The mighty yet under appreciated survival bow.

While firearms rightfully get a ton of attention, the survival bow gets less than it should.

A takedown bow is a huge survival advantage.

It should find a home in our survival arsenal and bug out bag.

Survival bows break down into a compact assembly making them ideal for packing into a bug out bag or stashing in a bug out vehicle.

It’s such a valuable survival tool that I was able to come up with 16 reasons to own one and learn survival archery.

This takedown bow only weights 2.7 lbs.

So it can easily be a part of a skilled survivalist’s bug out bag without having to compromise much on overall bag weight.

Whenever you’re looking at adding a new piece of survival gear to your arsenal, weight matters.

Bows: A decent takedown bow will cost about $150 and last you a lifetime…if you take care of it.

Arrows: Twelve arrows to go with it will put you back about $30.

Now let’s compare that with a basic hunting rifle.

Even a Synthetic Handi-Rifle (one of the lowest priced hunting rifles I know of) is going to cost at least $250 and that’s before ammo expenses.

Most “affordable” hunting rifles are in the $450 range.

So for the money, a folding takedown bow is a solid investment.

Hunting: They can take down most animals with a good shot. They are able to take down something as small as a squirrel or as large as a deer.

Self Defense: They can take down a human if necessary.

Now, I’m not going so far as saying that I’d prefer a survival bow if up against someone with firepower. That’s not what I’m saying…

However, if the stranger has a knife, then a takedown bow would be a good weapon to have.

Basically, it can be an effective self-defense weapon in many situations, which adds to its versatility.

You can buy one without having to register it like you do a gun. Walk into your favorite hunting store, buy it, and walk out with no questions asked.

You can even buy one online and have it shipped directly to your door.

Plus, if you put a survival bow and arrow in the right person’s hands, it can be nearly as deadly as a gun.

When you shoot it, it won’t garner any unwanted attention.

With guns, everyone within a mile or two will know someone just shot a gun and may just decide to investigate.

You can shoot a bow without letting every neighbor know that you just got dinner.

An overall excellent survival tool for stealth and evasion.

Sure, arrows won’t last forever, but they will last much longer than a bullet.

If used properly a dozen arrow will last years. So 100 arrows and you may be set for life.

If you get 100 bullets you’ll be good for a month (depending on how bad it gets).

Ok…I admit this one’s pure speculation, but let’s say a criminal breaks into your truck and sees a rifle, shotgun or handgun…you know it’s gone.

If they see a folded up takedown bow:

They might not know what it is

Have no idea how to use it

Have no clue what it’s worth

They might take it or maybe they might not…with a gun, you can kiss it goodbye 100% of the time.

The overall design of a survival bow and arrow is so simple.

This makes them a light and portable bow but also makes them easier to repair.

If you ever need to prove your skills to another group of survivalists, shooting a takedown bow accurately will impress them.

Garnering respect in times of anarchy might just keep you alive.

If your survival group gets split up you might have to try and join a new survival coalition and most will only want those who can pull their own weight.

Being a survival bow and arrow marksman has many uses…they will recognize that you’re one to pull your own weight.

If you practice and hone your skill, it is one that will stay with you the rest of your life.

No matter how bad things get, the knowledge and ability cannot be taken away from you(especially if you learn to make a bow out of wood).

It can obviously be used to kill (animals or humans). It can also be used for signaling.

If you are coordinating with a group and you want to notify that group visually, then you could shoot an arrow to a predetermined location that would signal something to your team members (and do it silently).

Also, some of the individual parts of a takedown bow can also be used for other tasks.

The bowstring is typically between 4 and 6 feet in length and is very strong. Strong bowstring can be used for:

Building shelters

Setting up snare traps in the wild

Substitute it for fishing line

To create a bow drill for making fire with sticks

The arrows are also multi-use parts which are perfectly suited to be used on the tip of a short spear to gig frogs, fish or small game.

Broadheads can also be latched to a longer spear to take down larger prey.

If a child finds a loaded gun without a trigger lock, they could easily pull the trigger hurting themselves or someone else by accident.

If a child finds a takedown bow, they will have to unfold it, notch an arrow, and pull back on the drawstring and let go (in my opinion this is a low probability event).

You can make your own longbow and craft arrows using primitive bushcraft skills if you know what you are doing.

I’m not suggesting making your own bow is easy or even that it’s a great use of your time and energy, but it can be done.

You can’t say the same thing for most other weapons.

Ever heard of a bow and arrow jamming? Me neither.

There are no complex mechanical parts that will fail you when you need it the most.

Revolvers are the guns least likely to jam since they are much simpler in design than other types of guns but survival bows are even simpler.

Shotguns blast a hole in anything in its path or surrounding it. Have you ever shot a squirrel with a shotgun?

Not much left of it…

With an arrow, it’s going to keep the collateral damage to a minimum.

It will kill its intended target but leave the surrounding area relatively untouched.

You can purchase as many survival bows as you want.

You can purchase 20 of them to give away as gifts. The government is not currently trying to regulate the bow and arrow market at all.

I’ve yet to hear the term “Bow and Arrow Control”.

It’s a survival weapon that’s completely off the government’s radar.

Time To Sound Off

So what do YOU think? Did I miss anything? Do you disagree with my assessments? Are you going to get one today?

Let me know in the comments so we can continue this conversation.

Remember: Prepare, Adapt and Overcome,

“Just In Case” Jack

p.s. – A friend of mine was living in Lousiana when Hurricane Katrina devastated the area.

AND he was visiting his family in Houston during Hurricane Harvey!

Can you image? What bad luck…