I have read in the past where sometimes indians would attach "items" to their bows or spears as reminders of previous battles or game taken, such as feathers or beads, or locks of hair/fur (scalps?). Kind of like taking part of the animal's spirit with them on future hunts.
Have any of you ever seen or done this or considered it? I saw a rifle hunter once with scraps of deer hide attached to his sling. I think he attached portions of ears.
I have been thinking about this alot lately and wondered just what in the world it would look like and how it would impact the bow's function.
Any thoughts?
Nope. Don't plan on it either. The way I look at it, I don't need anything that may move and give away my position to an unsuspecting game animal. As for the other stuff like beads and fur, I think of it as excess baggage.
I have a friendship pin on my wool hunting jacket that my daughter gave me when she was 5 years old. It has been on the same jacket for 29 years. The only thing on my bow is dental floss, to remind me how much I hate dentists, I think that is why that is on there..
The only animal parts I would consider adding onto my bow are 1) a feather as a wind detector 2) horn/antler as tip overlays 3) horn/antler as an arrow shelf if using a selfbow. 4)Sinew on the back of selfbow covered with snakeskins. 5) snakeskins for bow back covering.
But that's just me.
God bless,Mudd
Scalps? Scalps of some politicians might be motivating.
I like my bow simple. Fur string silencers and maybe a feather wind detector but other than antler tip overlays no other animal parts. My quiver and hunting hat are different. They both have "memories" attached in the form of animal parts; feathers and squirrel tails...and a snake skin hat band.
I don't want to taint my bow with anything that grimy, politically speaking. I would not want to take the bad spirits on my hunt. Most of them aren't attached all that well anyway.
it won't impact the bow's function in any detectable way as long as you don't use heavy items, and keep them clear of moving parts...i stick feathers and sometimes sticks/branches/flowers/leaves in the sewing on my leather bow quiver on occasion...Fred Bear was known to keep objects like that on his hat...if it's calling you, let your freak flag fly my friend...
I stick that stuff on my quivers. Had crow feathers on my stick bow but lost them while hunting.
I do have a 1 inch feather on the top limb of my bow with string for a wind indicator.
I have one of Jeff B's medicine pouches with pieces of all my kids hair in it that goes with me around my neck when hunting. it's a good luck/keep me safe /bring me home spiritual thing. :archer:
Bjorn, ya made me spit coffee all over my puter!!
I rub a litle blood from everything I shoot onto the bow that took it. Just a smear on the handle, quiver or limb. Most of it wears off after a while depending on where I put it but it is just something I do. Mojo I guess? Just something I do. I do the same with my possibles bag when I am blackpowder hunting.
Bob Urban
I think T.J. Conrads has a longbow with the foot of a grouse he took as an inlay.
I have attached feathers to primitive bows but never nothing from a kill. I guess folks may do that with antler knobs on take down bows.
Weird coincidence. Was thinking this morning about snake skins. Never have & likely never will. Have a wind feather attached though.
Be careful attaching feathers from Federally protected songbirds or birds of prey to your bow. It's illegal and may cost you.
Becides snake skins, I have two mountain lion claws, a bear claw and two elk ivorys.
Bowmania
id love to see pics of what people have attached to their bows! I second reddogge though. some places its illegal... even if you just found it on the floor. O_O;
Brian, I've got a pair of Elk Ivorys but haven't figured out how to use them in a bow build? I thought about using then on the tips but don't know if there is enough material?
Bowmania, how did you use your Ivorys?
MOJO.. excellent term. I guess I am, at heart anyway, less of a purist looking for performance and more of a nostalgic romantic who likes to believe in karma, spirits, and yes, mojo!
Maybe wearing reminder of previous hunts on my hat or jacket or other article would be more practical.
I don't know.... kinda like fighter pilots painting a flag on their plane for each kill..not neccessarily for bragging, but honoring their fallen prey. Maybe that is it. I could paint on a blood stripe, or foot print of each fallen critter.
Still haven't taken any critters with my traditional gear yet.. so, at least, as of now, it's kinda moot... but I am feeling like this will be the season.
I don't really know if "MOJO" exists but there is a connection or bond if you will to certain things that pass thru a person's life. I hunted for years with a rifle that for all intense and purpose was obsolete. The only way to have ammunition was to make it, but it bore the "MOJO" of my grandfather and father. It wore the scars and wear from providing food for the family. I believe it had magic or MOJO from the years of service to my family. It had a life when I held it and was a trusted friend.
I understand when Brian says he enjoys the nostalgic, romantic aspects of traditional. It's what drew me to traditional and simpler things. I am freshman to traditional but all ready feel the history, kinship of spirit and the magic. Maybe this is the "MOJO" or the labor and care a Bowyer puts into his work "MOJO" ? ... The hunter at full draw holding a bow that is part of his body, the feeling of knowing that his arrow will strike where he is Looking "MOJO" ? ... a hunter giving honor to the game he has collected .... "MOJO"
It's late I think delirium is setting in :)
i attacth all that stuff to my possible bag or guiver its my mojo