Nature Bulletin No. 593   February 27, 1960
Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Daniel Ryan, President
Roberts Mann, Conservation Editor
Richard Becker, Naturalist

****:BOWS AND ARROWS
PART TWO: ARROWS AND ARCHERS

Archery, and hunting with a bow, are sports increasingly popular in this 
country. Bows and arrows are still used by primitive tribes, such as the 
pigmies in Africa and the aborigines in South American jungles, who 
frequently tip their arrows with deadly poisons. The warlike Indians of 
the Great Plains used bows and arrows long after the introduction of 
firearms. Loading an old-fashioned musket took too much time and was 
difficult for a brave on a running horse. After repeating rifles appeared, 
they and cartridges for them were greatly prized but hard to get.

Like most Indians, the plains tribes made one-piece arrows from 
straight shoots of young trees or shrubs. Species such as green ash, 
black cherry, choke cherry, gray dogwood, bearberry, and willow grew 
in river bottoms, on the prairies, and in the foothills. The eastern 
woodland Indians could select from a greater variety including hickory, 
maple, ash, the cherries, the dogwoods, alder, and arrowwood 
vibernum. Birch arrows tend to warp and become inaccurate.

In general, the length of an arrow was governed by its purpose and the 
length of the bow. Those used by the Blackfoot, Sarsi, Dakota (Sioux) 
and Cheyenne averaged about 25 inches, although Sioux arrows for 
killing buffalo were shorter. Those made by the woodland Indians were 
longer because they hunted on foot and used longer bows.

A good arrow had a standard value similar to that of a dressed buffalo 
hide, a beaver pelt, or our dollar. Among the Crow Indians, for 
example, an average horse was worth 10 good arrows and the purchase 
price for a wife was about 10 horses. To make an arrow required a day's 
work and ordinarily each brave made his own, especially his hunting 
arrows which were retrieved from dead game and used repeatedly. 
Some individuals were exceptionally skillful and for a price, perhaps a 
feast, could be hired to make a bundle of war arrows -- each decorated 
and bearing the owner's brand.

Woodland Indians commonly bound a bundle of shoots with thongs and 
hung them over the lodge fire for several weeks to season them. After 
being sanded they were straightened: usually by greasing and heating 
the crooked places and then holding each shoot in a straight line until it 
cooled. The plains Indians straightened and rounded a shoot by drawing 
it through a hole drilled in an antler or horn, and by rubbing it between 
two grooved stones.

To control its flight and accuracy, an arrow was fletched with stiff tail 
feathers from eagles, hawks, owls or turkeys. Many tribes attached three 
feathers; others used only two, or even one. Sometimes, to give a 
spiraling flight to an arrow, the feathers were twisted a half turn around 
the butt of the shaft. Arrows used for shooting birds, small game, and 
fish had small "bird points" or none at all. Those for warfare and 
hunting big game had large sharp arrowheads -- fashioned from flint, 
obsidian, horn, antler, or even bone -- attached to the tip with sinews. 
After the white men came, iron was commonly used.

Modern bows and arrows are far superior to any used by the Indians or 
by Robin Hood and his merry men. Many parks have archery ranges 
(some indoor) and teachers, sponsor archery clubs, and conduct 
tournaments for boys and girls, young men and women, and old folks. 
Boy Scouts are being taught to make their own bows and arrows, and 
how to use them. Most states, including Illinois, now have special 
seasons for hunting deer and other game with bows and special arrows.

Archery has become an exciting pastime for young and old.