Is this an ethical point to hunt deer?

[sleek]

I have been trying for a while to make a hunt worthy point. I get something that looks close and snap it in half, where i am not even working on it most the time. I do better with shorter pieces for that reason.

[iowabow]

I think you are doing a good job at learning to knap. If you do a little more you should be able to extend the length and have a better point for hunting deer. I think you have the skill to make a point more along the lines of 3 to 1 ratio. Your point would be more a style used to take smaller game. This is just my opinion others may have a different point of view.

[sleek]

I appreciate the reply. I will just keep on then. My biggest problems are snapping them and thinning them.

[iowabow]

I appreciate the reply. I will just keep on then. My biggest problems are snapping them and thinning them.

Yep you and everyone that has traveled this path but if you can make that point you are well on your way.

[Redhand]

I use to snap a lot of points. Eventually I got the feel of how to hold/brace the point with out snapping keep at it.  And soon you will be a point making machine.

[Chippintuff]

I see nothing deficient in that point for hunting deer. It looks great to me. The tiny "bird points" have been found at buffalo kill sites. All it takes to kill an animal, big or small, is a cut through something vital. My OPINION is that the size of the point depends more on the size of the bow than on the size of the game.

WA

[aaron]

I have killed only one deer with a stone point. My points are longer . A short point like yours is stronger, but longer has more of an advantage in cutting. Mine are about 1 inch wide, 2 inches long, and as thick as the arrow. Perhaps even more important than that is sharpness and arrow tune. Obsidian makes the sharpest point, but you have to get good at the final sharpening process. You cant really tell from a picture how sharp it is, but the edge should be as straight as possible and with no leftover grinding marks, crumbled sections, or other dull areas. Getting the right spined arrows for the weight of the head will ensure that the arrow is traveling straight into the animal, not with its tail end wagging one way or the other. Only you can decide when you have an ethical combination of gear and technique.

[aaron]

Also, with that style of notching, the ears behind the notches need to be just as sharp as the whole blade..especially if they stick out like on yours.

[JW_Halverson]

I see nothing deficient in that point for hunting deer. It looks great to me. The tiny "bird points" have been found at buffalo kill sites. All it takes to kill an animal, big or small, is a cut through something vital. My OPINION is that the size of the point depends more on the size of the bow than on the size of the game.

WA

Then again, think about how hard it is to track a 1,500 lb animal that looks and is as big as a VW Beetle on the treeless prairie where it is so flat you can watch your dog run away for three days! 

[sleek]

Thanks guys. Jw, I love that expression.

So, i will make certain the ears are sharp ( they arent ) and i need to get rid of the zig zag pattern on the edge if i understand correctly? Thats how you sharpen them?

[sleek]

I foind a broken piece of really beatuful tile on the beach when I was in Charleston. I noticed some of the scaring on it and picked it up for later to try and knap. Id give an osage bow for a bucket of this tile. It knapped sooo beautiful for me. I am proud of this point. Hope to get a little red on it that isnt my own sunday I feel this one is sharp enough.

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