I have decided that I want to make a long bow for some hunting next year. I have never made one and wanted to know where to get started. Can anyone help with some recomendations?

Thanks,
Good Reverend

Never made a long bow, but I helped my buddy build a compound. I would think that the most important thing would be making sure yourpoints of string attachment are on the same plane.

Ive made about 5 longbows, and my dad has made a few as well. They are much harder to make than it sounds. First you cut a stave out of a nice bow wood. Or you can buy some nice pieces from a lumber store. Make sure the grain runs up the entire length of the bow and that it is the correct wood. yew, oak, hickory are a few good bow woods. Than buy a moisture meter. You need a moisture of less than 12% if I remember correctly. 10%is ideal, no more than 12, no less than 10. More your bow will not hold shape, less it will shatter. You need to make a bow tree. A Tool that you can bend your bow slowly, and many times, to be able to get it to full draw with out over stressing and blowing up. Dont rush that or you will have a blow up. I know from experience. Tillering is the process of shaving the wood off of the stave to create a good tiller (bend when drawn) Careful to do this in small amounts, and leave lots of wood around the hand because most pressure is exerted at that point. Once you have made your bow, use a sealer to seal the wood at the correct moisture content. Make, or buy a flemish bowstring out of b50 dacron. These are a few tips, but nothing near what you need to know to make a longbow. I know a guy that makes them for a hobby and sells bows worth over 500$ for under 100$ He has made 1000's of bows in his life (he is around 75 to 80 years old.) He gave my dad and I three lessons that each lasted around 3 hours. Good luck, its great fun. Once you get down how to make them you can try out different woods for fun. I was told, and read that cedar is one of the worst bow woods, but I made a real nice one out of it. I have 8 staves drying in the shop as I speak, big leaf maple, vine maple, oceanspray, and a few unknown woods!

Interesting. Would love to make one of my own.

I have made 2 native american style bows. both sinew backed and short with sinew strings. There are a couple books that would help you out. Traditional Bowyer 1 and 2 for english style longbows and laminated recurves (more traditional stuff) and Bows and Arrows of the Native Americans (obviously for American Indian style bows). Good luck and of all advice one can give on this subject, be patient with it. The two I've made from standing locust to finished product took about 80 hours each.

Yeah it's alot of work. I have looked into doing it myself. But family obligations have so far halted my efforts.
That would be the ultimate trophy for me to kill a deer with a bow I made myself.

Sounds like it would be a blast to do.

oh yea! I have a 55lb long bow that I could easily hunt deer with, but I just choose to keep to the smaller game, like cottontail. I use my compound for elk, deer, bear, etc. I just feel I have a better chance of making a clean kill. Although around here shots are usually under 20 yards, and that is perfect range for a longbow.