by Kessie Carroll

Created on: January 20, 2009   Last Updated: March 20, 2011

Warning: bows and arrows, toys or not, are weapons. They can hurt people.

That said, every boy has wanted a bow and arrow at some point in their lives, especially when studying American Indians. They make great craft projects, and it's especially thrilling to show off how well you can hit a target with an arrow you made yourself.

To make a bow, you need two things: a bendable stick about two feet long, and a string. Native Americans used many different types of wood for their bow shafts, including ash, mulberry, birch, juniper, oak and walnut. These woods are flexible and can bend quite far without breaking, and what's even better, are commonly found in neighborhood yards.

Once a shaft dries out it's more liable to crack when you bend it. The drying process can be slowed down by peeling off the bark and rubbing the wood with a softened candle. The wax keeps the moisture in the wood longer.

Native Americans used plant fiber or animal sinew for the string. However, nylon string works just as well. Any sort of string that is not liable to snap under pressure can be used, as well.

To attach the string to the bow, cut a deep notch at either end of your stick. Tie a loop around the end of the stick, passing through this notch. This will keep the string from sliding down the bow shaft when you try to draw it.

Arrows are difficult to make, mainly because they don't fly straight if they are curved. Native Americans made theirs out of shoots from the same kinds of trees they got their bow material: ash, birch, chokecherry, and so on. A shoot is the new little tree that grows from the root of the big tree. They are also the new branches that the tree puts out in spring. Usually they grow quite straight for the first foot or two, making them good arrow material. If you live near a pond or a lake, cattail reeds also make great arrows.

Trim your arrow so it is nearly as long as the bow shaft, and cut a notch at one end so it will fit on the string. Try firing it a few times. It may fly straight, or it may not. You might want to consider adding some fletching.

Fletching is the name for the feathers at the end of the arrow. They help it fly straight. Indians used wild turkey feathers, but if those are lacking, try chicken feathers, or even pieces of paper. Tie or glue them to the arrow in a triangle pattern, and test fire it to make sure your fletching is even all the way around. If it is uneven, then your arrow will fly noticeably to one side.

Adding an arrowhead is the final step, but this makes the arrow even more dangerous than it already is. Consider adding a small lead fishing weight to the end, giving it a rounded tip. This adds the extra weight needed to make the arrow fly farther, without making it more deadly.

Crafting bows and arrows make a great project for a tween boy, or even a teen. Girls enjoy them, too. This interest can even lead to an interest in professional archery, or compound bow hunting. Or it may just wind up being a fun project. Just have fun! And never, ever shoot at a human being.

Reference: http://www.uiowa.edu/~osa/learn/ancient/archery.htm

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