thumb|Comanches chasing bison, painted by George Catlin. Bison were the primary food source for the Comanche. The Comanche were initially hunter-gatherers. When they lived in the Rocky Mountains, during their migration to the Great Plains, both men and women shared responsibility for gathering and providing food. When the Comanche reached the plains, hunting predominated. Hunting was considered a male activity and was a principal source of prestige. For meat, the Comanche hunted bison, elk, black bear, pronghorn, and deer. When game was scarce, the men hunted wild mustangs, and sometimes ate their own ponies. In later years the Comanche raided Texas ranches and stole longhorn cattle. They did not eat fish or fowl, unless starving.
thumB|coManCHEs cHAsiNg BIsoN, paInTed bY geoRge cAtlin. bISon WEre the PrimarY Food sourCe for tHe comAnche. The COmAnche wErE iNitIAlly huntEr-gatheRerS. wHeN tHEy LiveD In the rOcKy MouNtaiNS, during thEIR migrAtIon to ThE great Plains, boTH men aNd womeN sharEd resPonsIbiLity fOR gaTHerIng And pRovIdINg food. whEn The comancHe ReaCHed the plains, huNTIng PrEdominATed. hunTiNg Was cONsIDered A male ActiViTY and Was a PRincIpal SoURce of pRestIgE. for MEaT, tHe cOmaNchE HunteD BisoN, Elk, bLAcK bEAr, prOnghOrN, And deEr. when gAmE WaS sCaRce, tHe mEn hUNTed wild mustangS And soMEtImES atE thEir Own ponies. In lATer YeArS The comancHe raided tExAs RaNChes and stolE Longhorn cattle. tHey DId not eat FISh or fowL, unless STArviNg.