Atlatl competition pits spear throwers against each other

The annual atlatl competition at Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump will test the hunting capabilities of novice and advanced hunters alike.

The event is for all ages and is a great family event, said Wahkpa Chu'gn manager Anna Brumley.

Starting Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and ending Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the atlatl competition is completely free and atlatls are provided for people to use.

Participants walk through a course with their atlatls, which are hand held mounts on which spears are placed. The mount, or atlatl, allows the user to achieve higher velocities with a spear than they would throwing it using only their hand.

"The Gros Ventre people, the first people who occupied this site, that was their weapon of choice," Brumley said. " ... It's very simple to use, but a very powerful weapon."

There are over five targets throughout the buffalo jump walk that the competitors must hit, including the moving fake buffalo that the competition run ends with.

Each throw and run through the course is given a score. There are four categories: youth, teen, men and women. Anyone can go through the course as many times as they like throughout the weekend, but only their top score is recorded. A score Saturday lasts until the event is over on Sunday.

The event will be hosted by David and Ralph Heydlauff, Canadian brothers who helped with the formation of the buffalo jump and who are atlatl enthusiasts. They will be teaching groups how to throw atlatls throughout the weekend.

"Usually people catch on in five or six throws and then they're good to go," Brumley said. "The atlatls we use are very easy for even a 5-year-old and 6-year-old to throw."

The exhibit houses at the buffalo jump will also be open to people at the competition, free of charge. Anyone who participates with an atlatl will be able to go on self-led tours of facilities at the jump, which hold a myriad of artifacts and archeological finds.

First prize in each category will be $75, second is $50, third prize is a T-shirt and there are also prizes given to those who fare well shooting the moving buffalo.