The Sharptail Back Quiver

 

Here's the newest edition to my line of Quivers.  I designed the "Sharptail" for those of you wanting a tough, firm, but soft quiver, with large capacity for field shooting, 3D shoots, stump shooting, or if you're like me, bird hunting; pheasants, Ducks, Geese, Grouse or what ever kind of winged creature you feel led to pursue.

The quiver pictured is Buffalo over a full Bull hide liner with an Elk Hide Collar, adjustable strap.  Full triple layer broadhead protection.  This quiver is all handmade and stitched to last a life time it is simple, functional and of the highest quality.

check it out at www.cowichearchery.com

Osage Bow and Elk Hide Quiver

I accepted an order for this left hand Bow and Quiver set with self knocked arrows but never got paid for it so it's for sale.
The quiver is Elk hide over a softened Bull hide liner with Antler buttons and medicine bag.  The Bow is of Cherokee design.  Osage riser and lams with Bamboo core; Moradrillo overlays. 64"nock to nock, 42# @ 28"  Left Hand. $1000.00 + shipping and handling.  SOLD
www.cowichearchery.com

The Origin of the First Nation Bow - A Tale of the Abenaki

My AncestorWahunsonacok father of Pocahontas

"THE CREATION OF THE BOW AND ARROW"

From the Abenaki, (Real People) also known as the Wôbanakiak, (People of the Dawn land)

One day, a hunter was out looking for game. Suddenly out of a bush came a great black bear. The hunter had only his spear and his knife to protect himself.

- "Awassos", said the hunter, "I have not come here to harm you so I will leave you in peace".

But the bear, Awassos, had another plan and started to walk toward the hunter. The hunter, fearing for his life, decided to turn and walk away. The bear knew he was stronger than the man and soon started to pursue him.

To protect himself while running, the hunter turned his spearhead behind him. Seeing a thick bush he ran through it hoping that the branches would slow the bear.

As the hunter ran, he realized that his spear was caught on a vine along one of the bushes. In a desperate attempt to free the spear, he pulled on it with all his strength.

Suddenly, just as the bear caught him, the hunter lost his grip and the spear flew towards the bear. The vine became a natural sling.

To the hunter's surprise, his spear struck the bear in the chest, inflicting a mortal wound to the animal.

- "Iahi!" cheered the hunter.
- "Wliwni, Kchi Niwaskw!"
- "Thank you, Great Spirit, for saving my life, and providing food and clothing for me and my family."

Giving homage to the Great Spirit, he realized that a new weapon could be made.

- "Enni!" said the hunter, as his wonder became greater.

Instead of using a tree, he could take a branch from a tree and instead of using a vine; he could make a string from milkweed to make the new weapon.

The hunter gave homage to the Great Spirit for giving him this new aid to his hunting.

And this is one story explaining how the bow and arrow were created!

Collected thanks to Joseph Bruchac, Abenaki storyteller.

Lakota Stealth Quiver

Lakota Stealth Quiver

For those of you interested in the Stealth Quiver:

There are plenty of options but they all depend on what you want and what you're willing to pay.  I only use the best leather I can find and generally materials run about $75.  I line the quiver with an extra layer of leather and the point end of the quiver is  tripled in thickness to insure Broadhead safety. 

Generally, I use oak tan cowhide but have built them with other leathers such as Moose, Elk, Goat etc, if I can find it in an appropriate thickness.  Those leathers are very expensive.

Another option if using the oak tan is to have it dyed.  I use a quality leather dye in a color of your choosing. Most like a dark brown or chocolate color.  The quiver is double laced with synthetic sinew, by hand.  The Quiver easily carries a dozen Broadheads.

All in all it is high quality through and through and I wont skimp on materials.  It's got to be the best or I wont build it.  There's about ten hours of labor in one.

Minimum price for Oak Tan would be $160.00.  That said, if you want one, let me know and I'll get on it.  I'll need payment + shipping before I ship.  I'd have to know where you are to determine shipping, packaging, and insurance.

www.cowichearchery.com 

Flemish Twist Bowstrings - Why?

Why use a Flemish Twist Bowstring.  And no it's not just because they look cool.

I've built bows and bowstrings for over 50 years and I'll tell ya straight up why many bowyers prefer the endless string over the Flemish String.  They make the endless string because it's easier and cheaper to build.

Now, they will give you all kinds of reasons, they will even invent reasons to create a buyers market for their string, bottom line, they build them to make money.

The beauty of the Flemish string is in it's purpose.  That is, it gives you the ability to adjust your brace height.

 Brace height

Being able to twist your string, (not reccommended with an endless string) Allows you to fine tune your bow to your shooting style, arrow spine, and bow efficiency and quietness.  With most Flemish strings, 3 twists will alter brace height by 1/4" up or down.

This allows you to have more leeway in the arrows you shoot.  Brace height is the most important element in tuning a traditional bow for quiet and consistent performance.

Remember, marketers want to sell stuff.   Think twice before you believe anything they want to sell, I mean tell you.

I have a string build along on my website for those of you interested in building your own Flemish String.

www.cowichearchery.com

Rudolph, A Christmas Message

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen., But do you recall? The most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Had a very shiny nose.

And if you ever saw it, You would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names;

They never let poor Rudolph Join in any reindeer games.

 
"Then" one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say,

Rudolph with your nose so bright, Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?

"Then" how the reindeer loved him

As they shouted out with glee, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,

We live in a world that rewards and elevates people based on what can be seen or in some cases “not seen” on the outside.

On a recent television program, I listened as a mother, a very beautiful and glamorous one, spoke to her daughter and said something like this. “We have to work hard to look as beautiful as we can, after all it's the part of us that matters the most; it's much more important than what's on the inside.” Now it was meant to be humorous in it's context but it really made a statement about human wisdom and the reality of modern life in America didn't it?

Now old Rudolph had an aberration. He had a great big red shiny nose. All His life the other reindeer, the “perfect ones” made fun of him. They wouldn't let him join in any of their “games.”

Can you relate to this scenario? Do you know someone who can. Isn't this the reason so many children are bullied at school. Many are overlooked because they have what the “perfect ones” call an aberration.

But as we are told in Psalms 139, “We are all fearfully and wonderfully made!”

The truth is God designed each one of us for something only we are equipped to do. The secret to life is to discover what it is you and I were designed for.

An example, a Lamborghini is a rocket ship on the road, but it doesn't make a very good boat does it?
Or, put a fish on land; it is helpless, put it back in the water and it's genius becomes apparent, doesn't it?

Now, when just the right time and circumstances came and Old Santa realized it was too foggy to drive his sleigh, then Rudolph's unique design became apparent to all!

Then, ah yes, then, How all the other reindeer, (the perfect ones), loved him. (I love it when “Then” comes don't you?)

As a very wise man said to me one time, “Be careful who you slight on the “way up,” you might meet them again on the “way down.”    "The Lord gives and He takes away."

Merry Christmas!

Jesus Loves You!

The Hard Way

 Art Young and his Lion

My love affair with longbows began back in the '50s I had rode an old horse down to my Uncle's place up on Cowiche Creek.  He lived in the mountains by himself all his life.

He had an old longbow made from Yew he had harvested up near Mt. Rainier.  He brought it out to show me.  Strung it up and handed it to me. 

Try as I might, I couldn't draw it.  He told me it drew 100lbs.  He laughed and laughed at my efforts.  Not laughing at me, but just having fun.  That day began my love affair with the longbow. 



I remember when the compound appeared on the scene.  I had just come in from a Mule deer hunt on the breaks of the Columbia river.  In those days it wasn't unusual to see 2-300 deer every day.  I had gotten a 3x4 muley buck and stopped by the archery shop to show him off a bit.  They had  one of the first Jennings compounds.  Didn't know what it was at first.  I thought it was a joke.



Well, that next year, there were 30 of those things being packed around in my hunting area.  Where prior to that, you rarely saw any one hunting with a bow, there were people every where.  They were flinging arrows at deer and elk at more'n a hunderd yards!  They said, this compound is great, now we have a whole nother month added to rifle season to kill something.  Wasn't about getting close, wasn't about the art of hunting, now it was about killing...  Still don't know why they call those things bows!?  Aren't they a machine?

I've always loved archery.  Everything about it!  It's inspired my imagination for over 50 years.

Our sport has changed much.  Most of the change I don't like, and I guess the reason I want to write a book at this stage of my life is with the hopes that somewhere there is a young boy or girl who might see in it the things I have seen and enjoyed all of my life.

You see that's what true Archery is, it's a heritage, a legacy, a connection to the good part of the past.  It tests and challenges you every time you string up and shoulder your quiver.   Just like it did that day so long ago that I tried to pull that 100# Longbow.
It can never be completely mastered!

Modern Archery, compounds are just about bolting on the latest lazer device.  You don't need any skill really.  I see them as being the sign of a lazy person with no real desire to know what they are made of.

Well, maybe it's too late, maybe no one cares about any of that stuff any more.  But maybe there is one somewhere who does. So for that one, I'll write a book for him or her, so that when I'm no longer here, they will know I passed this way.  "The Hard Way."