By John Dowd 

Archer crafts primitive bows

 

September 9, 2021

John Dowd

PRIMITIVE ARCHER Chad Sivertsen with several bows he has made.

Montana archery season opened Saturday and will run through October 17. After that, the general season will open on Oct. 23 and last until Nov. 28. With that early window for archery, many hunters will try to take advantage of the lower trafficked hunting areas and a time when the animals are less spooked.

One such person is Chad Sivertsen of Thompson Falls, who has been hunting with a bow for over 50 years and doing so in a primitive style for half that time. Sivertsen makes his own equipment and has been very successful, having hunted across most of the west, Alaska and Africa with bows he has made. Sivertsen has lived in numerous states, as well as two provinces of Canada. He offered his advice to those interested in getting into the challenging world of traditional and primitive archery hunting.

Sivertsen explained the difference between the two styles. Traditional bows and arrows are made of modern materials that mimic the traditional style of archery. Primitive, on the other hand, attempts to get as close as possible to the original natural materials and methods used in the primitive past. Most of what Sivertsen does now is primitive, and he loves the challenge. According to him, a common saying among primitive archers is "I take pride in doing things the hard way."


The hard way indeed, as according to Sivertsen, the average effective range for a primitive archer is less than 20 yards, and his personal favorite distance lies somewhere around 15. He does not care for camo much and says success would come more easily to hunters "if most guys would only sit still. In my opinion, sitting still is one of the most important aspects of being successful with a bow and arrow." He also advises hunters to do a lot of scouting ahead of time, and to learn the habits and routines of the animals. "The more you scout, the luckier you get," he added. Sivertsen explained that sitting in place does little good if it is not in the right place. "It is a good idea to know where they are coming from or going to." It is also about "being comfortable in the woods."


He also advises lots of practice. He suggested "stump shooting," which is a common means of practicing in the field. It involves walking through an area and shooting at stumps, pinecones and anything else that can act as a target. Sivertsen explained that this practice teaches a bowhunter how to better gauge range, size and angle, as well as to improve accuracy and shooting speed. "Stump shooting is an excellent way to increase chances of success."


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As far as making his own equipment, Sivertsen started in fiberglass laminated bows in the 80s and not long after progressed to creative primitive bows with natural materials. He says building his own equipment increases the satisfaction of success and connects him to the old ways, when humans survived using primitive skills.

To make a bow, he starts with the type of wood he wants to use. The great variety of wood species provide numerous advantages and drawbacks. One of his favorite woods is that of the Osage Orange tree, which is extremely durable. Next, he needs to find a piece that is long and straight. He cuts out the basic shape of the bow blank, making sure to position the grain to run the length of the bow. "You need to keep the growing ring consistent through the whole length of the bow," said Sivertsen. "Let the wood tell you what it wants to be." The next step for the bowyer, or bow maker, is to simply start shaving off wood and profiling it. This eventually leads to what is called a tillering tree, which Sivertsen uses to draw the bow under tension, step back and view both limbs from afar.

Through the tillering process, the bowyer will guarantee that both limbs bend somewhat evenly, making sure to take measurements on each side, viewing the space between the string and the limbs. He will repeat this process, tensioning the bow with the tool, stepping back, then undrawing the bow and measuring until he is satisfied with the draw length and limb movement of the piece. Sivertsen advises the importance of maintaining more tension in the bottom limb. This is because the arrow will rest on top of the hand, against the top limb. With more tension on the bottom, the draw will be more balanced and the arrow will maintain a straighter trajectory.

After many hours of careful work with hand tools, so as to not rush through the project, the patient bowyer may end up with a fine custom bow. Sivertsen also makes his own arrows, and will often pair the arrow's weight, size and shape, among other characteristics, to a specific bow. He uses solid broadheads and refrains from mechanical articulated heads, as he believes them more flimsy when they contact bone.

John Dowd

A BLACK BEAR SKULL Sivertsen kept as proof that he got the bear literally between the eyes.

Sivertsen is preparing for another hunting season. He still tries to get out and hunt the old way, even at 74 years old. With more projects than he knows what to do with, Sivertsen has had a bow project in the works for awhile, which he hopes to take out one day soon. With the onset of hunting season, he explained that the excitement of the next hunt may be the perfect inspiration he needs to pick that project back up and finish it.

 

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