Post by Ron on Jun 30, 2012 20:02:32 GMT -6
I’m contemplating designing/building a different version of a bow . Ive killed deer with a variety of bows over the years and bore easily. A recent bill affecting bowhunting in WI finally created a statutory definition of what a bow is for the purposes of hunting. Until then, the only definition of what a bow is resided in administrative code. The statue that defines what a bow is for the purposes of hunting reads as follows.
29.001(17) " Bow ," when used with reference to hunting, means a bow , drawn and held by and through the effort of the person releasing it, but does not include a crossbow.
While vague, this legal definition allows for a variety of bow construction. Since I hope to design/build a bow that is legal for hunting I contacted the DNR seeking input on what I am planning. As I currently have it designed, my bow is going to be made from almost conventional materials and methods and currently I plan to build it from
a treated 2 x 4
an old drawer front
tooth brush
dry wall joint tape
glues
rubber bands
wood screws
a short bow string
and other various and sundry items from the local hardware store.
WI laws stipulates that for hunting, a bow must have a minimum of 30 pounds of draw weight. Its my hope to build this bow with about 40 pounds of draw. As it was initially designed, the bow did not have any limbs (but then the legal definition does not include such a requirement so that should not be an issue).
Not looking to create ways to get in trouble with the DNR I enquired with the DNR as to the legality of such a design. I was told that because the design did not have limbs that “bow”, that it is not a legal bow for hunting. While the state statute says nothing about limbs it does include the word “bow” as part of the definition of the word bow. the email I received from the DNR did include a copy/paste from the Merriam Webster online dictionary.
Webster
1a : something bent into a simple curve
2a : weapon that is made of a strip of flexible material (as wood) with a cord connecting the two ends and holding the strip bent and that is used to propel an arrow
While I see no legal requirement to change the design, I changed it after reading that email to incorporate flexible/bending limbs that “bow” and made sure to have a cord connecting the two ends of the limbs. The current design now meets Webster’s definition as well as WI statute (since state statute say “Bow means ANY bow……………………..”) and this design certainly meets all the definitions and falls under “ANY” bow. This will satisfy the state and Mr. Webster.
This design will use a conventional fletched arrow of normal length as well as using a conventional broadhead and will be drawn and held solely by and through the effort of the person releasing it. I’ve built a few bows in my time. My first was back in 1988. This is not like those other bows. Not having tried such a method I know not what to expect or if it will even work. Even if it doesn’t work I will have discovered a new way NOT to make a bow and there is always something to be learned from attempting and not succeeding. My favorite quote comes from Thomas Edison. On being asked how he felt about repeatedly failing to design a working light bulb Edison said
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" Thomas Edison
He also said:
“Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward.... Thomas Edison
Never be afraid to fail. Failing to try is a far worse fate. Me
The ultimate goal here is to devise a contraption ( that is not currently a hunting bow used in my home state) capable of delivering a broadhead tipped arrow with sufficient energy to quickly dispatch a white-tailed deer and to do so by crafting it with inexpensive and easily attainable materials. (for perhaps less than $20)
Since this first attempt is a low fidelity prototype which will hopefully lead to a more refined final design, by its very nature, it will be somewhat crude and unpolished. Its my intension to catalog my attempts with this thread. My oldest son Lives upstate and my youngest is in the army. I’d like to think I’ve passed along the tinkerers urge in them although they are too busy starting out and establishing themselves to demonstrate if it has stuck. Perhaps this and other follies I pass along on the web will inspire others whom I’ve never met. If so, good. These are two more of my favorite quotes form Edison.
“If parents pass enthusiasm and creativity along to their children, they will leave them an estate of incalculable value....
“I have far more respect for the person with a single idea who gets there than for the person with a thousand ideas who does nothing....”
So even if I don’t succeed, it wont be for nothing and I will have surely learned something I can use in the future meaning it wont have been a wasted effort. After all, the joy is in the doing.
29.001(17) " Bow ," when used with reference to hunting, means a bow , drawn and held by and through the effort of the person releasing it, but does not include a crossbow.
While vague, this legal definition allows for a variety of bow construction. Since I hope to design/build a bow that is legal for hunting I contacted the DNR seeking input on what I am planning. As I currently have it designed, my bow is going to be made from almost conventional materials and methods and currently I plan to build it from
a treated 2 x 4
an old drawer front
tooth brush
dry wall joint tape
glues
rubber bands
wood screws
a short bow string
and other various and sundry items from the local hardware store.
WI laws stipulates that for hunting, a bow must have a minimum of 30 pounds of draw weight. Its my hope to build this bow with about 40 pounds of draw. As it was initially designed, the bow did not have any limbs (but then the legal definition does not include such a requirement so that should not be an issue).
Not looking to create ways to get in trouble with the DNR I enquired with the DNR as to the legality of such a design. I was told that because the design did not have limbs that “bow”, that it is not a legal bow for hunting. While the state statute says nothing about limbs it does include the word “bow” as part of the definition of the word bow. the email I received from the DNR did include a copy/paste from the Merriam Webster online dictionary.
Webster
1a : something bent into a simple curve
2a : weapon that is made of a strip of flexible material (as wood) with a cord connecting the two ends and holding the strip bent and that is used to propel an arrow
While I see no legal requirement to change the design, I changed it after reading that email to incorporate flexible/bending limbs that “bow” and made sure to have a cord connecting the two ends of the limbs. The current design now meets Webster’s definition as well as WI statute (since state statute say “Bow means ANY bow……………………..”) and this design certainly meets all the definitions and falls under “ANY” bow. This will satisfy the state and Mr. Webster.
This design will use a conventional fletched arrow of normal length as well as using a conventional broadhead and will be drawn and held solely by and through the effort of the person releasing it. I’ve built a few bows in my time. My first was back in 1988. This is not like those other bows. Not having tried such a method I know not what to expect or if it will even work. Even if it doesn’t work I will have discovered a new way NOT to make a bow and there is always something to be learned from attempting and not succeeding. My favorite quote comes from Thomas Edison. On being asked how he felt about repeatedly failing to design a working light bulb Edison said
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" Thomas Edison
He also said:
“Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward.... Thomas Edison
Never be afraid to fail. Failing to try is a far worse fate. Me
The ultimate goal here is to devise a contraption ( that is not currently a hunting bow used in my home state) capable of delivering a broadhead tipped arrow with sufficient energy to quickly dispatch a white-tailed deer and to do so by crafting it with inexpensive and easily attainable materials. (for perhaps less than $20)
Since this first attempt is a low fidelity prototype which will hopefully lead to a more refined final design, by its very nature, it will be somewhat crude and unpolished. Its my intension to catalog my attempts with this thread. My oldest son Lives upstate and my youngest is in the army. I’d like to think I’ve passed along the tinkerers urge in them although they are too busy starting out and establishing themselves to demonstrate if it has stuck. Perhaps this and other follies I pass along on the web will inspire others whom I’ve never met. If so, good. These are two more of my favorite quotes form Edison.
“If parents pass enthusiasm and creativity along to their children, they will leave them an estate of incalculable value....
“I have far more respect for the person with a single idea who gets there than for the person with a thousand ideas who does nothing....”
So even if I don’t succeed, it wont be for nothing and I will have surely learned something I can use in the future meaning it wont have been a wasted effort. After all, the joy is in the doing.
