I was watching a "survival" show by Bear Grylls the other day. It was season two of "The Island". Very entertaining for multiple reasons, but the thought came to me that on all these shows when people are in survival situations usually bows arent terribly effective. Which is odd considering they are the best primitive weapon in the history of man.

What would you choose if you were dropped off on a large island for procuring wild game?

      No brainer for me... bow and arrow.  Accuracy, range, ease of use, variety of game it can bring down.  Bow and arrow, no question. 
    That said I'd also make a sling and use it for certain purposes.  Slings are easy to make and carry, often the ammo is laying at your feet,  and they can be used in situations where you might not want to risk or waste an arrow.   And I'd make an atlatl for bringing down large game. 
    
Edit:  I wasn't thinking snares, traps, and such when I wrote this.  I would have at least a hundred snares set around my camp.  It would be nuts not to.   And if near water I'd definitely make a W type fish trap and a fish basket.  I'd probably have some deadfall traps set too.  And if there was large game around I might make some pit traps too.

I agree that a bow would be best though I am pretty biased.

Looking back on all the shows like this the order of effectiveness seems to be -

Nets for fish
Spearfishing/Pole fishing
Trapping
Spears (oddly enough)
Bows
And everything else.

It definitely makes me wonder what would be best.

I'd go for a bow too, but also make a spear, sling, traps, etc. The only problem is that I'd need some sort of knife to make more weapons. Maybe an improvised stone knife or axe would work.

Bows seem like they need a decent amount of experience to make right (I'm just guessing, though, as I haven't tried), which would explain their low effectiveness in survival shows. Most people would probably mess up and have a sub-par bow. All of the other weapons that you listed as more effective than the bow are relatively simple to construct and use proficiently, so they would be very effective for the average person.

For me, a snare : collar.

Eino wrote on Jul 10^th, 2023 at 12:55pm:

I'd go for a bow too, but also make a spear, sling, traps, etc. The only problem is that I'd need some sort of knife to make more weapons. Maybe an improvised stone knife or axe would work. Bows seem like they need a decent amount of experience to make right (I'm just guessing, though, as I haven't tried), which would explain their low effectiveness in survival shows. Most people would probably mess up and have a sub-par bow. All of the other weapons that you listed as more effective than the bow are relatively simple to construct and use proficiently, so they would be very effective for the average person.

Even a sub-par bow would be effective.  You would be lacking some power and range but as long as you made your arrows perfectly straight you would still be accurate. 

Rat Man wrote on Jul 12^th, 2023 at 1:02am:

Even a sub-par bow would be effective.  You would be lacking some power and range but as long as you made your arrows perfectly straight you would still be accurate.

Good point. Even a semi-flexible stick with string tied to it would most likely shoot decently enough to take down small game or maybe wound a larger animal.

EDIT: I just came across a video that proves a sub-par bow works pretty well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbd90L3NU2Y

Really depends on the environment you’re looking at. Here in my local area A pole spear (rubber powered) and a mask with no regulations on fishing sizes or species. You would find it rare to go a single day without catching some fish . The food is that abundant and easy to find and catch . Now if I couldn’t go near the sea in my area I would be hard pressed with any weapon to produce food every day.
In general hunting with a bow is a great option but from what I see on these survival shows the best thing is a trap of some type. It allows you to perform other tasks instead of actually hunting. Set lines , nets , deadfall’s snares ect.

    Just covering ground can be a useful tactic also.  In a survival situation coming across a turtle is a big score.  And snakes are usually out sunning themselves during the day and aren't hard to catch.  You might come across a bird's nest with eggs.  You don't know what you might luck into. 

Domt trust bear Grylls, he has been proven to be a fake, and a showman.

vetryan15 wrote on Jul 16^th, 2023 at 5:40am:

Domt trust bear Grylls, he has been proven to be a fake, and a showman.

Plus he drinks elephant dung water.  :-X

vetryan15 wrote on Jul 16^th, 2023 at 5:40am:

Domt trust bear Grylls, he has been proven to be a fake, and a showman.

While most of these shows are scripted to a greater or lesser extent there is nothing stopping someone from actually hunting on these types of shows.

Some shows are pretty legit. Alone is a good one. Naked and Afraid is fairly good as well. There has been some scandals on that one but for the most part these people are losing too much weight in such a short period for there not to be an element of realism in it.

Rat Man wrote on Jul 16^th, 2023 at 7:32am:

vetryan15 wrote on Jul 16th, 2023 at 5:40am: Domt trust bear Grylls, he has been proven to be a fake, and a showman. Plus he drinks elephant dung water.  :-X

Stay away from people who drink elephant dung water. They may try to offer it to you.

From what I've heard, yes, the shows are scripted or at least dramatized for the sake of TV entertainment.



Morphy wrote on Jul 16^th, 2023 at 9:02am:

While most of these shows are scripted to a greater or lesser extent there is nothing stopping someone from actually hunting on these types of shows.

And I'd bet anyone here would actually hunt if they were on the show

Eino wrote on Jul 16^th, 2023 at 10:33am:

Rat Man wrote on Jul 16th, 2023 at 7:32am: vetryan15 wrote on Jul 16th, 2023 at 5:40am: Domt trust bear Grylls, he has been proven to be a fake, and a showman. Plus he drinks elephant dung water.  :-X Stay away from people who drink elephant dung water. They may try to offer it to you. From what I've heard, yes, the shows are scripted or at least dramatized for the sake of TV entertainment. Morphy wrote on Jul 16th, 2023 at 9:02am: While most of these shows are scripted to a greater or lesser extent there is nothing stopping someone from actually hunting on these types of shows. And I'd bet anyone here would actually hunt if they were on the show

Sounds like a great vacation.  :)

   I watch most of the survival shows.  One can learn something from even the most ridiculous of them like Dual Survival.  And they're all entertaining, at least to me.   IMO the most real one is Survivor Man.  No camera crew, no directors, no medical team, no back up of any sort.  Just Les and his cameras. 

Les Stroud is a legend.

Eino wrote on Jul 12^th, 2023 at 12:07pm:

Rat Man wrote on Jul 12th, 2023 at 1:02am: Even a sub-par bow would be effective.  You would be lacking some power and range but as long as you made your arrows perfectly straight you would still be accurate.  Good point. Even a semi-flexible stick with string tied to it would most likely shoot decently enough to take down small game or maybe wound a larger animal. EDIT: I just came across a video that proves a sub-par bow works pretty well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbd90L3NU2Y

    To me many of the modern, high tech bows look comical and ridiculous.  Like if you use one for hunting your prey dies of laughter and you don't even have to shoot it.  IMHO one doesn't need all of that junk.  Just give me a well crafted wooden bow and I'm a happy camper. 

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Rat Man wrote on Jul 19^th, 2023 at 11:35am:

To me many of the modern, high tech bows look comical and ridiculous.  Like if you use one for hunting your prey dies of laughter and you don't even have to shoot it.  IMHO one doesn't need all of that junk.  Just give me a well crafted wooden bow and I'm a happy camper.

I agree, modern bows are pretty overengineered. But if it kills your prey from laughter, I guess it's effective and ammunition efficient! ;D

First choice - 45 lb bow with a couple dozen arrows.

Throw an engine and a couple more wheels on that thing and you can ride it back to civilization.

Morphy wrote on Jul 20^th, 2023 at 12:43am:

Throw an engine and a couple more wheels on that thing and you can ride it back to civilization.

Now that would be an interesting sight to see :D

   It would be difficult if not impossible to construct one in the wild but a slingshot would be a very effective way to kill small game.  At close range they are very accurate and they are easy to use.