What did the Native Americans shoot

[flywise]

So if you had to guess what do you think the bows were made of, draw weights, and arrow weights and broad head weights for big game.

It amazes how they could kill large animals with a flint rock and a self bow

[Loreva13]

I'd like to know as well.

[TxAg]

Flint is scary sharp.

As for the bows/arrows, I'm no historian have heard the following.

From what I understand, their bows were in the 35# range. I've also been told that they didn't shoot like a traditional archer...more of a pull into your chest and fire rather than pull into your face. This made the draw length shorter, thus the arrows were shorter.

I was told this by a Native American in Wyoming last summer....apparently, his great uncle was making these type of bows/arrows until he died mid century.

[rubydog]

Well you just asked a question that would require a book or ten. If you would be a little more specific as to the region and or tribes you are interested in I could probably answer your question. I will say as a general rule that he eastern woodland tribes generally had longer bows made from osage, mulberry, hickory, elm, hackberry and a few others. Most allof these tribes such as the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Creek all shot longer bows that were generally higher poundage (50 ish) with a string made from squirrell rawhide. It seems to be the more aired the region was the shorter the bow was and the lower poundage. This was due mostly because of the material that the tribes had at their disposal did not bend well and or was brittle. Plains Indians such as Sioux chose shorter drawn bows of lower poundage due in part for their ability to shoot them while mounted on a horse and availability of material. I can tell you the styles varied greatly amongst the tribes and that the osage staves that were coveted by the Cherokee were highly prized as trade bait to other tribes.

[flywise]

Well Terry you post may have answered several of the questions like draw weight and materials used. I'm not looking for specifics for diffrent tribes just general rule or good guesses. How much do you think a flint arrowhead might have weighed in at? Given the white tail deer as the primary target (central Tx type weight deer)

Good info buddy

[flywise]

anyone can chime in this discussion

[TexaRican]

I've read that Comanche bows could and did get a complete pass through on a buffalo.

[flywise]

I tell you why I started this thread, I really want to harvest a deer with a self bow, wood arrows and an arrowhead I find out in the woods. This is also why I started the Knapping thread as well. I would like someone to take a found point and knap it a bit to get it sharp again and take a little weight off if needed or show me how to do it myself. I just think it would be awesome to use a point some native american used to feed his family to feed mine.

[flywise]

I've read that Comanche bows could and did get a complete pass through on a buffalo.

That is impressive

[quackaholic1]

I have a self-bow and its made from Bois'DArc. Not sure what the indians used tho.

[apostle1973]

now thats old school bow hunting . would be fun to try out

[SAM STEPHENS]

Killed many critters with a osage selfbow and stone points , I got a lot of books and info for you Fly when you come out you can borrow them if you want,,,,Sam,,,,,,

[flywise]

Killed many critters with a osage selfbow and stone points , I got a lot of books and info for you Fly when you come out you can borrow them if you want,,,,Sam,,,,,,

That would be great, I appreciate it and after next week I can probably make it just about anytime

[rubydog]

I've read that Comanche bows could and did get a complete pass through on a buffalo.

There might be an isolated case of that, however anthropologic evidence shows that most all animals as well as humans killed with a bow during those time frames expired due to multiple wounds from bows and arrows and rarely from just one. Even with modern equipment (compounds included) it would be a rarety to see a complete pass through on a mature animal with the body size and structure as a bison. Anything is possible though..

[glw1982]

I tell you why I started this thread, I really want to harvest a deer with a self bow, wood arrows and an arrowhead I find out in the woods. This is also why I started the Knapping thread as well. I would like someone to take a found point and knap it a bit to get it sharp again and take a little weight off if needed or show me how to do it myself. I just think it would be awesome to use a point some native american used to feed his family to feed mine.

That would be awesome.