In message <p06240808c308dea22d9e_at_[10.0.1.94]> David Dunham writes:
>Donald
>
>>Why assume that an Odalyan is going to hunt large animals? I'd suggest
>>the more typical practice is to hunt those animals which provide a few
>>meals such as rabbits.
>
> From what I recall from anthropology classes, hunting large animals
>is exactly what members of hunting cultures do. I think Odaylans
>would too, for the same reason. Which is mostly prestige. If you come
>home with a wild boar, you have a LOT of meat to give out. This
>cements your place in the clan (obviously important for an Odaylan
>who is often absent), and puts people in your debt.
>
>In practice, hunters can't always bring home big game, and probably
>do bring home a lot more rabbits than deer. But the Odaylan would be
>preparing himself with deer-hunting magic, and waiting by deer
>trails. The rabbits are a backup plan.
That's assuming they are returning "home" after the hunt. Since
Odalyans often don't contact their clan for a season or more
large kills are usually going to go to waste. I'm not arguing
that on the rare occassions when they are near enough to bring
a large kill home they don't. Or even that they don't make a
kill and then bring a party from the nearest stead to collect it.
They get status from bringing back furs and hides from animals
which don't range near enough to the steads for Ormalayans to
catch. Even then it's most likely to be many small animals and
birds rather than a few large ones.
--
Donald Oddy
http://www.grove.demon.co.uk/