probably other cultures too, but I always think of Clovis, because of those claims, when i see them. This was a great experiment! I hope much knowledge is gained from it! Thanks for taking us along.

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

My pleasure. Appreciate you watching. With this being my third bison butcher…I needed to save my hands from raw flakes. I have no doubt someone long ago thought of the same thing I did. I’m going to look into and gain some more knowledge about the Clovis backed flakes. Thanks!

[@chucklearnslithics3751]

@@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks I'll see if I can find where I read it, but Dr Andy Hemmings mentions it in one of his videos, right here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZ6ZeJ2gorxoibs

[@KurniadiPrathomo-sp5zd]

Thanks for the knowledge and experience that you've shared

[@brandonferrell828]

I love this video. Meateater did one recently with your buddy. Id love to see you on the show or podcast. Thank you for doin this awesome work.

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Appreciate it greatly. I’ll check there’s out. Much respect and appreciation.

[@HW-ow9zp]

Cool stuff Donny really interesting to see part of the process for breaking down such a mighty creature. Nice variety of blades you brought!

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Thanks. It was a long process, but so very worth it. Appreciate you watching.

[@wacojones8062]

Brings back memories of past hunts working with the guides on deer and antelope on the ground. Bison were always hung forequarters high to protect the meat from digestive track liquids. Good to see the spread of knowledge on where our food comes from.

[@hpcromer1921]

Did you leave any of the meat at the site for nature or various scavengers?

[@neesbushcraft]

Thanks for sharing your hard work and knowledge, bud.

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

My pleasure. Appreciate your time watching. Thanks.

[@jackiewilson7627]

I love this I've been watching you for a while and I want to know more

[@HevyMetlRebel]

How long did it take to cut everything up

[@lightning2849]

Hi Donny, just an awesome video ! I love cutlery ! I can see the evolution of the tools thanks to you ! How many tools broke ? Thanks Donny !

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

My absolute pleasure. Tools that broke really came loose in the haft for one of the archeologists. My Hafted blades stayed put. Two different pine pitch glued used. It was a good comparison. My Acheulean hand axe took some flake damage as was used against some bone and tough spots. Thanks for watching amigo!

[@lightning2849]

Thanks Donny for getting back to me ! Thanks for the information and please keep making the videos ! Thanks Amigo !

[@prodbynordli]

are the holes in its body from the arrows?

[@n6_lithics]

How easy is it to remove the stone debris from the edges chipping against bone and other material? Do you believe the natives had a method for removing it or do you believe they had an edge work method that left less debris?

[@storbunlimitedbushcraft6996]

Amazing video dude. Hours of effort 👌🏽

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Appreciate it amigo!

[@mikecurtis2585]

Great to see! Everyone done a great job! Nice to see those tool's being used! I've seen it done before but it's been awhile! Great video! Thanks for sharing!!!!

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Thanks so much for taking the time to watch. I appreciate that greatly.

[@chrismurnin722]

Watching you guys work on this, you can just imagine our ancestors descending on a successful kill, working in unison to pull off the desired resources and choice cuts. Fascinating to watch. 👍

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Absolutely. Thanks so very much for watching. Appreciate it greatly!

[@reyniercampher3815]

Hyper impressive video.

[@semorepagne9996]

I seriously wonder what the condition of stone aged people's hands were after a lifetime of using tools like these, especially ones without handles. I have used things like bare razor blades and tiny hand scalpels, and small hand hammers that were all made of steel, and even short term use of these tools takes a real toll on your wrists and fingers. A lifetime use of these tools seems like they would maim you.

[@alexsandropereira8913]

Waiting for vegetarians to complain 😂😂😂

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

It’s science. It’s how we learn about our past. Thanks for watching.

[@thomas11atkin]

@@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks and possibly our future. Civilizations collapse.

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

@@thomas11atkin no doubt. Anything is possible!

[@TheGous]

Im not complaining 😁

[@theotherguy3083]

Vegetarians should make a video on how they can use stone knives to process vegetables instead.

[@teemuholopainen4745]

Do stone blades get dull if you're carrying them in a bag? Essentially stone washing them

[@JamesRockefeller45]

I wonder if they would use hide in between the back and your hand to protect from cuts

[@jimajello1028]

When killing a bison with stone projectile points is there a waiting time before butchering ? Does the bison flesh become easier to cut when the bison is passed death and the possible fear adrenaline of a hunt is gone? Knowing that other dangerous predators could pick up the scent i would want to be on the move fast. Makes me wonder if they would possibly coat projectile points with substances to relax a prey upon kill or difficult shot penetrations.

[@chupacabra304]

Curare is a venom the South American indians used made of several plant poisons and frog venoms combined into a crazy deadly black liquid they coated their darts with. Though they hunt spider monkey in the upper canopy of trees with their blowguns. I don’t know if the North American indigenous peoples had access to similar venoms, poisons, or even “herbal” extractions 🤔 but they certainly had the ability to take down a bison! I believe they would camouflage themselves in bison fur cloaks and get in close to the herd this way then spring an attack on the unsuspecting animals from close enough to throw several spears at a single animal then immediately get to work processing the game. Potentially just after dealing a deadly blow to end its suffering if it was still conscious

[@mrln247]

I'm interested in how long those stone knives keep their edge, would an animal that size require more than one sharpen? Nothing like learning by doing. Bison look massive.

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Against flesh and soft tissue a good amount of time. I sharped one of my Hafted blades once. I would say when I do this again next year…I will use only three tools to do just that…gauge how many times they are sharpened.

[@mrln247]

@@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks Cool, I know in theory stone is stupid hard compared with normal steels and sharpening does look a pretty quick process. Even with modern steels you would keep a selection of tools for different jobs and keep doing top up sharpens on the fine edge's. As part of the research have you ever got a professional butcher involved on the stone tools? Just incase they had interesting ideas on what is useful.

[@joshcline8764]

Awesome. Thank you for sharing.

[@chriseash6497]

Very interesting. It seems like this was an exercise in using all those tools. Would those people be taking the time to get everything or doing more of a speed butchering to get the biggest parts? How fast could it be done to get the biggest bang for relatively little time? I am curious on this, it is very fascinating!

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

It’s safe to say in this experiment everything got used. I imagine thousands of years it was speed and the most nutritious. Small groups of Hunter Gatherers didn’t have tons of time. Efficiency was key!

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

@@theviewbot thats a fair question and not to hard to explain. Imagine back to a time when predators were everywhere. Packs of huge dire wolves, various bears, large saber tooth cats and who knows what else? With a fresh kill in the air, predators are coing to quickly and i mean quickly key in on the smell and make their way to it. its not as if they didnt have time, but a pack of 15-30 dire wolves are going to take ownership of the kill...regardless if early hunters are on it or not. Competition was high and humans were greatly outnumbered and could easily be driven of large kills.Its hard to move a bison when compared to a deer or smaller game species. Thats why time, in some hunting situations is of the essence...even today, depending where you hunt and what you hunt, predators are always looking for a free meal!

[@AngelJrGongLeocata]

Wow... just wow. Saludos desde Argentina.

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Much respect and appreciation. Thanks.

[@btsloveryt8205]

How many arrows did u guys shoot?

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

10 arrows and about 88 Atlatl darts. Appreciate you watching.

[@paulfreeman23000]

Thank You, This video is great information, I subscribed to your channel .

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Thanks for that. I appreciate it greatly!

[@HARDCHARGER6578]

What are all those holes in the Bison? Arrows?

[@ewa8723]

Yes and atlatl spears

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Atlatl and arrow wound cavities. It’s another video coming soon. Thanks for watching.

[@haroldsmith5150]

@@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks it wasn't alive right? It died quickly I hope?

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

@@haroldsmith5150 yes. Farmer dispatched it quickly and we ran the tests directly after. It was quick and ethical or we would not have conducted the experiment.

[@haroldsmith5150]

@@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks that's awesome to hear hopefully it tastes great

[@braxtonvanduren7791]

Damn, while a steel blade might be quicker, the stone blade seems to be a lot more rewarding. Get to re-connect with an almost forgotten part of humanity. Frankly, I think experiences like that could do a lot of good for the world. Shame most people are more interested in their cell phones.

[@philthycat1408]

Nicely put 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@artcianfanojr]

Great video. Love seeing it done like our ancestors.

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Appreciate you watching. Thanks.

[@randybradley7427]

Nice work

[@nilamkumari5188]

Can you please make a video on making a survival bow and arrows because if you have made also the video of it, I am not finding it

[@zmaster4785]

Well looks like this is the American way for butchering a bison. We learn new things every day 😀

[@BryanKoenig379]

Very cool vid something I've never seen before but yeah it can definitely be done awesome bid man

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Thanks. Lots of hard work goes into it, but I have food for my family for the next year.

[@mikemaxwell5503]

First off. Love the video and breakdown of the process. Assuming you guys shot it with bows. How many times was it shot before it actually died. Only curious as to how long it would’ve taken the native Americans to take it down and process the entire bison. I can say that’s why they didn’t kill too many at one time. That looks like a lot of physical labor. As always Donny thanks again for the video.

[@hangriat9376]

I would imagine they shot it first, and then tested the penetration of the stone weapons after it was dead

[@alwebster9052]

Very cool !

[@ramrod231]

WOW WOW WOW.. I have processed moose and its a big job with todays knives and saws... now ur pretty fit and looked like a work out but still DUDE amazing..unfortunately were i live in Canada its all granite...👍👍👌👌

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

It was a ton of effort, but worth the experience. Appreciate you watching. Thanks a million!

[@Mortis3897]

Very intersting, l aleays forget what a group effort butchering is without modern tools

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Absolutely. It was a full group effort. Appreciate you watching!

[@hpcromer1921]

Who keeps the Hyde and majority of the bones?

[@moosehorse9972]

I like this

[@fishing_slayer]

Nice video brother

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Thanks. I appreciate it greatly that you watched!

[@fishing_slayer]

@@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks also special thanks to you for making video knowledgeable for future generation kids

[@raywilliams1969]

Great video. Felt myself imagining the native people out in the prairie doing this. Awesome work and great video. Thank you for sharing.

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Thanks so very much. Appreciate you watching!

[@cherokeesfinestindian]

Is the meat going to waste?

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

No not at all. It will feed my boys and girlfriend for the next year!

[@cherokeesfinestindian]

@@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks awesome. Glad to hear that.

[@robertmallery5725]

That little knife with the lanyard looks like it would be dandy on skinning a deer

[@Sheepdog1314]

taking one bison beats running dozens off a cliff...

[@Wildwestwrangler]

Somebody must really like you to let you swiss cheese a very expensive bison hide!!! Lol that being said, very educational although I've processed several bison, I've never done it with a stone tool.

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

No worries. Hide is being worked into some leather. Appreciate you watching. Thanks!

[@samuelwoodley986]

That’s awesome for a bunch of amateurs!🤪 I’m not ripping on you but I just picture a prehistoric dad watching his kids butcher their first bison.

[@samuelwoodley986]

“Didn’t put enough dirt down. Saw it right off.”

[@JJ-JOHNSON]

When do we eat?

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Haha. Already started.

[@Timbo.1776]

Was that was awesome

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Thanks

[@wiktorgrotek9540]

Impressive.

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Thanks.

[@Sheepdog1314]

time travel. So cool.....

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Haha. Absolutely. Appreciate you watching!

[@MrGiokos]

R.I.P. BISON

[@johncoffey8645]

A damn horse would have helped hide that thing 😂 ! But if that 4hr window was met, everyone had a great dinner! Side note... I hope there was some bread for an oyster sandwich. Nothing goes to waste!

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Absolutely. We all was said in done…bison stem in cast iron over the fire!! Really good meal!

[@Alarix246]

I think this was awesome exercise! During the cutting it would be fitting to have the added narration; also, in real situation I bet there was a fire next to the dismembering site and some pieces would be immediately roasted and given to everyone around. But there can always be sequels to this "event". I admire your focused approach to learning these things which unfortunately most likely no woman will appreciate - but single men (if I ain't mistaken) can have this focused way on the subject of their fascination. I cannot even imagine to develop such a hobby (of course I mean knapping and all, not just this butchering) alongside wife and several kids. But that's life and I tip my hat.

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Much respect and appreciation. So…the funny part was I was planning on narration. However, the conversations turn into “guy talk” and most of it was cut out. Just random stuff. When guys start doing tasks like this…just guess what comes out there mouth. Haha. Appreciate you watching!

[@Alarix246]

@@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks i was thinking about narration added later during editing - voiceover like. 👍🏼 BTW I grew up in a small town, but my parents bought a plot of land to build on when I was three. And while for us it was getting from the centre to the edge of the town, many neighbors were villagers moving in to the town and so they had chicken and sheep etc on their small house properties. And so I was able to watch with curiosity since being quite small when they were killing and skinning rabbits or sheep. Everybody thought I was a gentle natured person and I wouldn't like seeing the blood. But during my annual vacations while at Uni I went working at butchers plant (we took pork halves and Beef quarters and made regular cuts of it for use in restaurants) and I had no problem with it. I think the reason os because I was exposed to it in a natural way in the correct age. The biggest mistake people make is that they try to shield small kids away from seeing the killed animals and the ensuing process, at the time, when the children are little savages by nature (till puberty we needed to play cowboys and Indians and bows, arrows and guns with wooden skewers shot by the rubber band were our constant companions). That causes the discontinuation of something inside, leading to vegetarians thinking that little piglets can speak etc.

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

@@Alarix246 ohhhh…to be honest, I have no idea about that stuff. I use a basic editing software that came with my computer. I’ll ask my 17 year old son…I’m sure he knows. Haha. Thanks again.

[@Ozarkwonderer]

Imagine a tribe of people who really knew wat they were doing. Like grew up with these tools. You guys did great, but I'd think a group of hunters who used these day in an day out and just had it down pat. Where, how, wat they needed to cut to get everything they needed off the animals

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

No doubt. It was a pretty common practice and was probably very efficient. Appreciate you watching.

[@muhammedYG]

It would be easier to rope the legs together than hang it to a tree , after that skin it with a sharp small knife + bigger one to cut the bones .

[@TEXASREDD76]

Now I really appreciate when I skin a deer just how far knife technology has come

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Absolutely. No doubt!

[@TEXASREDD76]

Small bit of knowledge I’ve learned about deer skinning, along with your normal bush knife and skinner bring a simple box cutter with fresh blades , makes cutting the silver membrane off the meat easier

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

@@TEXASREDD76 no doubt. I grew using steel and razors. It’s quick no doubt. Fortunately with the stone we were able to learn much about our ancestors game processing methods.

[@mrkultra1655]

The funny thing is, I bet a small group of experienced Paleolithic women, who probably did most of the game processing, could skin, gut, and butcher an animal like that in less than an hour.

[@charlesbiakthalian2006]

Nice man I like your primitive idea man good luck😂😂❤❤❤

[@stevenkeithley4336]

👊😎🤙🍻

[@josephcormier5974]

Brother y'all butchered that bison very neatly stone tools are going to be a life saver in the next downfall of humanity witch is coming soon thank you for sharing this six stars brother

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Thanks Joe. Appreciate it greatly. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but I’ll be ready!

[@chancegivens9390]

I use a similar tool to cut my watermelon!

[@ismewhat1234]

Would like to see in the hunt💔 did you use a gun and finished it off with those arrowheads😂

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

It was a quick kill from the bison rancher. Anyone who “hunts” a animal in a pen or surrounded by fence with Atlatl or bow likely had a sedated or old animal. Bison aren’t going to let you get close. They will run you down. There’s videos of folks doing it…hunting bison with primitive tools, however if the bison is slow to move it’s accustomed to humans. It’s not hunting. We opted for quick kill. No such thing as ethical killing…only quick.

[@reneewood3171]

That's a big animal

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Very big. Just over 950 lbs.

[@Drengr19]

This is the kind of content that should be promoted on youtube. Not rap videos of barely clothed women twerking. Thank you for the education and demonstration of the stone tools!

[@JIRSTZY]

BRO LOOKS LIKE RICK FROM THE WALKING DEAD

[@derp0112]

Bro I've been scrolling for ages seeing if anybody thought the same. He looks so much like s5 Rick it's scary

[@raghulroxx1871]

Dr stone

[@lawrystones6140]

Promo'SM

[@ronniecochran9623]

Donnie i wont to buy one of your halfed knifesi have at leat 500 still knifes i wont a stone knife

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

No worries. On my instagram tomorrow starting at 10:00 am mountain time I’ll be selling a bunch of stone knifes!!!!

[@BigOleNuttSak]

This is awesome

[@DonnyDustsPaleoTracks]

Appreciate you watching!