Guys everytime I post a picture of a short bow I get questions about how to anchor. I had a little time this morning and though I would add a post here and give some of the ways I shoot these shorties.
This information is pertaining to Native American short bows often called Plains bows or Horse bows.
I have been making and shooting short bows since 1984 and have found that no matter how long you practice or how many arrows you shoot you can never get a consistant group without some kind of anchor. You can have a floating anchor and shoot accurately but only at very close yardages. I always see people on here and other sites drawing short bows with their arm bent downward at the elbow, neck pushed forward like a strutting Tom and trying to draw the bow to their eye. Now not only is this awkward it messes up your form when trying to shoot a longer bow. That is just not the way these bows are meant to be used.
Learning to shoot a short bow with a short draw is just learning another method of shooting, your long bow techniques won't work well when you use the short bow. Now if you learn the proper techniques you should be able to shoot your short bow and transition to your long one without any hickups in your shooting accuracy.
The Indian draw method is much different than the European and even the finger grip on the string was much different many using a pinch or augmented pinch grip, Very few used the three finger method most of us use today called the Mediterranean grip.
The Indian method of drawing a short bow was the push and pull method. This allowed the archer to pull a much heavier bow. You push with your bow arm with the bow slightly elevated and pull with the shooting arm to your desired draw. This method allowed both arms to be used in drawing the bow instead of one. The bow was canted slightly to the side and the string drawn to the armpit area or the chest rather than to the cheek.
The anchor point varied I'm sure depending on each shooter.The elbow of the bow arm always turned outward with a slight bend.
I find that I can place the inside part of my wrist right at the base of my thumb into my chest right under my left armpit to get a consistant anchor with a bow that draws 24-25". With a bow that has a little shorter draw I extend my thumb to touch the same point on my chest.
It's like drawing a long bow and finding your anchor somewhere on your cheek or lower lip. You touch the same spot with every draw.
Now this method will feel very awkward at first because your line of sight has changed dramatically from looking down the arrow shaft to having the arrow out more in front of your body. If you practice on focusing on your target rather than your arrow your hand to eye coordination will kick in eventually and help you achieve better accuracy.
I can shoot a short bow very consistant out to 25 yards with this method but my groups get a little crazy any further than that.
The short bow was used on foot as well as horseback but I fully believe the Plains people used longer bows when stalking game on foot. This is a debatable subject among many but it only makes sense in my book.
I hope this information wasn't too boaring and might help a few people who are interested in making and shooting the amazing short bows that ruled the Great Plains for so many years.
E
