DIY: Small Game Bow
By Troy R. Walker
DIY: Small Game Bow
Troy R. Walker
Copyright 2011 by Troy Walker
Smashwords Edition
Disclaimer: The tool constructed in this article is not guaranteed to be effective or long lasting and is meant to entertain.
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to ridding crows, squirrels, raccoons, or other pests, then a small game bow may be just what you need. You can make your own small game bow for free if you have the skill and materiel. Fortunately, the skill can be acquired through this e-book. The materials needed for this project are a pocket knife, hack saw, vice grip, and live tree saplings.
The first thing you need to do is find the correct tree. It should be no larger than 2 ¾ inches around (I have found a good way to estimate this is that the bark is smooth but not green) and about 50 inches tall (minimal), once you have found the tree, cut it down with the hack saw and bring it to your work space. Important, do not remove anything from the tree yet.
Once in your work space, break off the branches jolting off of the main trunk, if you picked the right sized tree the branches should break off effortlessly. Once the branches are removed, place the tree in your vice grip, if you hear a crack, you put it in too tight, start over. If no crack is heard, continue by breaking the very tip (top 3 inches) off the tree. Then measure 48 inches from the top of the trunk, and make a notch in the wood with your knife to mark the measurement. Then use your knife to strip the bark off the tree, but keep the bark. Before you start stripping the bark, if at all possible, you need to take the bark off in strips about the length of the tree or you won’t be able to string the bow later. Once the bark is cleared off, use the hack saw to cut on the mark made earlier and keep the 48 inch piece.