Making the Bows
This is the process of how I make the bows. We use bodark from a landowner's farm land. The owner of the farm land asked us to remove the bodark from his land, for his cattle. Thorns, from the bodark limbs, get stepped on by the cattle, causing infections to their hooves. This allows us to harvest for bows, and to help the farmers protect their herd.
Clearing branches
removing broken limbs
Depending on the size of the log
I can make 3-10 bows on each log
Tools I use
for harvesting
After splitting staves
with my son Jerrod and my friend BIll
Staves
harvested staves
Staves
harvested staves
Tools of the Trade
Draw-knifes
Debarking
removing sapwood with draw-knife
Passing Tradition to my son Johnny
...also to my son Jerrod
Bows
Me and My Son shooting 85 yards at Cornstalk stack at the other end.
Cherokee Cornstalk Society Original Founding Members
Me shooting my son's bow at 90 yards.
The beginning of my YouTube channel
Different styles of bows I make
Playing Cherokee Indian Marbles
Traditional Games Demonstration
Stay Tuned for more to come....