Description:

This intensive skills series is an in-depth experiential program focused on a mix of traditional and primitive bow hunting skills. This program is designed for those who want to become proficient in the art of bow  hunting with longbows and recurves while incorporating a few modern and traditional tactics to the old-ways. Your time during this program will be spent working on these skills along with field study and research. By the end of the program you will have the skills and knowledge to take what you have learned and adapt it to any environment and many other species.

This is our most intense apprenticeship, taking you on a journey through all aspects of the hunt including preparation for the hunt, creating the gear, learning the ebb and flow of the forest, and how to process your harvest.

Ages:  18 & Older
When:  January - October, 2026
Where: Ancestral Knowledge Museum & Research Center
Registration Fee: $1125-$1925 Sliding Scale (pay what you're comfortable)

Here is a list of what you can expect to learn during this program:

Each student will;

• Build a Hunting weight hickory self bow (Osage Orange is available)
• Primitive arrows
• Bone /stone arrowheads
• Hunting blinds
• Bow strings

You can count on learning the following

• Proper archery form
• Natural scent control
• Blind and Stand placement
• Stalking, movement, and camouflage
• Animal tracking and trailing
• Game processing (upon successful hunt)
• Hide tanning
• And much more...

February 21^st  – Scouting track and sign Part 1

March 21^st & 22^{nd -} Hide Tanning

April 8^th-12^th : Self Bow Building

May: 16th- Hunting strategies Part 1 (playing the wind, stand/blind placement, archery)

June 20^th-21st: - Arrow Making

June 27th- Summer Scouting

July 18^th-19^th Flint Knapping and Bone tool making

August 1st- Scouting track and sign, part 2

August 15^th- Hunting strategies part 2 (tree stands, types, use and safety, calls, and lures, baiting, drives)

August - Students pick a weekend and sign up for their own hunter’s safety course. (legally required for you to be able to hunt)

Sept 12th- Hunt strategies part 3 (still hunting/drives/ hunting scrapes and rubs)

Oct-Nov – 6 possible Bow Hunts

OCT - Nov Deer Processing (Date t.b.d. depending on when we harvest a deer)

All classes are 10am-4pm

If this course is more than you are looking for, we are offering a more basic course.