Tiller, what about that spot,,

[stuckinthemud]

Dunno, I seem to remember Ishi said any stick can make a bow but few can make an arrow

[Yooper Bowyer]

Yes, but how long will that bow stick last? 

[Deerhunter21]

it only takes one shot to kill a deer

[Yooper Bowyer]

But it takes a lot of practice to be able to make that shot, and if the bow breaks the deer won't be impressed.

[Allyn T]

Well you guys have put me off bow making now, switching to baseball bats and chair legs, seems like the best use for wood : )

[Deerhunter21]

yes there is the practice that is needed to shoot a bow but i also believe they said this more to show the importance of the arrow than to say the bow doesn't matter.

either way, its a great story brad! thanks for posting it!   

[bradsmith2010]

just thinking about what we are doing and improving our process is great,, arrows and bows,,

[Pat B]

A well tillered bow with a perfectly matched arrow will always shoot better but it is the perfectly matched arrow that is the key.

[Pat B]

It's actually the nut behind the wheel. For example...years ago when NC Trad Archers had their trad shoot near Hickory, NC they started a primitive class. Like here, only string material was exempt. When we all came forward to start the round James Parker(he thought up the primitive class) was giving us the rules and someone asked him where his bow and arrows were. James ran down to the woods and came back with a sapling, some shoots and a hand full of pine needles and proceeded to hand straighten the shoots and tie pine needles in a spiral at the rear for fletching, pulled a string out of his pocket, braced the crude sapling bow and we were off. Guess who outscored everyone else...the master, James!

[stuckinthemud]

I loved the story and the different philosophies behind bow building it revealed; all are very valid and for me change with the purpose of each bow, whether a quick fun build, a learning experience or best quality gift. Personally, I feel like my fletching sucks and arrow building is where I think I need to focus my efforts, I have come to the conclusion that my bows may be ok but my arrows do not fly as far, as fast or as accurately as the bows deserve,

[George Tsoukalas]

...and the picture perfect tiller id not always the best choice for that stave.
"Jawge!"
My wife is calling. Y'all will have to figure that for yourselves.
Jawge

[bradsmith2010]

love that story bout the sapling,, wow, nice one,

[Fox]

I think everyone can agree that we should always be working to make a bow with the best tiller we can,., but it may take a long time to master that aspect of bow building, especially without modern methods.... the deer won’t notice the difference between the best bow ever made and a far from perfect amateurs bow... so long as the broad head is sharp, the arrow flies true, and finds its way thru the beasts ribs 

[bradsmith2010]

no the deer does not care about tiller for sure,, and on that day the arrow shoots through the deer, the tiller is perfect,,as well as the arrow,, cant improve much on that,,

[Fox]

no the deer does not care about tiller for sure,, and on that day the arrow shoots through the deer, the tiller is perfect,,as well as the arrow,, cant improve much on that,,