If your weekend plans involve standard hiking and pretending to understand map legend symbols, it’s time to upgrade. Next weekend, First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park is giving you the chance to go full Ice Age.
On August 8 and 9, the park is hosting its annual Mammoth Hunt, and no, you don’t need to bring a time machine—just a decent throwing arm.
Here is the lowdown on how to unleash your inner prehistoric hunter, plus everything else you need to know:
- Master the Atlatl: Visitors get hands-on experience with an atlatl (pronounced at-lat-ul), a 10,000-year-old spear-thrower that pre-dates the bow and arrow. Think of it as ancient physics: it gives you massive leverage to launch a lightweight dart way faster and harder than your bare arm ever could.
- The Hunt Schedule: Atlatl action runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
- Bonus Ranger Talk: Catch the popular “Saturday Jump Talk” at 1:00 p.m. right at the top of the buffalo jump to learn how ancient cultures utilized the cliffs.
- Park Hours: The park and its massive visitor center are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Cost: Absolutely free. Plus, Montana residents get free daily park entry thanks to vehicle registration fees.
Getting There & Contact Info: First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park sits 3.5 miles north of Ulm (just off I-15, Exit 270). For full details, hit up fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/first-peoples-buffalo-jump, ring the park at 406-866-2217, or drop a line to firstpeoplesbuffalojump@mt.gov.
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