About Archery and Bowhunting

Archery or bowhunting as we know it today, is much easier and far more sophisticated than say 3500BC, when they shot small bows made from a stick with a strand of sinew or a strip of hide used for a bow string. Arrows were made of sticks sharpened to a point. Equipment today consists of bows (recurve bow) made with laminated wood, and fiberglass and special resins and glues to bond all these materials together.Sometimes recurve bows are built in one, two or three pieces. The handle and one limb together and a separate limb to be bolted onto the opposite end of the handle or the handle and two separate limbs to be bolted onto each end of the handle. They range in many pull weights so even the smallest or young person can draw the bow back to the face and the most avid type of person could be pulling back as much as 100 pounds.

Normally the archer who is shooting recurve bows or straight bows (which I will brief you on a little later) are archers who have been using the compound bow for years and are actually going back in time to prove him or herself capable of being able to do it the traditional bow hunting way.

The notably famous bowhunting experts Fred Bear and bowhunter Ben Pearson during the 1940’s were experimenting on different types of glues and wood and fiberglass’s to produce bows and arrows that would produce higher quality arrows and more powerful, long lasting bows. This work still goes on today except that there are many good quality bow and arrow companies producing fine bows and arrows. In the 40’s and 50’s there were other archery companies but most were following the same theories of Bear Archery and Pearson Bows.

Not until the 60’s did others start experimenting with the cable bows. The Allen Archery company produced the first cable bow and from there we went on to the more recent compound bows.

Getting back to the straight bow, which played a major role in bowhunting during the 40’s and 50’s and even today. A straight bow is exactly what it says, a straight piece of wood with a handle in the middle of it. The straight bow and the recurve bow along with wooden shaft arrows are on a big come back in the bowhunting world today. Bowhunting with the straight and recurve bow is a very big challenge and a step back in time as our forefathers had done, all the way back to the prehistoric days.

Back in my dads days of starting out with bowhunting and along with myself we camped in tents or cabin tents with an open fire or wood stove for heat. We (my family, mother, father and sister) cooked on wood stoves or an open fire, using what mother nature provided us for fuel.

Some bowhunters used horses and pack horses to travel up the mountains and make camp. Traditional archery was the only way we knew, it was the best that was out there until years later. It was also just as fun, maybe a little harder, but many good memories were made with my family while bowhunting. Memories that most people do not have a clue of how fun and close you are able to bond to your family and friends while hunting and camping with the family . Dreams in your mind that you will never forget.

I have one thing I can’t mention enough, “Respect” ;

1) Respect the land and landowners

2) Respect the others that are bowhunting

3) Respect your elders, help them when they need help

4) Respect the game that you hunt (do not shoot unless the shot permit’s a quick, humane kill) never take a chance and do not waste your harvest of game you have taken down.

These few simple rules will help conserve our rights to hunt and be able to enjoy the out of doors for centuries to come. Conservation helps all of us. Make your campsite cleaner when you leave than what it was when you got there. This pertains to all campers, not just gun or bowhunters. More about bowhunting and ideas for your particular type of bowhunt:

Mid-October Lull (is it a myth?)

Archery Hunting

Deer Calls

Try Deer Hunting with the Solunar Table



Here are more articles about different types of bowhunting hunts:

Caribou Hunt

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