The Traditional Bowhunter?s Handbook?History, How-To and Practical Information for the Traditional BowhunterFinally, the definitive book for the novice and experienced traditionalist alike that covers all facets of traditional archery and bowhunting. As the Editor/Publisher/Founder of Traditional Bowhunter Magazine, T.J. Conrads is considered one of the leading experts on traditional archery today. Everything from the history of bowhunting in the United States to selecting, tuning and shooting a traditional bow, building arrows and bowstrings, to an in-depth look at bowhunting equipment is covered in this one book. In addition, there are numerous appendices, a glossary, and complete contact information for all traditional archery supplies, bowyers, fletchers and related manufacturers, as well as a complete list of all 50 states? fish and game contact information. There is more useful, practical information in this one book than you will find in over a dozen other books on the same subject. Cross referenced, indexed, footnoted and richly illustrated, this is one book every traditional archer should own. Forward by Glenn St. Charles.

From Field & Stream’s bowhunting experts and the authors of The Total Deer Hunter Manual comes the book that demystifies everything about bowhunting. From crossbows to high-tech compound bows to an old-fashioned recurve find it all, accompanied by tactics for every animal that can be bowhunted, in The Total Bowhunting Manual. With high-quality design and intricate detail, this manual is perfect for your tablet or phone. America’s best hunting guides bring you 261 field-tested tips, tricks and skills from decades of experience: · Shoot Better: With detailed exercises and advice for every kind of bow, this book takes you out on the archery range, into the woods, and onto the water with specialized drills and exercises. · Get the Gear: Bowhunting is a gear-heavy sport, and improvements are being made almost every day, but you need to find the right type, size and fit. Whether you want to hunt like Robin Hood or Katniss with historic gear or take to the trees with a high-tech, carbon fiber compound bow with all the accessories, these authors detail what you need. · Bring Home a Trophy: When people think “bowhunting” they think of deer but any animal that you can hunt, can be hunted with a bow. Find tips for taking down alligators, moose, birds, bears, caribou, turkey, fish and more; all the expert advice you need to go home with a trophy, not an excuse. Whether you’re preparing for trip of a lifetime or just want to extend your season and improve your technique, this is the book you need.

I can't really explain my attraction to the bow and arrow. I can't explain the pull of a camp fire either, or the ocean, or the open hills where you can see forever. It's just there. These things are in all of us I think, some vestige of our primitive past buried so deep in our genome as to be inseparable from what it is to be human. What we think of as civilization is a new experiment in the eyes of Father Time. Experts say that humans have been around for some fifty thousand years. We've been carrying the bow for maybe five thousand (atlatls and spears before that), and pushing the plow for maybe two thousand. We have been hunters forever. We are built to run, to pursue big game on the open savannas, to kill and eat them. With the dwindling of the Pleistocene mega fauna, mammoths and such, the bow became more important and indeed helped to make us who we are today. It still holds that attraction, same as the hearth. When I was a kid I would make crude bows from green plum branches, big at one end and small at the other. A discarded hay string would serve as a bowstring. My arrows were fat and unfletched and would scarcely fly more than a few yards, usually tumbling over in midair. The small creatures around our home were plenty safe. When I was about 12 or so my brother brought me two old Ben Person recurves he'd found at a yard sale. One was a short bow, probably no more than 48 inches and the other was more of a standard size. They both drew about 50 lbs if I recall. That fall happened to be a good year for cottontails around our little farm and I spent countless hours walking the fields and shooting at them as they busted from underfoot. Although I'd get several shots a day I never did hit one on the fly but I remember that fall fondly nonetheless. The pleasure of jumping rabbits and seeing the feathered shaft streaking toward them was a thrill I've never forgotten. I made my first "real" bow when I was in high school, after getting a copy of the Traditional Bowyers Bible in the mail (more on this in a moment). My first bow, a decrowned mulberry flatbow, broke within about 10 shots. The second held together quite well and is probably still around somewhere and capable of shooting an arrow, though it would probably draw about 70lbs. When I first started making bows I used the woods I had close at hand; mulberry, common persimmon, red maple, white cedar, etc. I'd probably made more than a dozen bows of various woods before I ever saw a piece of Osage. People often ask me where they can find a bow stave and, invariably, I tell them to use what they have close by. No matter where you live, you'll have something near that will make a bow. Go cut it down and get started. This book is an attempt to share some of what I've learned over my years of bow making. The Traditional Bowyers Bible series, as mentioned earlier, is still a great source of information. Why write another book on making wood bows you might ask? The simple answer is that there are so many ways of doing and explaining things. There are still unanswered questions and we'll cover many of them here. We will cover all of the most frequently asked questions, and lay out a simple plan that should guide you through the entire process, from finding a stave to stringing your bow and shooting your first arrow. Some of what you'll find here, you'll find nowhere else.

This guide to traditional bowhunting with a longbow or recurve combines the best of both worlds for beginners and veteran bowhunters. How-to chapters share hard-earned wisdom that will help you perfect your skills and get close to your game, while engaging stories tell of the author’s experiences hunting white-tailed deer in the east, chasing big game in the American West, and trekking to South Africa in search of Greater Kudu and other plains game. Throughout, the author highlights archery’s traditional spirit by exploring the history and craft of bowhunting and chronicles the challenges faced by today’s bowhunters in continuing their important role as hunter-conservationists. As a professional wildlife biologist, Ron Rohrbaugh Jr. also provides valuable information on wildlife ecology and behavior that is instructive for all those interested in increasing their success with archery tackle. Specific shooting techniques for hunting situations, ways to set up effective ambush sites for big game, and dealing with the stresses of “buck fever” The latest information on equipment and arrows, including the pros and cons of various bow styles and arrow shaft materials Advice on using the wind, hunting bedding areas, creating effective scent trails, and understanding why and how deer move Discussion of controversial topics, such as baiting and trophy hunting

The Way of Archery provides a detailed introduction to practicing archery in the traditional Chinese military style. It explains the basics of how to shoot using the Asian thumb ring: proper posture, training regimen, equipment, and avoiding pitfalls in shooting. The thorough translation and commentary (with original and new illustrations) provide a fresh and practical perspective on Gao Ying's 1637 archery treatise (which, itself, influenced generations of archers in East Asia). The authors themselves are active practitioners of Chinese archery, having spent an endless amount of time and effort vetting their understanding of this old manual and putting its ideas into practice. Through this process, the authors have been able to make this archery text accessible to modern readers. Not only will the reader come to understand the technical side of the Way of Archery, but will connect with the philosophy and spirit of the ancient Chinese warriors.

From the most trusted name in guns and ammunition comes this ultimate reference on bowhunting. The Shooter’s Bible Guide to Bowhunting offers everything you need to know about the sport and its gear, from its origin as a means of survival to modern gear. Compound bows and crossbows have undergone an explosive rise in popularity in recent years, due in part, Dr. Todd A. Kuhn explains, to complex socioeconomic, environmental, and biological factors. As expansive tracts of land vanish, many hunters can no longer pursue game with high-powered rifles. That, plus vast improvements in archery gear, has hunters flocking to compound bows and crossbows as alternatives. In the Shooter’s Bible Guide to Bowhunting Dr. Kuhn examines all things bowhunting and archery. Topics covered include: Compound, recurve, and traditional bows Arrows and broadheads Sights and rests Releases and triggers Quivers Tree stands, blinds, decoys, and other popular gear This exhaustive desk reference provides a never before seen look into the history and engineering of archery, theories and trends in game discipline, and, of course, an exhaustive catalog of archery equipment both new and traditional.