Throwing Sticks Native Americans were skilled at Hunting

Throwing Sticks Native Americans were skilled at Hunting and Fishing

A Tribal Throwing Stick

• • The throwing stick or throwing club is one of the first hunting tools used by early humans and cultures all around the world. In essence, it is a short wooden club thrown as a projectile to hunt In flight, it rotates rapidly cracking the target with one of the ends and killing it The difference between a throwing stick and a javelin is found in their shapes and lengths. A javelin is almost always a straight shaft with either a pointed tip or a spearhead attached to the front end. A throwing stick can be straight like a pointed wooden shaft or curved like the boomerang

Boomerang • The throwing stick is a simple tool used in hunting small game. In particular, the Egyptians used throwing sticks to hunt (ducks) • Aborigines of Australia used the boomerang in hunting larger game. Returning boomerangs are found in many cultures and will return to the user if thrown properly (kangaroo, emu and wallaby) • Native American tribes such as the Hopi and all southern California tribes, used throwing sticks to hunt (squirrel, rabbit and birds)

• Throwing Sticks are one of the most ancient, yet effective tools for hunting small game. • Most are blunt, but can be pointed on the ends • The stick is typically 1 to 3 feet long depending on the size and strength of the user and the tribe • It is also very thick (about as big around as the wrist of the user) and heavy (typically made of hardwood)

Variations of the Throwing Stick Other titles for the throwing stick are: • • Rabbit Stick Bird Stick Game Stick Throwing Club Killer Stick Baton Boomerang Kylie

Overhand Throw

Sideways Throw

Bear Hunting Activity!

Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. What are precautions you should take when hunting with throwing sticks? Explain the overhand throw. What is the starting body position? What is the ending body position? Explain the sideways throw. What is the starting body position? What is the ending body position? How would you go about making a throwing stick?