One of the nice things about making atlatls is you have a use for what remains of bows that explode
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Seriously, it is really relaxing work compared to making a bow, and there are myriad styles and examples from all over the world you can base your work on. A survival atlatl is as simple as finding the correct branch with a smaller branch to act as the spur, do a few minutes of whittling, and you are in business.
I don’t live in an area that cane grows in naturally (chilly, rocky New England), so I get mine from a local garden store. The cute girl behind the counter probably was wondering why I kept coming back for so much of the long 6’ stakes (
he’s really into tomatoes?), so I finally explained that I was making atlatl darts. I got that look. I’m sure you are familiar with it. Her admiration for me as a gardener evaporated, but that is cool, as I am married.
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Dane