Bows, Arrows & Archery
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Advanced Bow Making: Recurves, Bamboo- and Sinew-backed Bows
If you have ever wanted to learn how to make a Recurve bow, how a Bamboo-backed bow is made, or why Sinew-backing a bow improves it's performance, this class has your answers. Starting with a blank stave, you will build your own long bow, then complete it with your choice of one of the above three methods. Go beyond the simple self bow and learn how improve performance, and create a true hunting weapon that you will cherish for years to come. Snake skin, rawhide, and other bow backing options will also be covered, as we combine the best of modern and primitive technologies as they relate to the Art of the Bowyer.
All materials are provided.
| September 21–27 | Toms River, NJ | $585 | Register Now! |
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Arrow Making
The right arrows can make all the difference when shooting your bow, and no arrows are going to be as perfect for you as the ones that you have made yourself. Learn the ancient craft of making primitive arrows, and how to modify those techniques to fashion modern arrows. This class will cover how to find and select the best arrow shaft materials, along with harvesting, curing, straightening, and finishing methods. You will learn how to haft both primitive and modern arrow points on to wooden shafts, as well as how to fine-tune your arrows and a variety of fletching techniques.
| June 30 | Toms River, NJ | $85 | Register Now! |
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Archery Fundamentals
Have you learned how to make bows, but still need to develop accuracy and proficiency in your shooting? This is the class you have been waiting for. Learn the proper manner in which to select, match, and tune your equipment so that it becomes an extension of your own body. To ensure you learn the essentials of proper form, as well as how to develop accuracy while shooting instinctively, you will participate in a variety of shooting situations, including simulated hunting scenarios.
Equipment will be provided, although students are encouraged to bring their own equipment, if available.
| May 29–30 | Portland, OR | $185 | Register Now! |
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| July 1–2 | Toms River, NJ | $150 | Register Now! |
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Bow Making: Bamboo-Backed Bows
The bamboo-backed bow is renowned for both speed and performance, as well as for its inherent beauty. If you have constructed your own self bows previously you may be ready for a new bow-building challenge, and if you've never built a bow then this method of blending primitive concepts with modern techniques is a great place to start. Over the course of this class you will go through the entire process of making the bow, from working down the stave, tillering, adhering the bamboo backing, and learning to make two different styles of bow strings. We will also cover some basic self bow shooting techniques, and you will take your completed bow home with you.
Bow staves and bamboo backing will be provided, and their cost is included in the class price.
›› This class is not currently on the schedule, but we'll let you know the next time it's offered. ‹‹
Bow Making: Self Bows
Transforming a simple piece of wood into a dynamic extension of one's self is a process that must be experienced to be understood. In this class you will discover the entire progression of constructing a bow, from the initial selection of your materials through final tillering, including how to make two different styles of bow strings. We will also practice some basic self-bow shooting techniques, and you will take your own, completed self-bow home with you. We'll discuss the best woods to use for bows, how to cut and season your own staves, and the differences between long-term and survival bows.
Bow staves will be provided, and the cost of the stave is included in the class price.
| June 27–29 | Toms River, NJ | $285 | Register Now! |
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Shooting the Longbow
This one-day class is a condensed version of the Archery Fundamentals workshop. Here, we will focus on developing proper form & accuracy in shooting, working at realistic hunting ranges and in true-to-life hunting scenarios. You'll also learn techniques you can use to continue your improvement when you get home, as well as how to tune your own equipment to get the best possible performance each and every time.
Equipment will be provided, although students are encouraged to bring their own equipment, if available.
›› This class is not currently on the schedule, but we'll let you know the next time it's offered. ‹‹
Survival Bows
Most long-term bows are made from wood that has been seasoned for many months, but in a survival situation, or one where you have no modern tools, how would you build a bow? Learn multiple effective methods for building expedient survival bows that are fast, effective, and can be easily made using nothing but stone tools and Stone Age technologies.
You will build and learn to shoot three bows in three days, which will be yours to take home with you.
| April 18–19 | Toms River, NJ | $165 | The date for this class has passed, but we'll let you know the next time it's offered. |
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