Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Primitive Skills

Thank you sir!

The time is nigh! Wife is at 36 wks. The last one was born at 37 wks...

I do that stuff regularly. Just jump into my Chevy 4x4 time machine and go back to the 1830's for a few days or weeks.

Last weekend, shooting a trail walk competition with my .62 flintlock smooth bore. One of the targets is just above the gun muzzle. The white "hostile" with a steel heart swinger, had to hit the heart to score. No problem, killed all the "hostiles" that day and survived the trail.

Looks to be a grand time. Thanks for the peek into your world

star next to your name today for that one, sir. That's just plain funny.

Sorry if this has been posted already but I haven't read the whole thread. I used to spend hours here reading long ago. you guys might like it also. http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/

You cut down a tree like that every time you make camp..?

MS,the trip was a ball but I don't think I could find a wolf if we were in the same room. We saw Elk, pronghorns, muledeer, a badger and lots of Grouse but I am sure they knew I didn't have a tag.

I owe all the guys on here that helped w/advice a good trip report. I will try to get that done today.

mike r

I make self bows.


I also do a little forging. This 10" bowie blade was forged from the above leaf spring.



Here is the finished product. Handle is polished elk.


I also do the leatherwork, if that counts, and I've gotten better at it over the years.

It most certainly does count! Amazing work there! Thanks for sharing that.

I've tried to make a few bows. I know that you're supposed to get the outside face of the wood all on the same ring for strength. I can never manage to do that part. I always take off too much wood somewhere and cross rings making it weaker.

That's some tedious work and I admire the person who can do it.

Loving the steel and leather work.

Wow RH those are serious skills and beautiful work. I met a guy in Wyoming that was bear hunting w/ a homemade bow and arrows. The workmanship was impressive and I would guess his hunting skills were too. Please show us some of your other work if convenient.

This is a great thread and I hope it continues, I wish I had more to contribute. I am really primitive in my computer skills but I must learn to post pictures.

mike r

If you don't mind me asking, what do you use for your bow strings?

You only have to take it to one ring with Osage. You can make a Hickory bow and use the layer directly under the bark. That bow pictured is a hybrid Osage with bamboo back. It's not exactly primitive but it does shoot very well. PM me sometime and I'll hook you up with some bow wood and instructions if you are interested.

Here are a couple more pictures. I don't have any other bow pictures because I usually wind up giving them away. Sorry for the poor quality.


Tips are quite tiny and are Osage burl overlayed.

That one is the very primitive 8125.

I just like making things. I figure if I really wanted to be primitive, I would have to start naked in the woods. No sense using a chain saw to cut the tree, haul it in a truck, and then worry about the authenticity of the string material.

What kind of wood did the Indians use out in my part of the country when making their bows and arrows?

Wyoming and Montana

That osage is beautiful!

Thanks for the Hickory tip! I'll have to give that a try. Those bow making instructions would be awesome! Thank you!

It's hard to say. Any hardwood will make a bow. From the NW Yew would be a top pick. There have also been instances of primitive bows made from Osage found with no Osage around for a thousand miles. Obviously it was traded for or someone traveled a great distance to get it. Possibly tribes migrated as well.

You might start by reading The Bowyers Bible 1. You can also check into www.primitivearcher.com forums. There are several instructional threads.

Good point!

The operative word in the thread title is the word "skills".

You sir, have some amazing skills. I appreciate you showing us some of your work. It has to be immensely satisfying to create such works with your own hands.

These are the kind of resources I was hoping to find when I started this thread. Thanks again!

"You cut down a tree like that every time you make camp..?"

Not when I camp on the prairie.