Indian style shooting

[1/2primitive]

I rented a book from the library named 'American Indian Archery' (while I was there looking for some things for school---I got distracted, you might say ), this man was an avid short bow shooter, using bows drawn only about 23". He is a little biased about his style of shooting, but that is to be expected, I guess. He goes through the whole way of holding and releasing 'Indian' style, and I was quite intrigued. I whiped up two 22 1/2" long arrows from 1/4" dowels, and shot them through a bow that pulled 30lb at my 'Indian' draw length of 20". these tiny arrows only weigh about 250 grains, and the bow, when drawn 20", doesn't have nearly the amount of power that my normal bow does, but I don't care, it's FUN! I'm having a blast shooting the little arrows around the yard, and have begun working on a quick board bow that's a mere 40" long. Has anyone else tried this kind of thing? Have I gone crazy?
    Sean

[Keenan]

 Sean, your on the right track. Understanding that you have an illness is a huge first step. I've heard that there is a treament and a possible cure but so far I haven't hit bottom so haven't committed myself yet.  You might even consider the short baby bows for inside the house,,,,    Keenan

[Hillbilly]

Sean, sounds like Reginald Laubin's book. I read and enjoyed it-there's some good info in it. I've tried the short-draw pinch grip style and I just pretty much suck at it.    For high-speed short-range shooting from horseback, it would be just the ticket, though.

[Hillbilly]

I also thought it was pretty interesting that he patterned most of his Indian bows after Martin Archery static recurves.    Laubin is quite a craftsman, though-I was impressed with his sheep horn composite replicas, and his attempts at making an elk antler bow.

[1/2primitive]

That's the one, Hillbilly. I was terrible at it for a while, but I've found that I just needed to use a lower weight bow to learn, and it works now . It was funny seeing in one of the pictures a martin recurve made really small and shooting tiny arrows, lol. 
Keenan, that's what I figured....accepting the fact that I've got a problem, but I don't really want to know if there's cure. 
    Sean

[JackCrafty]

After using long bows and compound bows I now shoot only short bows.  48" with 22" draw. And I shoot Indian style - tertiary grip (or Sioux grip) according to Laubin.

As a kid, I did this instinctively.  I made all my own stuff starting at about 8 years old.....I used a pinch grip on a short bow (with a short draw).

It's addictive for sure.....but the fact that this type of bow was my first experience with archery, well, I'm doomed.

[billy]

I think every one of ya'll just needs to admit that you have a very serious addiction here.  When you drive by the forest, see nothing but potential bows and (deleted by moderator)...well, you know something is amiss. 

When you kick your wife outta the bed because you have a new partner (your most recently completed bow) sleeping with you instead, then it's time for therapy. 

When your butt almost gets thrown in jail because you're digging flint out of an outcrop behind an auto parts store in Missouri, well, then you might want to begin questioning your own sanity.

But then you drive in the city and see strung-out junkies sleeping in trees, or people living in garbage cans, or a porn star running for governor in California and you finally realize that you're actually  normal!!  Well, maybe just a little bit normal

[david w.]

I made a 38" ntn bow and its a blast. it pulls 30# at 16" and it is amazingly powerful

[Traxx]

I think to be the best with those short Native style bows,you have to use the same shooting style they were designed to be used with.I tried to learn it,as it is the way my mothers people did it.I wasnt very efficient with it.LOL

[donnieonetrack]

I've tried different native grips off and on for many years but have never stuck with it long enough to get good.  I do like shooting with short draws 20-25"and the english release.  I seem to be more consistant with these draw lengths.  My full draw is between 27-28" depending on handle shape/thickness.

Good luck with the native draw,

Donnie

[hawkbow]

I once broke a bow while shooting from horseback, I would run the horse by the buffalo(hay bales ) and loose arrows , i actually got quite good at it until the horse decided to stop without warning . he stopped instantly i didn't..... broke my arrows bow and me .....i still shoot from the back of a horse but am a lot more cautious...often wondered how often the plains warriors ended up on the ground like i did... they were far better horsemen and archers than I ,as they did it every day... but still wonder... those short bows are deadly off of a horse.. Mike..A/ho

[Sidewinder]

See. this is the kind of thread that makes me love this site. This type of bow and non typical style needs to be practiced and promoted more I think. Gets me to thinking.   Danny

[1/2primitive]

Yeah, this type if shooting is getting pushed into the backround. It is fun to shoot, and very versatile. I think everyone should try it sometime or other. I have a short normal draw length (24"), so when I shoot indian style, it goes down a lot. I figure I could make a 35" long bow and be able to draw it my 'full' short draw. I might try it. 
Oh, and Keenan, you mean these short baby bows? I've been building them for years. 

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/Thebowguy/100_0137.jpg

     Sean

[Kegan]

I have a small 50" hickory bow. It's got about a 20-22" draw. I tried drawing it in front of my face... didn't work. I tried a bunch of nachors, usually with the heel of my hand touching my lips or something. Then I turned to a hump of dirt, anchored on my chest and released... and sent the arrow right where it should go . If I wasn't such a longbow junky I would convert .

[sumpitan]

I'm a complete convert. Nowadays I can't even look at my old 60+inch flatbows, let alone bother to carry them around in the woods and use them. For the past year I've been shooting 46-50" D-bows, 19-22" draws. Presently I'm as accurate with these on a good day as I ever was with the longer bows, but consistency is not quite the same yet (it's easier to fumble with a short one). I can tell you, after sneaking in the bush with a 48-incher the man-tall bows suddenly feel extremely cumbersome and limiting. And a whole new mother load of bow wood unfolds once all the flawless four-foot saplings (formerly "just too short") are fair game.

The thing is, most guys trying out a short bow never give it a real chance. Remember how you felt when you first started shooting any bow? How "accurate" you were? How awkward? Shooting a couple dozen or even hundred short-draw shots while still in the long-draw mode tells little of the short bow's potential. Shooting a short bow exclusively for months, day in, day out, with a will to get accurate with this very bow, tells more. Quick pie-plate groups inside 25 yards is accurate enough for my needs. Even with these short draws, a stable, razor-sharp broadhead arrow of adequate mass is deadly enough, too.

Tuukka