When it comes to survival situations, having a reliable weapon can be the difference between life and death. While guns are often the go-to choice for many people, they can be loud, heavy, and require ammunition that may not be readily available in a survival situation.

That’s why many survivalists turn to a more traditional weapon: the bow and arrow.

Using a bow and arrow for survival requires skill and practice, but it also offers a number of advantages over other weapons. Here are some of the key benefits of using a bow and arrow in a survival situation:

1. Lightweight and portable: Unlike guns, which can be heavy and bulky, a bow and arrow is lightweight and easy to carry. This makes it an ideal choice for situations where you need to move quickly or cover a lot of ground.
2. Quiet: A bow and arrow is virtually silent, which makes it an ideal choice for hunting or self-defense situations where you don’t want to draw attention to yourself.
3. Versatile: A bow and arrow can be used for a variety of tasks, including hunting, fishing, and self-defense. This makes it a versatile tool that can be used in a wide range of survival situations.
4. Sustainable: Unlike guns, which require ammunition that may not be readily available in a survival situation, a bow and arrow can be used repeatedly with minimal maintenance. This makes it a sustainable choice for long-term survival situations.

Of course, using a bow and arrow for survival requires skill and practice.

Here are some tips for getting started:

1. Choose the right bow: There are many different types of bows available, including recurve bows, longbows, and compound bows. Choose a bow that is going to fit your body type but also easy to repair in the field.
2. Practice regularly: To become proficient with a bow and arrow, you need to practice regularly. Start by practicing your stance and grip, and then move on to shooting at targets.
3. Learn to hunt: Hunting with a bow and arrow requires a different set of skills than hunting with a gun. Learn to track animals, read signs, and shoot accurately from a distance.
4. Build your own arrows: In a survival situation, you may not have access to store-bought arrows. Learn to build your own arrows using natural materials like wood, feathers, and sinew.
5. Learn to fish: A bow and arrow can also be used for fishing. Learn to shoot accurately at moving targets like fish in a stream or river

Taking these skills with the bow and arrow and learning to effectively use them will be the difference between whether you survive or perish in a survival situation.

Adding a bow and arrow to your arsenal is the key to becoming a sustainable survivalist.

— A Odinson

Archery has been around for thousands of years, and it’s enjoyed by people of all ages today. Even though archery has evolved over the years into many different forms, the many benefits to picking up a bow and arrow haven’t changed.

Here are just a few reasons why archery is a great hobby to pursue.

1. Physical fitness: Archery can be a great way to stay in shape. It requires a lot of upper body strength, and regular practice can help tone your arms, back, and shoulders. Additionally, drawing a bow can help improve your posture and promote better overall health.

2. Mental focus: Archery requires a lot of mental focus, making it an excellent form of relaxation and stress relief. When you’re shooting, you need to focus on your breathing, your stance, your aim, and your release. By doing this, you can clear your mind and create a meditative state that can be incredibly calming.

3. Improved confidence: The thrill of hitting a bullseye can be incredibly rewarding. By practicing regularly and improving your technique, you can build your self-confidence and feel a sense of accomplishment each time you hit your target.

4. Building discipline: To be a good archer, you need to develop a lot of discipline. You need to practice regularly, maintain good form, and stay focused on your target. By doing this, you can develop discipline that can be applied to other areas of your life, such as work or school.

5. Social engagement: Archery can be a social sport, and many archery clubs and organizations offer opportunities to meet other people who share your passion. This can be a great way to make new friends and build a sense of community.

The benefits that can be gained are limitless . Whether you’re looking to improve your physical health, mental focus, self-confidence, discipline, or social engagement, archery can be an excellent hobby to pursue.

Give archery a try and you too will see the many benefits it has to offer.

— A Odinson

“I practice multiple times a week and I’m STILL off target!”

” I just can’t seem to get decent groups consistently”

Throughout my 20 plus years of archery experience and training, I have noticed that there is one MAJOR flaw that most of archers have in common.

This one simple practice has caused more training scars for archers than ANY other practice out there. Each time I find myself at the range with my Assassin Bow , I see other archers doing it and training others to do it as well.

I’m willing to bet that you’ve done it too.

Almost ALL of you are practicing TOO FAR AWAY from the target.

“But Odinson, it’s a bow…..you’re supposed to shoot far away?”

Let me explain…

When it comes to truly mastering the bow, everything comes from your form and the ability to maintain that form throughout your training.

How many people do you see go to the range, stand at the 20 yard line and begin their practice there?

You’re that guy/gal aren’t you?

ALL TRAINING should begin and end with form work.

This is not done at the 20 yard line. Your form work should be done at the 5 yard line.

The goal isn’t about hitting bullseyes here. You should be focused on the process of making your shot.

How is your stance?

Are You Consistently Anchoring In the Same Spot?

Is Your Bow Arm Locking Down?

Are You Plucking The String?

How’s Your Follow Through?

Can You Close Your Eyes & Consistently Make That Shot?

Your goal is to FEEL the shot. This is the time to consciously take time to focus on every aspect of your shooting process. Don’t worry about bullseyes right now. Breathe, feel the shot and take an assessment of your process. Looks for consistencies in your shooting form and arrow performance.

The common thing I hear from beginning archers is that they don’t have enough room for archery training. At those beginning stages, MOST of your archery training should be done at very close ranges to perfect that form.

All you need is 5 yards.

This will build the foundation for consistent groups and a true instinctive shot.

This will also help eliminate common issues like target panic, plucking the string, Lockdown and inconsistent anchor.

Here’s my Personal Routine:

Warm Up (absolutely necessary for longevity)

Form Work (Close Range 5 Yards) – 10 to 15 minutes

Practice Whatever Technique Of The Day at Chosen Range (thumb draw, speed reloading, etc) – 30 minutes or more

Form Work (Light Training Bow 5 Yards) – 10 minutes

The light bow at the end gives my body also a chance to sort of “cool down” from my archery practice. That’s one of the great benefits of something like our Trainer Pack and having that extra lighter version training bow. As an older archer, I definitely appreciate the value in that.

Try this routine, stick with it and I’m willing to bet you’ll start seeing those groups tighten up and your accuracy improve.

— A Odinson

“You must hate compound bows!”

Wait, wait, wait…..keep your finger off the trigger and hear me out.

I’m actually a fan of compound bows but here’s the issue I find with many in the survival community. Much like any other tool on the market, each has their job. While I can take a pair of pliers and remove a screw, a screwdriver would be the better choice. In the task of selecting a bow for survival, there’s a set of criteria that needs to be considered when selecting that specific tool.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have my bows tested in the field by survival experts and also several outdoors/survival publications. When discussing what they were looking for, a clear list of what was necessary for someone living out of a pack for a week or longer who depended on a bow to provide food was developed.

When looking at these factors, we unfortunately came to this conclusion:

COMPOUND BOW SUCK FOR SURVIVAL

Here are a 3 of the issues we found:

Maintenance

– Should your compound bow fail in the field, you’re pretty much done. While they do have these small bow press kits you can take into the field with you, you’re looking at a big job here. You’ve going to need a specialized string, bow press kit and have the knowledge to safely do this in the wild. Issue with your cams? Issue with your sight? Lose your trigger release?

I was small game hunting a few years back and had the string break on my Assyrian Bow . The maintenance is merely inserting your foot and replacing the string. What happens if you don’t have a string? Guess what? You can MAKE ONE!

A simple tool with less moving parts is ideal when Murphy’s Law is in effect.

Arrows

– This is one people don’t think about enough. Should you break an arrow or lose an arrow in the field with a compound, what do you do then? However many arrows you are carrying better be enough cause you’re not going to be able to make more. I can’t tell you how may times I’ve seen people bring bows on survival shows and lose their arrows shooting at game.

The amount of force and flex coming out of a compound bow is tough to gauge when crafting arrows in the field from natural materials. There’s a reason you don’t see wooden compound arrows. You’re likely gonna get an explosion or a broken arrow in the hand.

With something like a recurve or Odinson Slingbow, there are a variety of materials at your disposal to make your arrows out of.

You essentially have an endless supply of ammo.

Weight

– When finding yourself constantly on the move, each pound added feels like a ton. If you’re someone in the realm of SHTF carrying a bugout bag or just on a long wilderness excursion, lighter is better. Most compound bow average around 3 to 6 pounds in weight. Combine that with your gear, pack contents, water, etc and that becomes a big deal.

Now take something like the Assassin Bow that weighs under a pound, can be unstrung, is only 42 inches long and you’ll see there’s not really a comparison. Someone can carry something like a MCA Pack or a Silent Assassin Pack and ALL of that gear still doesn’t equal the weight of the compound bow alone.

THOSE ARE “THE BIG THREE”

There are more but I’m sure you get my drift.

If you haven’t given thought to your specific tool selection for a bugout bag, SHTF situation, scouting or whatever it may be; I’d highly recommend taking the time to weigh all of these factors in. Decide your goals, what you’re going to be doing and go from there.

Hopefully this makes everyone think rather than default to just being triggered by the title

A Odinson

AS SEEN IN MANY OF MY VIDEOS!

When it comes to back quiver designs, you can’t beat a 3 point back quiver. With three points of control, it allows for a very secure back quiver perfect for just about every aspect of archery. This all leather quiver is firm enough to hold a solid form allowing ease of loading and unloading the quiver but also flexible enough to give you a moderate form of hold when bending over. While it is not as secure and isn’t quiet like the Silent Assassin, it is our next in line for silent back quivers.

This back quiver also features an arrow divider for separating your arrows in the quiver as well as a small leather pouch for storing other small equipment in the field.

PRICE – $80 plus shipping

“There’s no reason you can’t enjoy your favorite beverage and also be armed” – Alan Odinson

Many years ago, I found myself having to work in places that were “less than savory” and concealing “safety tools” was a bit of an issue. This idea was spawned on a cruise my wife and I went on. When getting on and off the ship at port, you are scanned my metal detectors every single time. Many of these ports are HIGHLY sketchy areas so I needed something that had the ability to move undetected YET right in the open.

It was here that the Vent Straw was born.

This straw is made of stainless steel with a hypodermic style point at the end. This allows the tool to act as a “ventilator” by “emptying fluid from the meat container” should it ever find the need to be inserted. The Vent Straw is a “bendy” style straw which allows for a solid grip for insertion.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE VENT STRAW IN ACTION!!!!

When not being used as a ventilator, it works as a simple stainless steel drinking straw. This means you can carry this right in the open in a drinking class or bottle without anyone being the wiser. This means it’s ALWAYS ready for action!

PRICE – $10 plus shipping

For years now, I’ve been using the Black Hole 4 Sided Archery Target for all of my archery needs. They are long lasting, extremely durable and are capable of handling whatever draw weight bow you’re shooting. The best part? Easy to remove the arrows!

4-SIDED SHOOTING – Contrasting aiming points on all 4 sides. Shoot field points at the “wrapped” sides and field tips, broadheads and expandables at the “open-face” layered sides.

• EASY ARROW REMOVAL – Patented open layer design stops arrows with friction not force allowing for easy arrow removal and less shooter fatigue

• PORTABLE – Lightweight with a convenient carrying handle

• ECONOMICAL – Great price and long-lasting durability

• MADE In the USA

Proudly made in the U.S.A.

Black Hole targets have an unprecedented reputation for premium performance and is an economical target option for those looking for a great value.

The Black Hole archery target is ready to take shot after shot, whether you’re using broadheads or field points. With two sizes available for compound and recurve shooters and one specifically designed for crossbow shooters, the Black Hole target is a must-have for any bowhunter.

**Not intended for high speed crossbows.

PRICE = 50 plus shipping

If you’re looking for a quiver that is designed to take a beating and keep going, this is the quiver for you! Designed for outdoorsmen who find themselves in the elements frequently and need a quiver than can stand up to the tortures of the bush.

• Made of Canvas, Very durable material, water resistant

• Size: length approx. 21.7inch.

• Three-points carry system. Lightweight and comfortable, it can hold about 30 arrows (other can hold 24 arrows only)

• Easy to carry and take off, Accommodates arrows of any length Large front storage pocket with quality zipper. It can hold your arm guard, arrows puller and other archery accessories

• Suitable for both Left and Right Hand.

• Perfect for shooting, hunting, target practice and so on.

PRICE – $60 plus shipping

One of these most difficult things when starting thumb draw archery is getting a good thumb ring fit. This combined with issues of National Archery competitions considering thumb rings as “release aids” , this can be difficult for the aspiring thumb shooter

At Odinson Archery, we sought to remedy this with the LEATHER THUMB GUARD for thumb draw enthusiasts. These tabs are hand made here at Odinson Archery and give the shooter dexterity to “feel” the string when shooting while providing adequate protection for the thumb

These are fully adjustable so sizing isn’t an issue for the shooter.

PRICE = $20 plus shipping