What Archery Equipment Do You Need To Start Hunting With A Bow?

One of the oldest forms of hunting was with the bow and arrow.  You can probably picture these hunters with a crudely curved bow and a plant substance or rawhide was used as the string.  Arrows consisted of pieces of wood with a point carved into them.  Eventually arrowheads were added to the arrows replacing the carved points.  Today, things have moved well past these tools of archery.  They may resemble them, but believe me, they are way more effective.

If you are just beginning to hunt with a bow and arrow, there are some important pieces of equipment you will need to have.  First and foremost is a bow.  There are longbows and crossbows.  Longbows are more in line with the traditional bows our forefathers hunted with.  These bows are made from a single piece of wood.  The bow is made to be approximately the height of the person using it.  This allows for an even draw on the bow.  The bow string is attached to each end of the bow and launches the arrow.  Bowstrings are typically made from linen, hemp or rawhide.  Arrows are made of wood and have a metal tip.   The rear of the arrow has a notch where it fits on the bowstring and fletchings, which are placed on the end to stabilize the arrow in flight.  Crossbows are the other bows used in hunting.  They are horizontal bows that shoot arrows called quarrels.  Whichever type of bow you choose, you will need to practice using it.  The bow and arrow requires more strength to use that you might think.  And you must have excellent stability.  Shaking during shooting the bow and arrow will definitely lead to missing the target.

You may want to look into getting a sight for your bow.  Yes, they have them.  The sight will help line up your shot.  It improves accuracy.  Another piece of equipment that is essential is a quiver or a belt to carry the arrows or quarrels in.  When you first start shooting a bow and arrow you will notice a bruising on the arm that holds the bow.  Many people tend to get this part of the inner arm too close to the bowstring and it gets hit when the arrow is shot.  There is an arm and wrist guard that you can purchase to help solve this problem.  The more familiar you are with your bow and arrow, the less this will happen.

These items are the main pieces you will need to start out.  There are many other accessories to try out. Check the archery supply at your local sporting goods store to see what’s out there.