Bouncing Arrowheads – Full Making Plans

Bouncing arrows off water is a traditional method of hunting wildfowl on water…and they are amazing! Bouncing arrows were (and still are!) used by people living in Northern Europe such as the Khanty and Samoyeds, and by Native Americans including the Klamath and Modoc. The forked head is the worldwide universal arrowhead form for use against birds. The rounded head is needed for the bouncing and so the fork stands a better chance of biting in and allowing the arrow to expend all its energy in the target. The design in these plans is based on several generations of iteration, and should allow you to skip or bounce your arrow six or more times across a still body of water. We have found this shape to work better than any of the others tested. These fully-dimensioned plans show you everything you need to know to make your own bouncing arrowheads. This digital download includes an 3-page engineering drawing, including dimensions and materials for every part. The download also includes a full set of “Maker’s Notes” for this item, which is chock full of the additional instructions, tips, tricks and techniques that you may need to make these arrowheads. The notes also include history, shooting tips, and troubleshooting prompts for your bouncing arrowheads. To make this item all you need is a craft knife and a drill. The main body of the arrowhead can also be made very simply on a lathe. Tod featured bouncing arrows like these in several YouTube videos, where you can see them being used. They are very fun!