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How to Make Your Own Bow and Arrow out of a Stick and Wire

Even though guns outperform bows and arrows in range, ease of use, and accuracy, the latter is still an effective tool, and knowing how to make one is a useful survival skill for professional hunters or camping enthusiasts. Although any bows and arrows made by a non-professional will have less durability and power than manufactured ones, making your own saves significantly on money and can be repeated in nearly any situation.

Things You'll Need

1 pliable large stick, 1-inch in diameter
Knife
Strips of leather
Wire
Wire cutters
10 knot-free sticks, each 2- to 3-feet in length and 1/2 to 1/4 inches in diameter
Tape

Instructions

Making the Bow
- 1
  Cut the large stick for the body of the bow. The length will vary by the height of the intended user: the proper height is between chest and chin level. The thicker end of the stick will be the bottom and the narrower end will be the top.
- 2
  Strip the bark off the stick using your fingers. Do not cut or whittle it off. Once done, set the stick in the shade to dry for 24 hours.
- 3
  Wrap leather or fabric strips around the center of the bow in order to form the handle. Add additional layers at the top of the handle in order to form a bump on which the arrow will be able to rest.
- 4
  Cut a notch on each end of the bow for the string. Cut each notch on the inside of the bow, keeping in mind that the bow will be held in the user̵7;s off hand. Each notch should be at an angle, as if there is a V from the edge of the bow to the user. Make the notch a quarter inch from the ends of the bow.
- 5
  Measure out and cut a length of wire that is roughly 12 inches longer than the bow itself. Use a timber hitch, also called a Bowyer̵7;s knot, to secure one end of the wire to the bottom of the bow. Make a slipknot in the wire so that it is 6 inches shorter than the bow.
- 6
  Attach the wire to the top of the bow. Bend the bow back and slide the slipknot into the top notch. If the wire is not taut, slip the knot back off the bow, undo the knot, and retie it lower down on the wire.
Creating the Arrows
- 7
  Cut the smaller sticks to a uniform length, between 2 feet and 3 feet.
- 8
  Strip the bark off the smaller sticks using your fingers or a knife.
- 9
  Tie the sticks into a bundle and set out in the shade to cure. The arrows will be usable in one day, but waiting 10 days is recommended for maximum durability. Straighten the arrows each day, as necessary.
- 10
  Whittle the narrow end of each stick into a point.
- 11
  Cut a very shallow notch into the back end of each stick for the wire to sit in. Wrap tape around this end to prevent splitting.

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