Kim Gjerstad in Congo - Hunting with Pygmies, 2006

Read more on the purpose of this hunt.

Each Bambuti family has a net, the prefered method to hunt. Before we go out into the woods, every man verifies his equipment.

Smoking weed to awaken the spirit.

Once in the forest, before the hunt begins, we light a fire to smoke some tobaco leaves. Some aren't too dry.

The first net is set. Each family intersects its own to make a big kettle shaped invisible wall. The women, kids and dogs will enter the trap from the opening and make loud noise. All animals flee the brouhaha and get entangled.

Spears might be used.

The first catch: a baby mangoose reveals little meat.

In the meantime, someone finds grubs. A good source of protein.

Tambo uses leaves has shopping bags to wrap the grubs.

Everything is green in the forest, which is surprisingly easy to walk through.

This flower is a root parasite. Why isn't athlete's foot just as cute?

We pack up our nets, and will try again somewhere.

We catch a white-bellied dyker. He was yelling right until his last breath. I don't think I'll ever get used to killing my own meat. Or, seeing it killed.

The girls find white clay. Body art starts.

Jaap shows the wonders of technology.

We pack up, and go for another round of hunting.

Our third catch: a pygmy antilope, an appropriate name.

Wild rubber makes for good drumming.

The bambuties like to smoke.

Our third catch: a bay dyker, a diurnal specie. This one was speared after being surprised in his sleep going back to the village.

The kids await our return.