It’s better to stick with a longer stick rather than a shorter stick - you can always break part of a stick off if it’s too long, but there’s no way to make a short stick longer.
Alternatively, you can use sharp pieces of bone if they’re available. [3] X Research source If you’re in an area known for volcanic activity (such as the Hawaiian islands), you may even want to look for naturally-occurring obsidian around old, cooled lava flows. If you’re very dedicated (or lucky), you might be able to find an actual arrowhead - that is, a specially-sharpened rock used by an ancient culture to tip an arrow. Arrowheads are occasionally recovered from places where the earth has been disturbed, such as recently-plowed fields, construction sites, and riverbeds.
The feathers aren’t absolutely necessary, but they will improve your arrow’s accuracy by stabilizing it as it flies.
Traditionally, a thin cotton thread would be used to tie the feathers on by ruffling them the wrong way so a gap appeared to place the string while the feather was held to the shaft. You may choose to replicate this practice if you desire. If you do, wrap the thread around the feathers so that they’re tightly held against the shaft of the arrow, then glue the thread in place.
If you want to make your own shafts, be sure your shafts are the correct length for your bow setup. If you plan on making your shafts from wood, you may want to have access to a lathe to help round square shafts to a perfect roundness.
A arrow-squaring device can be a tremendous help - these ensure that the shaft is held perfectly straight as it is abraded. Arrow-squaring devices are fairly cheap - often retailing for less than $50.
For metal or carbon shafts, you may need to first glue or screw in a special metal insert before affixing the point. Consult the vendor or manufacturer if instructions aren’t included with the point or insert. For wooden shafts, you may need to taper the shaft so that the point can be mounted securely. Glue the point over the shaft with archery glue, wiping away any excess.
Make sure your nock is sized correctly so that it fits securely to the shaft before you glue it or screw it in. You definitely don’t want a poorly-fitted nock to slip or fall off when you draw your bowstring.
Fletching is much easier with an apparatus called a “fletching jig. " These allow you to securely and accurately add your feathers or vanes and ensure that your spacing is perfectly even. Fletching jigs are available for less than $100.
As always, make sure never to fire your arrow at people or animals (unless you’re on a legal hunting trip). Modern commercial arrow points are deadly sharp - an accident can result in serious injury or death.
