quickie bow and arrow

Survival Bow Making

The bow and arrow are effective hunting tools, because they increase the distance between you and your prey, bettering your chances of catching an animal. When in a survival situation, the ability to fashion a survival bow and arrows quickly and from the raw material surrounding you is a skill that is of extreme use, […]

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crawfish

Survival Hunting Tips

To endure the extreme conditions of a survival situation, animal fats and proteins must be eaten regularly, and survival hunting is an essential skill. Such situations are a drain on a person’s energy. Potentially inclement weather forces your body to metabolize calories at an increased rate to stay warm, and performing the physical tasks needed […]

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friction fire by bow drill

Notch Construction: Secrets of the Bow Drill

In real estate, they say there are only three important factors; location, location, and location. When making fire by friction, there are also three important factors; materials (type), materials (condition), and materials (preparation). As a child, I once used my dad’s electric drill to make fire by friction with a pine dowel rod and a […]

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stone tools in the making

Skills of our Ancient Ancestors

Here at The Immersion, we practice the skills of our ancient ancestors. We use these skills to better interact with the landscape and increase our ability to thrive in any scenario. Here is an example of some of the skills we learned this quarter. Stone Tools We spent a day down by the Tolt River […]

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coracle

How to Build a Coracle

Once humans developed a need to travel on water in order to fish, trade, and explore, cultures worldwide created lightweight boats consisting of the skin of an animal stretched over a light frame of wooden poles or strips. One such boat is the coracle. This is a boat of the British Isles and is varied […]

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How to Make a Bow and Arrow Part 1

I remember the first time I tried to make a bow and arrow. There was a wind storm and many branches were down from the large black oak trees in my backyard. I picked up a stick and ran to get some string from the house. Then I looked for a shorter, straight branch.I took […]

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How to Make a Bow and Arrow Part 2

Miss Part 1? Go here to read the first article. Welcome back. Thanks for joining me once again. As you can see, bowmaking can be complex. That said, it is a craft that is well worth learning. Imagine shooting a bow that YOU made with your own hands. It is a feeling that cannot be described. Learning how […]

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How to Make a Bow and Arrow Part 3

Miss Part 1? What about Part 2? Things are getting interesting. Here’s an update of where we are in the process of how to make a bow and arrow. Our bow: is fully dried has an ultra-smooth back is starting to bend on the top and bottom limb This is a good place to be. We’ve laid out […]

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How to Make a Bow and Arrow Part 4

In Part 3 of How to Make a Bow and Arrow, our bow tips were flexing evenly and consistently to a distance of at least 6 inches. That allowed us to string our bow. It’s important to string your bow while there is still wood to be removed. On my first bow, I kept whittling down […]

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Bowmaking Basics

I remember making my first bow as a kid. I found a branch on the ground under the Black Oak trees that grew in our yard. There was a windstorm the prior evening and branches were everywhere. I found one with a bend and tied on a string. Then I grabbed a smaller, straighter branch. […]

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Wilderness Awareness School