Main Discussion Area > Shooting and Hunting
Switched to bare fingers.
JackCrafty:
As far as I know all Native Americans, except some Eskimos, shot with bare fingers. I don't think their fingers got sore very often, though, even with high-poundage bows. They didn't shoot a hundred arrows at a time like we like to do. They shot a few times a day and made each shot count. If you've ever spent the entire day making an arrow the old way, you can appreciate the technique of "shooting a few arrows every day for a month" rather than "shooting a hundred arrows once a month".
Kegan:
I know during the hundred year war archers used simple two-hole tabs. Later, when archery became a sport, and not a means or war, they switched to gloves for targets. Asiatic archers used thumb rings. But I think when it comes down to actual hunters, I think finger protection was a rareity. Look at some of the African archers- even using heavy bows they didn't.
sweeney3:
Interesting. I haven't spent much time making arrows the old way, although I want to. That is my next step. I do not doubt that it adds to your appriciation of the whole experiance. Even with the manufactured parts that I assemble (shafting, feathers, points, etc), I hate to ruin or lose one with a poor shot. I've been cutting shoots to dry and start making shoot arrows. It will be a bit yet till I do, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure I will want to make each of those shots count!!
zeNBowyer:
I would hafta disagree that american indians shot seldomly,
men in most tribes spent a majority of their time shooting and hunting, yes it was a real feat to make primitive arrows but then again that's what they did, no tv, no radio, lots of time, many of their games were activities created to improve the skill of the warrior, the bow was probably as important then as most people's cell phones are today:)
JackCrafty:
The topic of how much stone-age men shot their arrows, spears, atlatls, etc is an interesting one. The best example we have is Ishi...although we have observed many primitive tribes in recent years as well. In all cases the act of shooting is a lot like spending money.
Spending money is an important activity, but once we get the hang of it, we don't really spend much time playing games that teach us how to spend it better...especially if those games cost money. We get into a routine of make-money-then-pay-for-necessities and there really isn't much deviation from the pattern that we develop in order to survive within our little niche in society. The same is true for arrows and other ammunition that gets "spent" as it is used. The more you use them the more you spend...and the more you spend the more you have to make.
There are many other activities that take up lots of time, when living in a primitive way, that are very important to the warrior and hunter as well. Travel, finding materials, setting/checking traps, guarding borders/territory, making/drinking "funny" beverages, etc,....not to mention the task of chasing/courting/supporting women. ;D
Also, in modern times, if you consider how much soldiers actually fire their weapons when deployed to a combat zone you will see that they tend to be conservative. And when they have time off they don't usually go down to the firing range. Also, you don't want to be surprised and caught empty-handed because you spend it all at target practice. And if you have to make you own ammunition, well, then being conservative is a no-brainer.
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