How do I Make a Good Bow & Good Arrows?

Quality wooden bows and arrows should be made of straight, firm wood.

Bows and arrows have been used to hunt big and small game for centuries. Though some hunters still pursue game bow and arrows, many people use bow and arrows for sport and recreation. Gain a greater appreciation for hunting or archery skills by learning to make quality homemade bows and arrows.

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• Wood
• Fishing line
• Nylon twine
• Dental Floss
• Glue
• Feathers

Instructions

Bow

1. Search for branches, saplings or shoots near a creek or stream. The limbs should be about 50 to 60 inches long and between 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Choose three limbs that are as straight as possible. Place a foot on the bow's center and grip the two ends of the bow in both hands and bend both bow ends about 4 inches to test for durability. If the branch breaks, discard it and cut down another potential bow staff.

2. Cut precisely into the wood to remove side branches and twigs. However, don't cut off the bark, peel it off by hand. Place the wood staff in the shade for two days to dry the wood properly.

3. Hold the bow at its center and draw a vertical line about half a foot long beside where the hand is placed. Wrap leather around the bow's center to form an arrow rest and hand grip.

4. Cut two notches at both bow ends to help keep the bowstring in place. Choose nylon twine for the bowstring and cut it so that the string is about 12 inches longer than the bow. Tie the string tightly at the bottom of the bow and make a loop in the bowstring at a length that is about 6 inches shorter than the bow staff. Put the bow on the ground and place a knee on the staff. Gradually bend the bow until the second loop is securely around the top notch of the bow staff.

Arrow

1. Buy wood dowels at a hardware store or collect straight branches about 24 inches long with diameters between 1/4 and 1/2 inch. Trim off the side twigs from each limb.

2. Peel off the bark by hand and set the wood aside to dry for a couple of days.

3. Gently cut a notch into the end of the arrow so that it can be easily placed against the bowstring and wrap twine around the end of the notch to keep it from splitting after repeated use.

4. Slice the top of the arrow shaft and push an arrowhead into the notch. Wrap the arrowhead and the top of the shaft with twine.

5. Cut feathers in half at the quill. Glue three feathers equally around the arrow shaft and use dental floss, fishing line or thread to secure the feathers to the shaft.

References

• Grandpappy: How to Make a Primitive Homemade Bow and Arrows
• Minnesota State University: Arrow Making