Warning about child and youth archery. These bows are made to shoot very safely, but this activity requires 100 percent vigilant supervision. If misused, even the lightest bow can be very dangerous and even deadly. They are weapons, not toys. We encourage you to start your child very early, four to six years, but under the right conditions. The purchaser is entirely responsible for the safe use of these weapons. Specify right or left hand.

We are featuring and recommending both a child, and a youth bow by this Company; both of these are called Mighty Hunter. They are perfect in every detail, with a silken poly finish. They have every fine appearance and performance quality of the elegant adult Kentuckian bows.

Either 40" or 48" straight (not deflex-reflex) multiple-lamination limbs, beautiful leather handle wrap. I have gotten two of these for my grandchildren, Tess and Matthew, and all concerned were delighted. About 12# at 16 inches draw. Depending on size and strength of child, from age four to age eight. $94.35

58," 20, 25, 30, or 35# draw at 24." Approximately ages nine to twelve. Nearly identical in appearance to the child model as pictured except it is deflex-reflex. $166.50

If you prefer to start your child off on a recurve try this child/youth model which is back on the market. Classic lines of the 1970s. Semi-mass produced but of very nice quality. In weights of 10# and 20# at 24," 48" long, right hand only. $129.

Sized appropriately for youth. Adjustable strap, light weight. Holds 12 arrows. Adjustable for right or left hand. $28.50

Stretch cord fasteners. Child guard to fit under 10 year olds is 4 3 /4 " long, scalloped. Youth guard to fit 10 to 12 year olds is 6 1 /2 "" long. Specify size. $8.50

Hard to find. Two sizes—children under 10, and youth over 10. Soft form-fitting closed end tips, velcro fasteners. Specify size. $10.95

24" cedar shafts with 2 1 /2 " artificial feather fletching. Bright colored, hard gloss finish. Target tips.Half dozen. $10.00

Safe way to string most recurves or long bows in order to avoid injury to the archer or damage to the equipment. $7.95

Several carefully selected glass-backed longbows and recurves for those occasions when you are protective of your selfbows, plus several creative all-wood laminated models, and one great self-bow for the purist.

Truly exquisite in every way and in a class of exclusive seven-hundred dollar models. Modern deflex-reflex with six laminations for strength, accuracy, and endurance. Back and belly of swirled English Yew with osage, walnut, padauk, and locust in the core. Black leather over molded handle of wenge, cardinal, and cocabola. 62" or 64." Six inlaid cardinal wood diamonds in the English yew back, and masterfully detailed and sculpted nocks. Maker is Fritz Johnk. Only $550. A quiver in complimentary colors and design including red inlaid leather diamonds to match the bow, by Larry Snell for $130, and a dozen high-scale matching arrows by Arrow Art for $91.00. Entire set for $740.

Elegance in simplicity. 62, 64, or 66." Deflex-reflex and all the good engineering and craftsmanship which goes into more expensive models. Great performer with a unbelievable satin finish. Maker is Roy McIntosh, $333.

A 56 or 60" recurve capable of 200fps with hunting weight arrows. A Diamond is a woman’s and man’s best friend. In addition to the outstanding performance, the aesthetics in the craftsmanship and finish are superb. Maker is Roy Hall. Starts at $393 with the simplest wood riser, $478 with exotic wood, $512 with Birdseye maple, and $579 with micarta in the handle.

A very high level, accurate, powerful, and smooth takedown recurve. 58" and 64." The model shown with micarta is $695, actionwood handle at $395, two-tone at $425, exotic wood at $550, and birdseye maple at $595. (Interchangeable actionwood longbow limbs also available $175).

If you want a reliable recurve, and your funds are very limited, this may be the one for you. 60" in poundages of 30 and 50 at 28." Simple beauty, performance, economy. $179. All wood selections

Inspired by the master designs of the 30s, conceived jointly by Tim Troyer and Krackow, and now crafted by Gregg Coffey (of Java Man Bows). Smooth classic lines allow the contrasting natural woods and leather tones to be prominent. 70" hickory backed osage flatbow with small static recurve tips with brushnocks of dark wood or dark brown phenolic (the only concession to synthetic materials) strikingly v-spliced between back and belly. Dark wenge accent in handle wrapped in newbuck leather perfectly matched with a horizontal newbuck back quiver and a dozen footed and self nock, horn reinforced arrows. No glass. Bow is $549, + a half dozen arrows $69, and $90 for the quiver. Entire unique set $699.

A double recurve with static ears (or limb ends) developed by Jaap Koppedrayer of YUMI. The form, made with contemporary materials, captures the traditional bow design used by the Mongolian horse archers during their conquest of parts of Asia and Europe. The limbs are combinations of Superflex Actionwood and bamboo. The grip and static ears are made with phenolic, with no stack or finger pinching. No sight window, so can be shot left- or right-handed. Draw length is 28" at any poundage. $550.00

A graceful four-inch taper sets this quiver apart from the rest. By master quiver maker Larry Snell of Classic Quivers. 21" long with 4" top opening. Each one is different and can be made to fit your interests. Made only of the best and most aesthetic leathers. Has a more refined look than the traditional rustic hunter. 1½" adjustable shoulder strap. Each strap is rivited on so that side to side movement is possible. $125.00

Same as the Classic Tracker but in the traditional Hill-type shape. Parallel vertical body lines. Bold hand lacingfor the traditional look. Collar structures at the top and bottom. 1½" adjustable shoulder strap. Holds up to two dozen field tipped arrows. $125.00

Scalloped upper edge, arrows face backwards for the horse archer, and optional for ground use. 17" high, brown or black, $90.

All wood deflex-reflex bows matching smoothness and performance of the best glass bows. Osage-maple-osage laminations sandwiched between natural bamboo back and belly. 64, 66, or 68." For hunting or target, durable urethane or epoxy finish. $475

For the purist, one piece of osage fashioned into a semi-English type longbow (a relatively narrow somewhat flattened D cross section). Dark horn nocks. Has slight arrow window. Back of bow artfully hand decorated in pen and ink with oak leaf and animal motifs over deer hide. Brad has won competitions and taken a large American Bison with this model. Its unique beauty enhances its exceptional accuracy. Rugged durable finish. $750 as pictured. Undecorated $600.

For display in the quiver, or in the home or den for decoration or good luck by Leonard Butler of Ontario. The designs are interpretations of medieval, Celtic, and Oriental devices. Special scenes can be custom painted. Matching painted arrowheads are also available.

Pair of amulet arrows $50.00

Painting one arrowhead $10.00

Instinctive Shooting by G. Fred Asbell, 1988. For adults to teach themselves or to help guide children into the challenge of traditional shooting without the assistance of sights or other mechanical devices. Oriented somewhat toward hunting, but useful for all purposes. Widely acclaimed material by a master archer and leader. Good pictures of positions and techniques. Paper, 128 pp.$15.00

Ishi and Elvis, by Jim Hamm. Artfully written hunting experiences interwoven smoothly with reflections about the land ethic and our place in natural history. May emerge on a par with the essays of Aldo Leopold. Hard cover, tasteful b&w illustrations. $19.95.

Whitetail Magic by Roger Rotharr, one of the deans of hunting the elusive Whitetail. For veteran or beginner. Hardcover, $19.95.

Whitetail Tactics with Recurves and Longbows, by Jim Hamm. Paper, 172 pages including many high good quality b&w photos. $16.95.

Archery Tackle, How to Make and Use It, by Adolph Shane. Valuable for the bowyers and archers who want to know what was in the minds of the makers in 1936. $9.95

How to Make your Own Osage Longbow, by Brad Smith. Paper, spiral bound, many sketches showing exact progression from log or stave to finished bow. $15.00. This is the Brad Smith of the Oakleaf Longbow.

Heart and Blood: Living with Deer in America, by Richard Nelson. From the sympathetic viewpoint of a sound hunter who is also a cultural anthropologist. The behavior, physiology, changing pattern of deer populations in the U.S., deer management, and interactions with humans. Fun, extremely informative, and definitely meaty. $27.50

Become the Arrow: The Art of Modern Barebow Shooting, by Byron Ferguson. A system of barebow shooting by an renowned marksman and trick shot, plus hunting stories at the end. 109 pages, $11.

Longbows in the Far North: An Archer's Adventures in Alaska and Siberia, by E. Donnall Thomas. The title speaks for itself, an ecologically and humanly sensitive model of modern international hunting with traditional equipment. Adventure and Excitement. Hardback. 131pp. $17.95.

Bowhunting Alaska’s Wild Rivers, by Jay Massey. Hunting moose, caribou, bear and small game while afloat by one of our late inspirational leaders. $26.95.

The Bronze Bow, by Elizabeth George Speare. Originally 1971, reissued in 1991. An intriguing youth adventure about archery in the Holy Land at the time of Christ. Paper, a Newberry Award winner, $5.56.

The Black Arrow, The White Bow, and Outlaws of Sherwood scattered in other sections.

Here are some books that are not limited to any continent, or to any one type of archer; they cross all geographical boundaries and wrestle with universal questions of how humans should relate to the rest of nature, to each other, and the higher values and purposes of life. They continue the thoughts of early archers and conservationists like Aldo Leopold.

On the Edge of the Wild: Passions and Pleasures of a Naturalist by Stephen J. Bodio. Through the imperial behavior of hunting falcons, and through Stephen’s hunting and writing from around the world rewarding questions about life are raised. Especially highly recommended. Hardcover, 199 pages. $25.00.

Cry of the Kalahari by Mark and Delia Owens. Very surprising non-aggressive aspects of the great carnivorous predators of the desert which live by killing. Seven years of observation before the area was disturbed by humans. $15.00.

Hunting in the Ancient World by J.K. Anderson. Unique description of knowledge, equiplent, and hunting methods with 48 fairly good illustrations. Unfortunately limited to the activities largely of the gentleman hunter, not of the sustenance hunter. 200 page, University of California Press. $60.00.

Counting Sheep: Twenty Ways of Seeing Desert Bighorn by Gary Nabhan. A stimulating anthology of nature writers, what they examine, and how. Paper, 261 pages, 1993. $17.95

Hunting the Osage Bow by Dean Torges. Meticulous steps in harvesting that most challenging being-the osage bow. But most of all, the soul of a man who loves the bow, loves his fellow beings, and loves moving into the wind comes through with clarity. $19.95.

The Traditional Way: The Mystique and Heritage of Archery. by Fred Anderson. The human side of archery-Photos of dozens of great people who loved to shoot well, people who enjoyed and lived through archery the enduring values of goodness, truth, and beauty. $22.95.

Tigers and Ice: Reflections on Nature and Life by Edward Hoagland. What a highly acclaimed nature writer thinks he saw in the natural world, from the stormy ice caps to the sweltering jungles. 1999, Lyons Press. $22.00 U.S. $33.00 Canada.

The Country Ahead of Us, The Country Behind by David Gutterson. Ten short stories of the profound joys and sorrows of life woven through the lives of hunters. A new PEN/Faulkner Award winning writer who will not disappoint you. Paper, 1645 pages, $11.00, Canada $14.95.