How To Make A Survival Bow In A Few Steps

Being adequately equipped for emergencies is of paramount importance. This is when possessing specific survival skills can be a lifesaver. The ability to construct a survival bow exemplifies such indispensable skill that could significantly impact your survival outcome.

As opposed to conventional weapons, a bow stands as an invaluable tool as it extends the gap between you and your target. Stealth, a crucial survival element, is another key attribute of a bow. The instructions presented here aim to provide you with the requisite knowledge to fabricate your own survival tool. Integrating these steps with some bow hunting tips can prove useful in the most unpredictable circumstances.

Picking The Best Wood

The very first step in your procedure is selecting the right wood for your bow. The best pick should be sturdy but not rigid. Therefore, when it comes to choosing wood, your ideal choice would be from hardwood. Some examples include Osage orange, black locust, beech, hickory, maple, yew, and Ash among others. For those who may be challenged identifying their trees, here is a criterion you can apply to come up with the best choice.

Take a small twig the size of your pinky finger. Bend it to some extent and allow it to snap back. As you do this, observe how it responds. Is it quick or sluggish? Next, bend your twig into a c-shape and see if it breaks or it remains intact. Lastly, break it. You will know if it is of high quality by how it breaks. If it snaps easily in two, it is of poor quality. If it fails to break completely but instead kinks, it is an ideal choice.

Parts of Your Bow

Comprehending the suitable type of wood for your bow holds imperative significance. The subsequent crucial step involves choosing an outstanding bow stave, a unique piece of wood essential for the weapon creation process. You can achieve maximum results in bow crafting by using a superior quality bow stave.

  • Straight
  • At least 5 feet long and 2 inches thick
  • Without side branches, knots or cracks

Next, you need to figure out the belly, back, and handle of your bow stave. How to do this;

  • Set the stave on the ground upright and hold the top loosely with one hand
  • Push the middle of the bow lightly and allow it to rotate revealing the slightly curved part
  • The inner part of the curve makes the belly
  • The outer part of the curve makes the back

Procuring the bow’s handle mandates measurements from the core of the stave. Draw a three-inch mark on both sides of this midpoint on the stave. The space nestled in these markers will serve as the handle of your bow.

Shaping Your Bow

At this critical juncture, your focus pivots to molding a perfect curve for your bow stave. Place the bow stave facing down, using one arm to extends it outward gently while the other directs a similar force from the bow handle’s belly side. Monitor limb flexibility, gradually chipping off the resistant sections and maintaining the flexible parts. Keep in mind, the focus is solely on the belly side during this process.

Delicately whittle the wood until a consistent flex is evident in the bow limbs. The finished product should bear resemblance to a bow that presents a parabolic curve upon flexing.

When you are satisfied with your bows curve, you need to carve small notches on the tips where you will tie the string. You do not want your bow cord sliding off when you aim. Therefore, cut a 45-degree notch not too deep on the top and bottom side of the limb ensuring not to touch the back.

Stringing Your Bow

Before attaching the bow cord, meticulous selection of the ideal string is necessary. Potential materials include Rawhide, sinew, nylon rope, milkweed, dogbane, yucca, twine, nettle, among others. Stiff synthetic cords provide good utility, while elastic cords may negatively affect bow power. When stringing the bow, ensure a minimum distance of five inches between the bow cord and handle.

Upon successful completion, equipped with a set of useful arrows and bow hunting tips, you can embark on your maiden hunting expedition. An exceptional hunting rangefinder can optimize your targeting and shooting precision while maintaining a harmless distance from the target. Enhance your bow’s longevity by applying oil, smoothing the belly, checking its pull strength, or readjusting the bow – unless it is currently required for immediate survival.

Author Bio

Kevin Steffey, the founder of Deer Hunting Field, is a passionate hunter and freelance writer. His free time is often spent in fruitful discussions about deer and their behavioural patterns online. More than anything, his goal is to impart knowledge and education about hunting to a broad audience.

PrepperWebsite.com has been live since September 2011, we specialise in both expert prepper guides, and a daily curated feed of the best prepper content online.