John's Adventures in Bowyery

I have been making wooden bows since late 1996. Click HERE to see some of my earlier efforts. The urge to do so started years ago when I saw a booth at a local Outdoors show that featured a bowyer practicing his craft. I don't know who it was but I was inspired. I had been bowhunting only a short time but became enchanted by traditional archery. But it wasn't until I became a regular on the Bowsite and then the Stickbow that I learned how many people were making bows and how much information about it was available. Through the efforts of Dean Torges, Troy Breeding, Ron Harris and many others, I started my quest. I purchased the Traditional Bowyers's Bibles. I bookmarked every website available and asked many questions of the Bowsite and Stickbow regulars. Through it all, I have heard nothing but encouragement and good advice from the traditional archery folks that I have come to think of as my good friends. I have several pages linked from here all trying to show some of the things I have learned.

Stalking a Torges Bow (January 2000)
This page is designed to show my steps and stumbles through creating a bow using the incomparable words of wisdom found in Dean Torges' book "Hunting the Osage Bow".

Stalking Tiller Live III

Stalking Tiller Live II

Stalking Tiller Live I

Ferret's Board Bow Instructions
Think you need lots of stuff to make a bow? Click here to find out that you don't!

"Too Cute"
Here's an osage selfbow made for my daughter Emily. It's 39" NTN and draws 20# at 18".

Splitting Osage Logs
Ever wonder how to split an osage log? Click here for the process I use.

Marshall Missouri Ozarks Selfbow Jamboree
Check out some pictures from the first annual

And here's the crew. I gave them a little demo of my bows and the basics on how to make them. Some donated went to Whitney (on the left in the blue sweatshirt), her brother (in the camo shirt and khaki vest next to Whitney) and Tim ( the last boy on the right) They seemed to like them :-)
Keep the faith!

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