The celebration began with a village prayer the night before the women left for the hunt. This night celebration was for the protection and safe return of all the women who would participate in the hunt. The entire village sang prayers to the gods and danced around a large fire.
The next day approximately eight women mounted horses and took bows and arrows with them as they left for their hunt. A few women took spears to be used to kill their prey. Hayshua women were often skilled hunters. Most were taught by members of their family when they are very young to hunt deer. They were also taught to throw spears and were skilled in the use of the bow and arrow.
The women knew that though potentially conflicting, they were not in competition. This is a celebration and one of the Hayshua rites. It is also an opportunity for the village to enjoy the feast that followed. The Jontoo allowed wonderful things to grace the lives of the Hayshua people. Most of the men and women already knew which marriage choices would be made. In some ways the hunt to bring back the largest kill was really of no consequence. Many choices had already been made. No one knew that this particular Jontoo would bring other changes to the Hayshua people.