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| Points and small hatchet knapped by L. Ross. Hatchet hafted on large wysteria vine handle and secured with cordage made from wysteria fiber. |
| Atlatls made by L. Ross |
| Hand made arrows of bamboo and Port Orford cedar by L. Ross. |
| Stone Knife with Osage Orange handle. Crafted by L. Ross. |
© 2010 L. Woodrow Ross
All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the express permission of the owner.
All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the express permission of the owner.
September 15th , 2010, dawned clear and cool, but the daytime temperature would
soar. As always, the pre-season jitters kept me awake the night before in
anticipation of the adventure ahead.
The canoe moved silently through the pre-dawn stillness. The only things stirring
were the beavers that swam nearby and the slap of their tails on the water
signalling their disapproval of my presence. Further up the river, luminous eyes
peered at me from the darkness of the foliage along the shoreline.
Despite getting an early start, the sky was beginning to have a pale glow preceding
full light. I hurried to the hunting site and unloaded the climbing stand, backpack,
bow and quiver. After stringing the bow, a quick visit to the trail cam revealed
recent visits by several does.
The stand was hung, ascension was accomplished. hooks inserted into tree for
backpack and quiver and now the waiting began. Fear that the slightly late arrival
may have spooked some nearby deer ran through my mind.
The stand site was a natural funnel between a large pond and the river. The
corridor was about 75 yards wide connecting nearby hardwood upland with a lush,
overgrown marshland. Three trails coursed through the funnel---one near the river,
one along a small outlet stream from the pond and another along the edge of the
pond. The stand site was along the outlet stream.
About 30 minutes after taking the stand, a doe was spotted moving along the trail
bordering the pond shoreline. It was too far for a shot, so I used a can call to make
a bleat. The doe stopped immediately. I called twice more. She turned and
backtracked into heavy vegetation, out of my sight. My guess was that she would
move stealthily toward me to check out the strange doe call.
The guess was right. She emerged from the brush and moved quietly along the
stream. A large fawn and three more does followed single file behind her. I locked
onto her and slowly raised my bow. The arrow flew at the release, but went under
her. She jumped and moved about 5 yards father away and I shot again, missing
another time. She disappeared into the brush to my right and the others spooked
back the way they had come, from my left.
Disappointment is just a word, but it was real to me at that point. I had blown my
chance! Probably no more deer would come my way this morning.
To my surprise, about 45 minutes later, a movement was spotted to my left.
Watching intently, the movement turned into a deer. It came along the same trail as
earlier and jumped to my side of the stream. Again, I could seen the others trailing
her. I couldn't believe she was back. As she passed by at 18 yards, the arrow was
released from the longbow and smacked her with a thud. It hit a bone and didn't
pass through, but part of the shaft broke off as she brushed against a tree.
After 30 minutes, I climbed down and hunted the first two arrows to let more time
elapse before trailing the doe. Luckily, both were recovered.
The site of the hit was located and the partial shaft was found, covered with blood.
Due to striking a bone and not passing through, the blood trail was non-existent.
Looking at the trails and the logical direction the deer would travel, I followed
slowly, looking ahead in case of a wounded animal. In less than 50 yards, I spotted
her laying still in the underbrush.
A moment of thanks, a drag back to the canoe and a few photos, then it was time for
field dressing. After wrapping her in a mesh bag, it was into the canoe, to the truck
and off to the processor.
The bow used was a James Parker Bamboo Dragon longbow. It pulls 61# at 31". The
arrows were Port Orford cedar that I had fletched, crested and tipped with 125 grain
Woodsman broadheads.
James Parker is a skilled North Carolina bowyer and master flintknapper. He is also
a black belt in a couple of martial arts disciplines. Check out his website at:
http://www.huntworthyproductions.com/.
soar. As always, the pre-season jitters kept me awake the night before in
anticipation of the adventure ahead.
The canoe moved silently through the pre-dawn stillness. The only things stirring
were the beavers that swam nearby and the slap of their tails on the water
signalling their disapproval of my presence. Further up the river, luminous eyes
peered at me from the darkness of the foliage along the shoreline.
Despite getting an early start, the sky was beginning to have a pale glow preceding
full light. I hurried to the hunting site and unloaded the climbing stand, backpack,
bow and quiver. After stringing the bow, a quick visit to the trail cam revealed
recent visits by several does.
The stand was hung, ascension was accomplished. hooks inserted into tree for
backpack and quiver and now the waiting began. Fear that the slightly late arrival
may have spooked some nearby deer ran through my mind.
The stand site was a natural funnel between a large pond and the river. The
corridor was about 75 yards wide connecting nearby hardwood upland with a lush,
overgrown marshland. Three trails coursed through the funnel---one near the river,
one along a small outlet stream from the pond and another along the edge of the
pond. The stand site was along the outlet stream.
About 30 minutes after taking the stand, a doe was spotted moving along the trail
bordering the pond shoreline. It was too far for a shot, so I used a can call to make
a bleat. The doe stopped immediately. I called twice more. She turned and
backtracked into heavy vegetation, out of my sight. My guess was that she would
move stealthily toward me to check out the strange doe call.
The guess was right. She emerged from the brush and moved quietly along the
stream. A large fawn and three more does followed single file behind her. I locked
onto her and slowly raised my bow. The arrow flew at the release, but went under
her. She jumped and moved about 5 yards father away and I shot again, missing
another time. She disappeared into the brush to my right and the others spooked
back the way they had come, from my left.
Disappointment is just a word, but it was real to me at that point. I had blown my
chance! Probably no more deer would come my way this morning.
To my surprise, about 45 minutes later, a movement was spotted to my left.
Watching intently, the movement turned into a deer. It came along the same trail as
earlier and jumped to my side of the stream. Again, I could seen the others trailing
her. I couldn't believe she was back. As she passed by at 18 yards, the arrow was
released from the longbow and smacked her with a thud. It hit a bone and didn't
pass through, but part of the shaft broke off as she brushed against a tree.
After 30 minutes, I climbed down and hunted the first two arrows to let more time
elapse before trailing the doe. Luckily, both were recovered.
The site of the hit was located and the partial shaft was found, covered with blood.
Due to striking a bone and not passing through, the blood trail was non-existent.
Looking at the trails and the logical direction the deer would travel, I followed
slowly, looking ahead in case of a wounded animal. In less than 50 yards, I spotted
her laying still in the underbrush.
A moment of thanks, a drag back to the canoe and a few photos, then it was time for
field dressing. After wrapping her in a mesh bag, it was into the canoe, to the truck
and off to the processor.
The bow used was a James Parker Bamboo Dragon longbow. It pulls 61# at 31". The
arrows were Port Orford cedar that I had fletched, crested and tipped with 125 grain
Woodsman broadheads.
James Parker is a skilled North Carolina bowyer and master flintknapper. He is also
a black belt in a couple of martial arts disciplines. Check out his website at:
http://www.huntworthyproductions.com/.
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| Purchase replica stone projectile points hand-knapped by L. Ross for the low price of $3.95 each. See product page to order and for details on multiple points and shipping. |
| Presentation grade points |
Join L. Woodrow Ross for instruction in primitive lifestyle and survival skills that will
bring you closer to nature and give you an appreciation for the challenges that our
ancestors faced daily. Camp under the stars and breath the fresh air and pungent
aroma of wood smoke as you immerse yourself in an intense course of study. Hands-
on practice will help each individual to attain long-forgotten skills in today’s world of
automation and media.
bring you closer to nature and give you an appreciation for the challenges that our
ancestors faced daily. Camp under the stars and breath the fresh air and pungent
aroma of wood smoke as you immerse yourself in an intense course of study. Hands-
on practice will help each individual to attain long-forgotten skills in today’s world of
automation and media.
| Session Dates Two day sessions -- May 21-22 -- June 18-19 -- July 16-17 (10:00 a.m. Sat. until 4:00 p.m. Sunday) One day sessions -- April 30 – June 4 – August 6 (9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.) To reserve date or request brochure, contact me on contact page, by e-mail at lross3871@charter.net or call (864) 238-1944 |
Location: Primary location will be at Pleasant Ridge Camp and Retreat Center, 4232
Highway 11, Marietta, SC. This location is approximately 12 miles north of Travelers
Rest. Campsites are currently under construction, but scheduled for completion by
end of April.
Brick House Campground, Whitmire, SC, is an optional location in the event of
delays. Location is on Highway #66, west of highway #26 and approximately a one
hour drive southeast from Greenville and Anderson, and south from Spartanburg.
Highway 11, Marietta, SC. This location is approximately 12 miles north of Travelers
Rest. Campsites are currently under construction, but scheduled for completion by
end of April.
Brick House Campground, Whitmire, SC, is an optional location in the event of
delays. Location is on Highway #66, west of highway #26 and approximately a one
hour drive southeast from Greenville and Anderson, and south from Spartanburg.
Learn to flint knap, make cordage from natural fibers, start a fire with a bow drill or flint and steel, identify animal tracks
and fashion primitive tools. In addition, learn general woodcraft, bird identification, valuable plants and more.
Become comfortable in the natural world and how you fit into the grand scheme of nature.
and fashion primitive tools. In addition, learn general woodcraft, bird identification, valuable plants and more.
Become comfortable in the natural world and how you fit into the grand scheme of nature.
| scroll down to see seminar information |