The Primitive Bowyer

The Primitive bow making course is our premier archery course and this course will teach you how to build a bow for long term survival skills.

Primitive bow building is a must have skill for all survival because it is by far the most effective weapon you can make for taking large and small game.

There is no more effective primitive method to take small game than with a well built longbow, and having these skills means that anywhere you find yourself in the world, you will be able to build a functional bow capable of taking any sized game.

These bows are functional survival tools that are capable of taking down the largest game in North America.

The primitive bow making course will teach the beginner student how to create a longbow from scratch with primitive materials and limited tools.

You will literally transform a tree into a beautiful and functional tool that will give you a lifetime of enjoyment!

​We will use Aspen trees, which can be harvested on site.

You will not need to purchase a stave.

If you wish, you may order a hickory, Osage or other stave from other sources but we will not provide you with these woods.

Aspen trees are a softer wood, which will speed up the carving and learning process but still apply the same techniques for if you wish to construct other bows in the future.

If you bring a stave and break it during this learning process, we cannot replace it. If you break your Aspen Stave we have many resources to replace it with.

​The course will take place over 2 days and from the first morning you will begin roughing out your stave and getting it to its rough dimensions.

The second day you will begin tillering and will finish out the longbow.

If properly cared for and constructed you may get a lifetime’s use out of your primitive bow.

Water will be provided and food is your own choice.

We recommend quick field expedient meals such as our Camp Ready Meals or MRE’s.

They can quickly be made at our primitive camps and won’t slow down the learning process.

Our camp ready meals are the healthiest option on the market.

You can ship these meals to the course location if you don’t want to carry them. We will store them until you arrive.

There is also a Walmart and several local eateries within close drive!

Minimum Recommended Equipment: Fixed blade knife preferable a mora style knife, outdoor clothing, boots, overnight camping gear, small backpack, leather gloves or work gloves. Check Recommended items list for more details!

Optional recommended items include farriers rasp and draw knife.