Hunting

I’ve always had an interest in primitive hunting and trapping as its one of the earliest examples of mechanical engineering e.g. windlasses, springs, pulleys and levers. The selection of materials with the correct properties to meet requirements e.g. wood, bone or stone. This interest is purely theoretical as I have never used these techniques in the wild. I would also add that in normal situations you should NOT use these techniques in the UK as some are illegal and others require the correct permits, licenses or the land owners permissions.

Catapult

Figure 9.2.0 : Catapult

Bow and Arrow

Below are some useful documents on bows and arrows ive found on the web (due to possible copyright conflicts these are only accessible from the local machine) :

• The Arrow  (link)
• Arrows and Arrow-Makers  (link)
• On the Structure and Affinities of the Composite Bow  (link)
• A Teita Bow and Arrows  (link)
• Hunting with the Bow and Arrow  (link)
• Pottery, Tools and Technology  (link)
• A cordage backed bow  (link)
• Archery the Old Way  (link)
• Making a Survival Bow  (link)
• Making a Bow From a Sapling  (link)
• How to make a long bow  (link)
• Experiments with Spears and Arrows on Animal Targets  (link)
• Essentials of archery  (link)

Spear

Below are some useful documents on spears ive found on the web (due to possible copyright conflicts these are only accessible from the local machine) :

• Spear-Throwing with a Cord  (link)
• The Spearthrower in Australia   (link)
• A Spear Thrower from Oklahoma   (link)
• A New Approach to the Significance of the "Weighted" Spear Thrower   (link)
• Throwing-sticks in the National Museum (Spear throwers)   (link)