Building a hunting bow is a necessary piece of skill for survival that can also be regarded as a luxury. This is because arrow and bow construction is enjoyable, and thus is a hobby to some. In the same vein, it can become your lifeline when the wolves come knocking in the wild. 

Luckily, anyone can make a bow at home or in the wild. In fact, even children can be a part of this archery growth. Just like a campfire, you and your family can have a great time making a hunting bow. If at home, you can visit the lumber yard to buy necessary materials and even practice target shooting in a range. If in the wild meanwhile, then there’s no material purchase or target shooting. 

You are in Jumanji already, right in the thick of the battle. 

 

Steps For Building A Hunting Bow

 

Building a hunting bow, as enjoyable as it sounds and appears, may not be such a rosy process. There are definitely some grimes and sweats. So, dismiss the notion of doing this so easily and quickly. No, buddy, you have to work for it. Those who can’t see through the process often prefer to buy a readymade bow, and I don’t think that’s a bad decision. The only downside is you’ll be missing out on the fun and experience, which may come in handy later, as well as spend money that you could have saved.

There are three main steps for building a hunting bow, which are “getting the right branch,” “shaping the bow” and “stringing the bow.” Let’s walk through each one after the other.

 

Getting The Right Branch

 

This step is as crucial as the rest of the process. In fact, it may be the most important. This is because selecting the wrong branch for your purpose will be an absolute waste at the end of the day. Now, I am sure you don’t want to pull a bow that never hits the target, or worse still, cause harm to others. Thus, you have to ensure you’re getting the proper branch before building your hunting bow.

The branch or wood should be long enough to make a bow. And while long branches aren’t rare to find in the wild, you should also have a specific type of wood in mind. This will help you know where precisely to look and what exactly you’re looking for. Usually, hardwoods are the perfect woods for a hunting bow, although you may have a differing opinion. Examples of hardwoods I’d suggest are oak, maple, and hickory saplings.

Having found a few saplings that appear to be long enough, you have to inspect them to answer the following questions:

• Does the selected sapling have knots or branches that may hinder work?
• Does the sapling have twists or curves, or is it relatively straight?
• Will the section of sapling you plan to use be sufficient for the length of your bow?

Before you answer the 3rd question, keep in mind that an ideal hunting bow should be between 5 – 6 feet long. So, it is advisable to use a longer piece of wood since you’ll be chopping off the edges. You can carry a measuring tape for accurate measurements.

 

Shaping Your Bow

 

As I already mentioned, each step in making a bow must be carried out perfectly; else you’ll experience hitches when using it. You don’t want to use a bow that looks more straight than curved, as this will affect its aim and effectiveness. So, when shaping your bow, remember you’re going for a near-perfect, if not perfect, arc.

It is necessary to know certain terms before shaping your bow: belly, back, and middle. The inside of your bow is referred to as its belly while its outside refers to its back. As you may know, this is the bend that you turn towards the target and away from you. The middle, meanwhile, is the point where you grip your bow, and as the name suggests, it is usually in the center.

Note that it is always advised to leave the back of the bow untouched when shaping the wood. This is because it is most pressurized when you pull the arrow and may therefore break as any unnecessary notch or whittle on it is likely to be a weak point. Should this happen, you’ll have no choice but to eat chocolate bars throughout your hike.

Having established these three points on your sapling (belly, back, and middle), it is now time to shape. Keep in mind that when shaping your bow, it is always possible to take out more wood, but it is impossible to add it back. So, when shaping, ensure to be careful and thorough about it. And if there’s no emergency, I advise that you take enough time when shaping your bow.

 

Stringing Your Bow

 

Now, your bow has assumed a more recognizable form, so it’s time for the finishing touches. Stringing your bow simply refers to tying a string across the belly of your bow, which you will be using to pull arrows. Finding the ideal bowstring may be rare when in the wild, so some creativity would be advisable. You can make do with sinew, twine, nylon rope, or any other suitable material. However, whatever you choose, make sure your bowstring isn’t stretchy or elastic. Your bow derives power from its limbs and not its string, as you may have thought.

To notch your bow, you’ll be drilling little holes on either side of the bow at the top and bottom. That is, you make two notches at each of the ends. Mind you; I said “sides;” do not make the mistake of notching in the back of your bow.  

After stringing and notching your bow, tillering comes next. This involves the continuous shaping of the bow to get a more parabolic and refined curve.  For this process, you’d need a sharp tool and some patience. Note that most people neglect tillering due to haste or the misconception that it isn’t vital. Do not make the same mistake.

 

Conclusion On Building A Hunting Bow

 

Building a hunting bow may look easy on paper, but believe me when I say it is a tasking process. Every step has to be perfectly executed; else, you’d be making yourself a substandard hunting bow. I suggest that you start building your survival bow at home for more experience and ease.