The invention of gunpowder changed the battlefield forever and man was ready to improve his ways of waging war and killing food. Long before gunpowder was invented, a sharp stick propelled down vary was the top of ballistic technology. For thousands of years, survival archery was the only factor that helped man offer for his family and defend his lands.
In today’s modern world, using a simple bow and arrow might seem useless and obsolete. After all, we have an incredible type of guns that would do a much better job, than a simple bow or crossbow.
That might be true, but in a post SHTF world, a bow and arrow may be a must have weapon if you want to survive. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not attempting to convince you to give up your lead throwers and stick with just a bow and arrow. Guns have their place in a doomed world, but there’ll be times when survival archery will have a plus over firearms.
Whether you need to be completely silent, have run out of ammo or simply need to send a line over a high tree branch, it’s nice to own a tool available that can do all these things and even more.
For most of the readers, their first encounter with a bow and arrow was probably during summer camp and it most certainly didn’t include extended lessons that would improve one’s archery skills.
Survival archery as plan B
When given the choice of only carrying one weapon, let’s say the Glock nineteen or a compact crossbow, I bet that several of the readers will select the handgun in the blink of an eye. And they’re not wrong, given that choice; I would most likely do the same issue. However, one knows that emergency preparation and long-term survival is about always having a plan B. You have a backup set up already and most people have even a backup for our initial backup. Having access to a bow and a decent type of arrows is a great alternative means of hunting and defense.
I don’t want to get into a discussion regarding the pros and cons of survival archery. I believe it’s better if we explore the advantages of knowing how to launch projectiles down range without creating noise and why a bow (regardless its configuration) ought to be enclosed in your arsenal.
If you keep in mind summer camp, you should in all probability remember that archery is a great way to get children involved into developing their concentration and aiming skills. Survival archery, could be a great way to get your children involved into emergency preparedness and with the proper lessons, children can learn the way to contribute to the defense or the hunting needs of your family. Not to mention that it’s an excellent bonding experience and one of the few times when you can calmly discuss with them and teach the children some discipline.
Survival archery needs commitment and you need to learn regarding the techniques and equipment options. The advantage is that you can practice survival archery even in suburban or urban surroundings without drawing attention to yourself. You don’t have the same luxury when using a gun and in several jurisdictions it’s illegal to practice shooting in your backyard.
Survival Archery – They won’t hear you coming
The bow and arrow were the first, true stealth weapon and this characteristic will become useful in a world where you constantly need to stay below the radar. If you live in a exceedingly suburban or urban environment and bugging out isn’t an possibility for you, keeping a low sonic profile is vital. After you survive the first waves of causalities, you’ll need to defend your home ground or catch your next meal without making noise. Survival archery will be your main choice and it’ll ensure you keep your base camp protected and your plate full. If the world will go off the grid tomorrow, you’ll need to compete with whole groups of starving, unprepared and angry folks. Going hunting with a firearm when there’s so much competition around isn’t a good plan, not unless you want to share your prize. Using a bow and arrow will guarantee a stealthy takedown and you’ll be ready to return to your base camp without attracting any hostiles.
Survival Archery, more than meets the eye
When discussing about survival archery, one must understand that it’s not a talent that can be used just for hunting and defensive or offensive tactics. Survival archery is about skillfulness and regarding how one can use a bow and arrow below various circumstances.
The bow could be a versatile tool that can be simply carried (especially if you have a takedown recurve bow that can be broken down into pieces) and it’ll never run out of ammo. It was the first weapon, and using a bow and flaming arrow wasn’t only a war tactic. It was also used as a sign to reach others when in need.
You can also attach a string to an arrow and shoot it over a high limb or a gap. It’ll assist you get a rope out farther than you can throw it by hand. Attaching a string to an arrow is also a decent method of fishing and with a little practice you’ll be able to procure dinner.
Bows have a wide type of purposes and there are several configurations that one can use. This is why you’ll always find debates about which calibers are best for survival archery, what style of arrows you should use in a post SHTF world and other such topics.
I think that it’s a matter of personal preference and it all depends on what you’re comfortable with and what you needed it for.
Survival Archery – How about the many type of bows?
This is one of the most difficult questions and choosing a bow for survival archery is never easy. You have many bow types and there are a lot of models available on the market. Here are the types of bows one can chose:
Longbow
This is one of the oldest bow models and probably the simplest one to use. It is a long semi flexible plank of wood hold under tension by a length of string. When the string is drawn back the bow is put under increased tension. Releasing the string will cause the tension to propel the arrow. There’s nothing complex to it and you can even build it yourself (there are many tutorials on YouTube).
The Recurve bow
This is an upgraded model of the longbow and it has the basic shape of its predecessor. The difference is that the tips of the bow curls (recurves) in opposite direction. When the recurve bow is put under tension not only does the bow itself bend, but the recurved tips are also straighten out. When the string is released, the bow goes back to its original state with extra energy imparted to the arrow as the tips return to their original position.
The Takedown Recurve bow
Many survivalists and preppers say that this bow was born for them and it was designed for crisis events, to fit better in their survival bags. This type of bow, usually breaks down in three parts, plus the string, that can easily be packed away and transported more discreetly in the bug out bag. This is a bow that can be used by the entire family because it provides a great advantage: it has interchangeable limbs great for progressing in skill level. Your kid can use it to practice and when the lesson is over, you can change the limbs and use it for survival archery.
The Compound bow
When high-tech science meets medieval weapons, the compound bow is born. This is an ancient design brought to the next level using cams and pulleys to increase arrow speed while making it easier to draw. Not to mention that there are customizable accessories and parts that make this bow more accurate than its forefathers. Fiber-optic sights, stabilizers, string and limb silencers and anything you can name it. All these parts are meant to increase accuracy and ease of use. The downside of this high-tech bow is that you will need to perform regular tuning. This will require some education, guidance and practice, but once you learn it all, you will have a state of the art defensive/offensive tool.
The Crossbow
Those who are used to use a rifle and don’t want to make a significant change will most probably opt for a crossbow. In the last years, due to the “The walking Dead” TV show, there was a high demand for crossbows and it seems that this trend is continuing to ascend. When cocked, the crossbow is at much higher tension than any of the bows listed above. It can send bolts down range at incredible speeds and it’s the most lethal of them all. There are even crossbow that have the lower receiver of an AR-15 incorporated with the long-crossbow “upper” part. This improvisation made it possible to create a long distance sniper crossbow. When it comes to crossbows, there are so many models available on the market that it is almost impossible to choose one, without a proper research.
The Sling bow
This is the new “toy” out there and although it can be quite fun to use, it is advised to use it carefully. It is the most portable option of the bunch and it’s used mainly for taking down small game. The sling uses industrial elastic to send a wide variety of arrows down range. If you don’t want to spend money on it, you can make a sling bow at home. There are many tutorials online, teaching you how to do it.
Survival archery – How about the cost?
Perhaps the most compelling reason for adding a bow to your weapons cache is the price factor. Unlike a gun, you can find low-cost materials to make your bow and arrows. Some may argue that the homemade stuff isn’t as good as the name-brand gear, but if you do your homework, you can construct and effective make-do solution.
If you opt to try survival archery, you shouldn’t run and spend all your cash on the best gear there’s out there. You should first attempt surfing the web for cheaper solutions and trying Craigslist will turn up some great deals on models that were once the top. If you choose that survival archery is no for you, at least you’ll still have some money left in your pocket.
Survival archery – Let’s not forget about the arrowheads
While the arrows can be manufactured at home without a lot of trouble, making the arrowheads isn’t that easy. There are many varieties of arrowheads that one can use and the flexibility of using interchangeable arrowheads is a compelling reason to include a bow in your SHTF plan. Here are some of the arrowheads available on the market.
The bullet arrowhead
This is the simplest and least intimidating arrowhead there is. It is used mainly for target practice and some even use it for small game (very small and frail game).
The blunt arrowhead
This is a flat bulbous tip made of metal, plastic or rubber. This type of arrowhead is used to knock out small game that would be torn apart by other types of arrowheads.
The field arrowhead
This is a variation of the bullet head, but as you can see from its shape, it’s a little bit more aggressive. This type of arrowhead is used for target shooting as well and also for small game.
The broadhead arrowhead
This is the most aggressive arrowhead of the group, with razor-sharp blades designed to tear through the hide of big game. The size and number of blades may vary depending on the type of game you are after. These types of arrowheads are designed to be used for both defensive and offensive actions.
The fish arrowhead
This is pretty self-explanatory as how to use it and I was mentioning earlier about bow fishing. If you plant to try it, you will need this arrowhead. It has spring loaded barbs that secure the fish when you reel in the arrow, using the attached string.
The judo arrowhead
This is the most bizarre looking arrowhead of them all, but the design behind it has a precise scope. It has spring activated arms that catch leaves and grass so that you don’t lose the arrow. Those springs will prevent the arrow from burying itself in the brush or embedding itself in the soft ground. It is used to for shooting small game.
The snare arrowhead
This oddly looking arrowhead is designed to entangle a bird’s wings and bring it down. Although the loops at the edge of the arrow seem to, somehow defy aerodynamics, it does its job pretty good.
Survival archery is an alternative to using firearms which may put you in danger, rather than assist you eliminate it. You don’t need to hang up your guns and turn into an Apache after reading this article. Just keep in mind that this can be a good backup plan to your backup set up and you can provides it a attempt to see if is for you. Having a multitude of tools serving the same scope is always recommended and survival archery will always be there when ammo runs out.
