The History and Art of Archery
Some experts speculate that Neanderthal man had a crude method of propelling small spears with a string and bent stick 100,000 years ago. Cave paintings and archeological artifacts show that archery had become popular by 13,000 B.C. The bow and arrow, and its cousin, the crossbow, continued to be the most powerful of personal weapons until the fourteenth century when gunpowder was invented; then, the first projectiles fired by hand-held explosive devices were arrows.
The last time that archery played a decisive role in warfare was the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. After that, the bow and arrow was laid to rest as a weapon because firearms could shoot farther faster.
Today, archery is becoming popular again, both for target shooting and hunting. The National Field Archery Association says that there are over nine million archers in the U.S., over three million of whom hunt with bow and arrow. The number of archers is ballooning, thanks in part to actress Geena Davis, who almost made the Olympic team, and to perhaps the most visible archer in the world, rock musician Ted Nugent.
Many of today's archers use a compound bow, which harnesses mechanical advantage from pulleys and cables in order to help cast the arrow. But all across the U.S. and around the world, more and more people are returning to traditional equipment: longbows and recurve bows made of wood, or composites made of fiberglass and wood. Some traditionalists even replicate American Indian bows and arrows, tipping their shafts with hand-hewn heads of flint or osidian, which, incidentally, are as razor sharp as steel broadheads, and just as lethal.
Any bow can be equipped with a sight, but most traditional archers shoot the old-fashioned way — bare bow, trusting their instincts alone when aiming. Accuracy is developed through thousands of hours of shooting, as described in Eugen Herrigel's classic, Zen and the Art of Archery.
More than Just A Hobby
No one knows about the renaissance in traditional archery better than T.J. Conrads, the publisher of Traditional Bowhunter magazine, which sponsored the Oregon Expo. In l989, shucking aside the advice of those who told him not to, he launched his four-color, slick magazine to foster a community among the stickbow set, whom he felt were not getting their due respect. A decade later, Traditional Bowhunter www.tradbow.com) has evolved into a bimonthly publication of over one hundred pages with subscribers in 32 countries. It boasts sales of about 60,000 copies per issue.
There were fifty exhibitors at the tradbow expo. Most displayed handcrafted bows and arrows, plus the equipment needed to make your own. Others offered books about history and craftsmanship. Several traditional-archery state associations were represented.
As a speaker and bookseller, I had a chance to talk with a number of the attendees. These people were hunters but they wanted to talk about psychology, philosophy, technique, and craftsmanship far more than trophies. Sure, they take pride in their equipment, but stalking and woods lore instills in them an electric thrill.
This is not just a man's world. Roughly 30 percent of traditional archers are women. Several people quietly told me that traditional archery was more than just their hobby, it was their passion. One bowhunter was deaf, yet his skill was so refined that he had taken several big-game species without knowing if he made a sound in the stalk.
Master marksmen from around the country were showcasing their wares: Ben and Linda Graham from North Carolina and Bob Lee from Texas had come the farthest. I think Tim Meigs from Nevada had been building bows the longest — 41 years. You could spend up to $1000 for some beautiful custom-made laminated bows, but if you really wanted to get back to basics, you could spend the weekend with Bob Strunk making your own bows from scratch with a wooden stave and hand tools. About a dozen attendees did just that.
Learning to Use Weapons with Respect
These days, there is so much bad press about weapons' safety. What struck me about this event was that if you wanted to try out a bow, the bowyer would hand it to you, along with a handful of arrows, and say, “Go ahead.” Two seminar rooms in the Four River Conference Center had been turned into practice ranges, with high-school boys supervising. Over the weekend hundreds of people of all ages shot thousands of arrows. There were no accidents or injuries. Yes, there was plenty of potential for violence, but frankly, it was one of the most peaceful events I've attended in a long time.
When kids learn to use weapons with respect, they become more mature. Maybe if we taught more about weapons in schools, our schools would become safer places.
If you'd like to explore a new way to recreate, Traditional Bowhunter magazine carries a schedule of similar events, as well as articles on the craft of archery and a raft of hunting stories. There are a number of traditional-archery state organizations, and they are growing rapidly. The annual traditional shoot in Denton Hill, Pa., draws 6,000 people.
(This article can also be found on National Review Online.)
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