The target is thrown into the air and must be speared by the pin attached to the other end of the cord. Simple targets are carved rings of bone or hide, strings of toe bones or fish vertebra, perforated holed skulls, dried squash rinds, or bundles of twigs or hair. The pins are carved from long bones or antler in prehistoric times, while metal pins sometimes used after contact with Europeans. A leather or fur counterweight is sometimes attached to the target. The game is often played for women's and children's amusement, and for stakes.
Players usually number two.
Each party gets two tries to impale the ring the greatest number of times, after which it must be passed to the next player.