Hunting is an ancient activity. First and foremost, it was used to feed people. The ancient caves of Lascaux, France depict many different animals and show their importance in the daily lives of ancient peoples. Although the cave paintings appear a stationary clan, most clans followed the herds as they moved in order to have constant access to food. Ancient man used traps, some of which were quite sophisticated. Prey was driven into carefully dug traps that blended in with the landscape. Ancient man also used traps in running herds over cliffs where the animal fell to its death or into bogs or swamps where the animals were butchered where they stood with crude bone or rock knives.
Bows and arrows are a relatively recent hunting weapon. An interesting ancient weapon is the atlatl and dart. Looking strangely like a combination of slingshot and bow and arrow, it enabled a hunter to throw a stone or some other projectile a great distance. Ancient Egyptians (as well as others in their time period) used sharpened sticks (javelins in their earliest form) and spears with sharp edges. Slingshots were also used, but because of the amount of practice required to achieve accuracy they were not used extensively.
Modern hunting weapons are guns. Hunting animals is much easier with a rifle equipped with a long sight and sometimes even night vision. Although guns prevail, there are still hunters that prefer bows and arrows and the ancient crossbow. In fact, crossbows have been in use for many centuries and offer longer flight times and stronger impact than a traditional bow and arrow.
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