Page 38 - ODO 2024 JanFeb online version

DARRIN HILL/ODWC it earns its place in the handmade
hunting quiver.
Flies’ bow has no sight, so he
devotes a lot of time learning to
shoot accurately. Proficiency requires
patience, skill, and dedication.
“I think we owe it to the animal to
be as ethical as we can be.
“Also, when you have built this
equipment, you’re invested. It means
more than something you’ve just
gone to buy at the store.”
When September rolled around,
Flies had an unexpected chance
to go bear hunting in Arkansas. On
Sept. 18, he finally took a black bear

“When you have built this

equipment, you’re invested .
It means more than
something you’ve just gone
to buy at the store .”

sow with the primitive equipment he
had made. “The weapon is so limit-
ing, and you have to get close.
“When it all comes together, it's
the most rewarding experience I
could ever imagine in hunting.”
Then it was on to Oklahoma and
Caleb Flies displays some of the primitive archery black obsidian, which is volcanic Oct. 1. His hunting spot is on land
equipment he hand-makes at his home near
Newalla, including the Ravenclaw 59-inch, 55@26 glass. Like many other materials, he that belongs to his mother’s family,
Osage selfbow with copperhead skins and flax
fiber linen string, along with flint and obsidian for sources the obsidian by trading or near Rich Mountain in southeastern
knapping arrowheads.
buying the natural materials from Oklahoma’s McCurtain County. Sitting
The bow-building process has taken suppliers. He said flintknapping in his tree stand, Flies can see the
him years to learn. It started when he isn’t his strong suit, so he chose place where his grandfather had lived.
attended his first OJAM event in 2017, obsidian because it’s a bit easier “It holds a special place in my heart,
a selfbow jamboree held annually by to work with. To practice creating that area. And I think Grandpa would
the Oklahoma Selfbow Society. Over points, he uses regular glass from be proud and excited to see me hunt-
the years, he has learned how to con- the hardware store. ing in a place where he grew up.”
dition, shape and string the staves, cre- Once arrows are balanced and The morning was mild, and it would
ate arrows, and knap the stone points. nocks are carved into the shaft end, soon warm into the 80s. Shortly after
OJAM keeps the art form alive, he said. he mounts a practice point and test- sunrise, a black bear sow with two
On this hunt, Flies is using hand- fires each arrow just once into a cubs approached his stand. Flies
crafted arrows with stone points of foam block. If the arrow flies true, wasn’t going to take a sow with cubs.

36 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA