American mastodons, though somewhat smaller, were still massive creatures that would have required considerable hunting skill and perhaps coordinated group effort to bring down effectively.

The specific strategies that Clovis hunters used to hunt these animals are not directly preserved in the archaeological record, but inference from the kill sites and from what is known about the hunting of large dangerous animals by other cultures suggests some possibilities.

Ambush hunting at water sources — where large animals are predictably present and may be more vulnerable than in open terrain — is a likely strategy.

The use of fire to drive animals toward waiting hunters is another.