Embracing nearly lost arts which include chipping out stone arrowheads and other aboriginal techniques, experienced hunters like Reese are discovering primitive archery is a new, if somewhat ironic way to become a serious hunter. Illinois last year joined the 22 other states nationwide which allow stone-tipped arrow points for legal deer hunting. Their effectiveness throughout the ages, supporters say, made legalization a natural choice. Reese asks rhetorically. Far from novelty seekers, these neo-traditional hunters say letting go of modern technology and all of its advantages requires nothing less than real dedication to doing things the hard way.
Primitive bows have an admittedly limited range compared with today's lightning-fast compound bows.
It takes a lot more work to shoot a traditional bow, especially a self-made bow. But at close range, the differences vanish, says Reese, who raves about the cutting power of stone-tipped arrows. It went in just as far as a metal head did. In spite of the challenge of going for simplicity, a surprising number of hunters are suddenly going for the no-nonsense approach to ancient archery, Jones says. For Decatur-area flintknapper Don Smith, who sells the stone arrow points to hunters, the interest is picking up in business.