Poor boy arrows for squirrels

How to's, questions, and build alongs for those traditional archers who are interested in building their own custom arrows.
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Shootalot
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 6:51 pm

Poor boy arrows for squirrels

#1 Post by Shootalot »

I enjoy deer and turkey hunting but I'm a small game hunter at heart and I feel like many bowhunters are missing a lot of fun hunting only big game. I hunt squirrels with my bow more than anything else and being a poor boy(old man now), I have had to come up with very inexpensive arrows. When I started bowhunting seriously, the group I hung around with all shot cedar arrows and most of us would foot the arrows back together when they were broken. It was a cheap fix and didn't take as long as making an arrow from scratch. So if you're wanting to try some squirrel hunting without worrying too much about losing or breaking arrows you might try saving your broken cedar arrows. There are several tutorials on the internet on how it's done.
We had ice on the ground the last couple of days which kept me out of the woods so I made up about thirty footed arrows from broken pieces I had collected. Some I broke and some given to me by friends.
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Carpdaddy
Site Admin
Posts: 9469
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 7:36 pm

Re: Poor boy arrows for squirrels

#2 Post by Carpdaddy »

Right down my alley, I love it!! I have been forced to find these money saving tips. But your going to have to give us a little demo on how you do it. Seeing the three items in the first picture didn't help any: :lol: Black tape, Elmers glue, and sandpaper. :idea:

Carpdaddy
Site Admin
Posts: 9469
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 7:36 pm

Re: Poor boy arrows for squirrels

#3 Post by Carpdaddy »

Also I noticed only a couple judo points and the rest field tips, you hunting with those?? Just curious.

Longtrad
Posts: 1413
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2016 2:26 pm

Re: Poor boy arrows for squirrels

#4 Post by Longtrad »

doh, i'm thinking this thread is really going to make me regret turning all my busted cedars into tomato stakes. I'm excited to see how the magic happens.

Longtrad
Posts: 1413
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2016 2:26 pm

Re: Poor boy arrows for squirrels

#5 Post by Longtrad »

I couldnt agree with you more about small game hunting, It gets me a lot more excited than chasing deer but I seem to be in the minority with that.

Carpdaddy
Site Admin
Posts: 9469
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 7:36 pm

Re: Poor boy arrows for squirrels

#6 Post by Carpdaddy »

He just mentioned that there are several tutorials on the internet, didn't say he was going to show us, but I just had to ask. Would be a good thing to learn.

Shootalot
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 6:51 pm

Re: Poor boy arrows for squirrels

#7 Post by Shootalot »

Carpdaddy, I'll do my best.
First cut down the center of the arrow, 3 1/2 to 4". I used to use a hacksaw years ago but now that I have a bandsaw it's much easier. It needs to be the exact center of the arrow. The old timers would cut with the grain but I don't think it makes any difference.
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Shootalot
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 6:51 pm

Re: Poor boy arrows for squirrels

#8 Post by Shootalot »

Next I mark the line to be plained to. I usually mark about 1/4" from the full distance of the cut.
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Shootalot
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 6:51 pm

Re: Poor boy arrows for squirrels

#9 Post by Shootalot »

I also mark the center line of the piece to be footed onto the other piece of arrow shaft. Again I go parallel to the grain of the arrow just because that's the way they used to do it.
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Shootalot
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 6:51 pm

Re: Poor boy arrows for squirrels

#10 Post by Shootalot »

I use a hand plane to plane from the line on the shaft to the line on the center of the shaft. Leaving a wedge shaped end.
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