The tribes primarily used northern Missouri areas along the river as hunting grounds and not for permanent residence. A misunderstanding between settlers and Chief Big Neck and a party of Iowa hunters in July, 1829 led to a conflict known as the Big Neck War. The Sac-Fox had ceded all hunting rights to northern Missouri in 1825, but Big Neck and his band of Iowa refused to acknowledge the transaction.
In northern Missouri, the tribes primarily utilized areas along the river for temporary hunting excursions rather than establishing permanent settlements. A disagreement between settlers and Chief Big Neck, coupled with a confrontation involving Iowa hunters in July 1829, led to the Big Neck War. The Sac-Fox had previously ceded all hunting rights to this region in 1825, but Big Neck's group rejected this transfer.