Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Josh B on February 27, 2012, 07:17:17 am
-
My son was standing beside me looking at the new posts yesterday and asked me if his bow was on the 'Puter'. When I told him it wasn't, he went and got his bow and stood there looking at me. I eventually caught on and we went outside and I snapped a few of him shooting his bow. I didn't manage to catch him at full draw ,but here is Gunner, 3 1/2 yrs old, with his Osage selfbow that I made for his 3rd birthday. It pulls a whopping 6# @ 14". Josh
-
I started Beau with about the same stuff at about 3,that is a good looking young man and good looking bow. I don't think you can start them to early and they pick up a lot quicker than most think. :) Love seeing that. :) My boy in 26 now and has loved archery and shooting a bow all his life,I think because of starting him early in life. :) :)
Pappy
-
That's too cool. I mde my kids bows as soon as I got interested. they were 12, 6, 3. oldest dont shoot( she swims) but the younger boys shoot.
-
I got my oldest son started around 4 yo with a PVC bow. After that I made him a red oak pyramid bow, and now he's shooting a Maddog longbow I won over on TG. My youngest son will be turning 4 in about a month and a half. He's shown some interest, so it's probably about time to find another section of PVC.
-
My grandaughter is almost 3 and she is almost getting to a point where I can get her to pull the bow, now I have to get her to pull it with an arrow in it. Great looking boy you have their and the bow is cool also. Steve
-
I think when the show interest more so than at a certain age. My oldest jumped on the wagon about age 10 the youngest about 8. Ron
-
I started my boys when they started to show some interest in watching me show. I think HUNTER was 5 or 6 and my youngest son BRIER I think he was 7 or 8. We, they helped built there own osage bows. I did'nt try straight out about any form or anything. Kids don't care. I'd take them walking out through the pastures and let them shoot away. All a kid likes to do is watch his arrows fly and there arrows stick in the ground.
-
don't remember on my boys but the grandkids all got a bow at around three, Levi is in kindergarten and runs to get his bow to shoot whenever i'm aroud, Bub
-
Ok after seeing this and most guys getting there little ones shooting around 3 I need to get my boy a bow made asap he is 2 1/2 in a couple weeks >:D He loves it when I pull the bows out he comes running but he doesnt have his own. His cousins and all the neighbor kids around here have bows and arrows and they are 4, 4, 5, 7 and 10 and when the weather is nice we have little shoots over here at my place or at a field near by. Sure is fun watching those kiddos enjoy archery!! Thanks for sharing the pictures!
Josh
-
I started my oldest son with a hickory self bow when he was three years old. 11# @ 18" and 52" long was the bow. My youngest has not started shooting yet.
-
Just remember not to stress form or accuracy. In fact, you will have your hands full trying to keep him from shooting at certain stuff. Don't be surprised if you find yourself fetching arrows for your budding flight shooter. The first year or two is about fun not form. Oh, BTW, a 1/4" oak dowel propelled by a 6 lb. bow will not only punch holes in vinyl siding, but go right through bathroom window glass. ;) Don't ask me how I know that. :-X :-[ Josh
-
Josh great topic. I started my kids on a cedar (juniper) limb bows. No tillering or anything. Just a scraped limb and a string.
Cipriano
-
My son is 5. And has a fg recurve 20@24" that he's shot since he was 3. I bought it for him when I first started bow making when he was bout 6 no old. Last week we went out in the yard to shoot. He ask me to put the arrow on the string for him. So I did and he had his most attentive shooting time ever. At least 15 min of shooting or fetching his own arrows. He has never paid that much attention to anything but TV before.
-
At least 15 min of shooting or fetching his own arrows. He has never paid that much attention to anything but TV before.
Thats great, my daughter is 5 and all she wants to do is watch TV.
-
Not all my post posted >:(
Josh, that's a quote and a story you need to save. That little one was really thinking about that. Great story and even better pics ;D
Cipriano
-
Josh great topic. I started my kids on a cedar (juniper) limb bows. No tillering or anything. Just a scraped limb and a string.
Cipriano
That takes me back. Cedar branches were my second step into archery. My first step was willow saplings. Cedar was ten times better. Even after all these years I still have a soft spot for ERC . I hope my children can look back at their first experiences with archery as fondly as I do. Josh
-
I started mine about age 3. I had a little bear recurve that was 15 lbs. Of course they only pulled it a little ways. My last one I made a hickory self bow for. Scary when I test fired it in the house(I know, dumb) at a box of papers. Serious cast for such a little bow.
I made arrows out of 5/16 ramen dowels from Ace.
My youngest is 22 now, and that little hickory bow still hangs in his room and he handles it every time he comes home from college.
All my kids kind of drifted to archery while in highschool, but gift bows from a good friend have them back in it again.
My middle one went to a shoot with me in Nebr at Halsey Forest(yes there are trees in Nebr.) When ever anyone shot and hit the target in any place he would shout with gusto, "GOOD SHOT!" I CAN still see him in little rubber pull-on boots and red shorts.
This is our Legacy. And Men, time with a dad who loves them and cares for them builds character and good citizens. Fathers are vital for leadership.
-
I didnt get a chance to start mine untiil he was 9. Thats when I met and married momma. He shot about 2 or 3 arrows from a Kodiak Mag and asked for his own wood bow. Now the little turd has 2-3 of his own wood bows!
-
I hear you on the 2 or 3 of his own. Everytime I'm in the shop working on a bow, at least one of my kids comes in and asks if I making it for them. My thirteen year old daughter actually asked me if that 76" Russian olive warbow was for her! Its a full time job just keeping them in arrows. I wouldn't trade it for the world though. Watching my kids learn and develop their focus and skill is something I will always treasure. Josh
-
3 something ? :D :D :D
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/th_004-2.jpg) (http://s34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/?action=view¤t=004-2.mp4)
5 something
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/th_001-38.jpg) (http://s34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/?action=view¤t=001-38.mp4)
-
;D ;D 8) Now that's cool! No need to worry about anyone walking over that one in a few years! She looks serious! Great form on her weaver stance to. Especially for 5 yrs old. Really cool! Josh
-
I've got a 7 and a 4 year old boy. Been buying youth bows since before the oldest was born. ;D They have both been shooting bb guns and throwing knives and shooting bows since about the time they could walk. Just lately have they both realy found enjoyment in archery. I think it's because they can pull the bows back a little further now. Both like to shoot the long shot up into the woods, but the 4 yo is now trying to hit the target like Papa. Pretty cool. The knife throwing has gotten a little more dangerous since they can both throw pretty hard now...watch out!! And w/ that said, let's remember not to leave them alone w/ these weapons. They arn't toys, just miniture tools for protection and sustinance. Keep it up all, dpgratz
George Carlin said something like this, "All the problems in the world stem from a poor Father/Son relationship." That's not exactly how it went, but close. Quoted from"When Will Jesus Bring the PorkChops".
-
I'm only 17, thank God i have no kids. But hey you guys should be proud. If i had a son i'd start him early too. Get them started young, they'll be killers by age 13 >:D haha just kidding. But yea i wish my father had any types of skills he could have passed down onto me. He was too busy being a businessman though. I'd rather have interesting life skills passed down than money. Thats just me though.
-
Awesome topic. I have a 2 1/2 year old boy that loves to help me make my bows. he always asks for a tool so I'll give him a little file and let him go to town on the other limb that i'm not working on. He also likes to floor tiller my bows. Ronan will grab a bow and bring it over to the carpet and start straining and grunting trying to bend it. He'll say "It's bending a little bit, Papa." or "It looks good, Papa. Just take off a little more wood"
I'm a Montessori teacher for young kids (3-6 y.o.) and the method is very focused on real, practical hands on activities. Children in our society are so deprived of these kinds of activities and it seriously detrimental to their development. Little kids want nothing more to be able to see the adults in their lives doing hands on, day to day stuff and then they want to get their hands on it and do it too. Think about what kids in a primitive society do all day. They hang around the adults in their group who are working on various tasks and projects. the kids grab whatever is at hand and imitate the adults whether it is pounding rocks, cooking and cleaning, making things or hunting and stalking. To the kids it's a game and serious work at the same time. It's how we were meant to grow and learn not plugged in to a TV or an ipad. What you guys are doing for your children by including them in bow making and shooting is a true gift to them. There will likely be no fonder memories in their whole lives. Anyway, off my soapbox and back to bows...
I'm planning on making some sort of self bow for Ronan for his 3rd birthday. I'm thinking about using a vinemaple bow that I had try to make for my dad but I broke it in the tillering process. there is plenty of wood there to make a little bow. I've just never made anything that small so it's a little intimidating. it's good to see some of the weight and draw length for your little guys. That helps me have something to shoot for.
-
Great shot and a happy looking little fella. I can imagine its pretty hard to make a bow that small and light yet still safe??
My little boy is 18 months so advice appreciated in making tiny man bows.
-
Dwardo, a 1 1/2" wide x 1/4" thick oak slat from the lumber yard or you can cut one from hickory or maple or whatever you want, 4' long 3" grip with 1 1/2" fades, cut straight taper to 1/2" tip's and sand, glue on tip overlays and shape the grip, cut the nock's and you have a bowthat he can shoot from 2-3 yrs old till 5-6, i backed the ones i made with cloth for a little saftey as young ones can be hard on thing's, fast and easy to make so if he brakes it you can have another ready the next day, Bub
-
around three yrs old, Bub(http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt320/bubncheryl/scan0001-1.jpg)
-
gun doc that's my kid no tiller beginer bow, when they get a little older they get a bow with lot's of scraping in them like these, Bub (http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt320/bubncheryl/blade021.jpg)
(http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt320/bubncheryl/blade022-1.jpg)
(http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt320/bubncheryl/blade001-16.jpg)
(http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt320/bubncheryl/blade004-12.jpg)
(http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt320/bubncheryl/blade006-11.jpg)
-
That is cool, bet all the neighborhood kids are jealous!!
-
I couldn't seem to do anything right introducing my son to hunting and such. He got mad when I killed birds and rabbits. When he was about 7 I had him watch while I slaughtered a goat, that went over like a ton of poop, turns out the goat was his "friend". He was ok with fishing and loves the outdoors just wants no part of hunting himself, has no problem with me or anyone else hunting, he did some time as a game warden and is really a stickler on ethics in hunting. He does seem to enjoy making beer and wine like his pop and we have always had a great relationship, we are just a bit different.
-
Dwardo, a 1 1/2" wide x 1/4" thick oak slat from the lumber yard or you can cut one from hickory or maple or whatever you want, 4' long 3" grip with 1 1/2" fades, cut straight taper to 1/2" tip's and sand, glue on tip overlays and shape the grip, cut the nock's and you have a bowthat he can shoot from 2-3 yrs old till 5-6, i backed the ones i made with cloth for a little saftey as young ones can be hard on thing's, fast and easy to make so if he brakes it you can have another ready the next day, Bub
Thanks Bubby, no such look for timber merchants in the uk and certainly none within 50 miles that have any decent lumber. I should be able to transfer those dimensions to a little ash or yew stave i have. Will start keeping alll of those staves that are too thin and short now i have a use :) Will get onto it!
-
Dwardo the real young ones can draw very little weight, can you get an oak board, any hardwood will work and just rip a 1/4" slat off of it, i think the draw on these little bows is 14# @ 22" and my grand kids drew them easilly, maybe there is a cabinit shop or maybe a school with a wood shop that you may be able to get some wood, or someone demoing an old house , i did post the spyderman bows if you need the dimension's, Bub
-
Dwardo the real young ones can draw very little weight, can you get an oak board, any hardwood will work and just rip a 1/4" slat off of it, i think the draw on these little bows is 14# @ 22" and my grand kids drew them easilly, maybe there is a cabinit shop or maybe a school with a wood shop that you may be able to get some wood, or someone demoing an old house , i did post the spyderman bows if you need the dimension's, Bub
Sorry Bub missed this post.
I have called every decent timber merchant for atleast 50 miles and no one does anything nice at all, just orrible softwood.
I have never seen a bow worthy bit of wood that i have not had to cut and season my self. Almost seems nuts that a machine sawn bit of wood can follow the grain enough to make a self bow.
I will call it "luck" that i have ruined enough good staves to leave enough wood for some very low lb bows lol
Just got to be very gentle!
Thanks again.
-
i wonder what shipping would be to you? bub
-
Looks about the right age to me ;)
-
gun doc that's my kid no tiller beginer bow, when they get a little older they get a bow with lot's of scraping in them like these, Bub (http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt320/bubncheryl/blade021.jpg)
WOW I need to upload my picture now, bubby,I have a picture of me at that age pulling an arrow from a deer the same exact way, the only differences are that there is a ray of sunlight shining on the deer and the deer is facing the opposite direction
here is the other pic
-
Deja vu all over again, eh young bowyer :laugh:, Bub
-
this is a picture with a grainy phone of a old grainy pic, ill try to find it on the computer... the better one will probably look more like the other one
-
I am going to be making a bow for my girls (5 and 3) since they have been begging me. ;D For arrows... will simple dowels work for a lightweight kids bow. I do not want to get fancy, expensive, or time consuming for kids arrows.
-
yeah they will work, just allways try to get good grain, Bub
-
yeah they will work, just allways try to get good grain, Bub
Yup... sounds good. The girls have been begging for a bow. Heck... the 5 yo was begging for a flintlock 2 years ago so that she could go and shoot a bear too. HA!!! This year there biggest fun has been helping me set and check beaver traps.
-
Just wondering, can anyone see the old picture that I posted, if so than yes it is Deja-vu all over again bub,
-
no pic here YB, Bub
-
Huh... Computers can't live with em CAN live without em
-
By the way bubby, how often do arrows sail over that fence behind the deer? ::)
-
Huh... Computers can't live with em CAN live without em
that is feaking scary :laugh:, almost exactlly the same pic, Bub
By the way bubby, how often do arrows sail over that fence behind the deer? ::)
not enough to keep the cats out of my yard >:D, Bub