How Bow Hunting Works

It's easy to imagine our human ancestors as big dumb animals, but by the Late Sto­ne Age, humans were using fire and making advanced tools. At some point, the bow and arrow entered into the mix. The oldest known arrows were found in Africa and were dated to the upper Paleolithic period (Late Stone Age, 40,000 to 25,000 years ago). Between 25,000 B.C. and 18,000 B.C., humans used wooden arrowheads and then progressed to fire-hardened stone and flint with feathered shafts.

Archeologists and historians have discovered bow and arrow use in many countries:

Some additional interesting dates show the progression of the use of bows and arrows across the globe and the U.S.:

Most people know that Native Americans were using bows and arrows throughout their history, but it was more than their tools that made them so successful. Read on to learn how Native American skills and stealth still influence bow hunting today.

Modern bow hunting was popularized in the U.S. in the 1920s when Dr. Saxton Pope published a book called "Hunting with the Bow and Arrow". Dr. Pope and his colleague, Arthur Young, learned about bow hunting from a Yana tribesman named Ishi. Ishi was the last member of his California tribe, and he shared his vast wealth of knowledge about bow hunting with the two men. Centuries of Native American knowledge went into the making of the book, and the great American bow hunting tradition lived on [source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources].

In the 1950s, Fred Bear, Earl Hoyt and Ben Pearson developed affordable, high-quality bow hunting equipment for the masses. The three men filmed their hunts and created educational programs that furthered the popularity of bow hunting.

Modern bow hunting hasn't changed much from the original except for the equipment. Today, bow hunters can choose from a variety of bows, arrows and arrowheads. Types of bows include:

Arrow shafts can be made of wood, aluminum, fiberglass, carbon and a carbon/aluminum combination. Arrow heads or points come in various shapes and sizes and are chosen based on the archer's purpose. Bullet, judo, blunt and field points are all used for target practice and small game hunting. Bowfish points are used for bow fishing. Broad heads are used for small and large game hunting, and types include fixed blade, removable blade and expandable blade.

Want to give bow hunting a try? Read on to learn about classic strategies.

­To be successful at bow hunting, yo­u can follow some basic steps. There are variations of these techniques, so practice a few different stances and positions to ensure your own comfort. The stages of bow hunting are:

Judging distance is one of the most important aspects of bow hunting. You adjust how you aim depending on how far away the target is. How far you can accurately shoot is based on your bow, your strength and the type of arrow you are using. Scouting the area where you are going to hunt and understanding your prey is very important. You will need to decide where to set up by recognizing game signs and understanding the lay of the land. If you are unfamiliar with the area, ask local hunters or your department of natural resources where to best bow hunt.

In most cases, you can hunt from the ground using one of three methods:

Depending on your resources, you can also use blinds and tree stands. These are useful in getting above the hunting area, so you have a better view of the target areas and more time to prepare your shots.

Now that you are familiar with bow hunting, you can try it out. But before heading out in the woods, take the time to familiarize yourself with your gear and to develop your archery skills. Practicing can be frustrating, but once you get the hang of it, you might enjoy this sport for years to come.