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Outdoor Skills

Building A Wooden Longbow: The Essential Outdoor Skill

Course Overview

Discover the centering effect of shooting an arrow with a handcrafted bow you tailored yourself. You will start with a pre-cut stave of hickory and give it the desired shape and flexibility while working the wood with a drawknife, carpenter’s scraper and other traditional hand tools. You will also ‘back’ your bow with flax-fiber linen for strength. Class discussion includes design theory, different bow shapes, and the art of tillering a bow (getting it to bend correctly). As time and weather permit, students will practice shooting techniques on campus. Some previous woodworking experience is helpful.

Currently Scheduled Sessions


No sessions currently scheduled for this course.

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