Why did Plains hunters continue using bows and arrows after acquiring horses?

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Plains style — Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains Dancers at the Totah Festival Powwow performing the Northern Tradition dance, a dance inspired by Plains traditions, on September 1, 2007, in Farmington, New Mexico.

After acquiring horses, most Plains hunters initially chose to continue using bows and arrows during mounted hunts because they provided greater accuracy than early firearms.1

While the speed and mobility provided by horses significantly improved hunting efficiency compared to pedestrian methods—such as stampeding herds toward cliffs—early guns were not yet as effective as traditional archery. It was only as firearms became more accurate and reliable that they were widely adopted by Plains peoples. Eventually, the combination of horses and improved guns allowed hunters to maintain greater distance from their prey, which reduced the danger of being attacked by charging animals.12