Happy New Year Bowyer Family! I am happy to open 2025 by hosting long-time bowyer, survivalist, and outdoorsman Clay Hayes. Clay grew up in the panhandle of Florida where he spent much of his days exploring the native flora and fauna. Clay has been building bows for over two decades, and has published what is likely the largest archive of bowyer tutorials on his youtube channel. Clay and his family divide their time between their homestead in Idaho, and the swamps of Florida where they spend their time in the out of doors. 

Follow Clay At:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@clayhayeshunter

Instagram: @clayhayeshunter 

Website: https://www.twistedstave.com/

Keep this podcast on the radio waves. Support our show partners:

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On this week’s episode I chat with Czech bowyer , and pal of mine Mr. Zdnek - the Varangian Bowyer. Zdnek is a talented young bowyer, artist, and new father. He brings unique perspectives derived from his geographic location and cultural background that we do not typically get to hear about in the bowyer community. Sit back, listen, and enjoy. 

Find out more:

Varangian Bowyer

www.varangianbowyer.wordpress.com

Instagram: @varangianbowyer

Youtube: @varangianbowyer     

Keep this podcast on the radio waves. Support our show partners:

Polite But Dangerous Tools- Use discount code “bowyer” to save 10% off orders.

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On this week’s episode I sit down with seven other traditional bowhunters as we discuss a hunt recap aboard Homer Ocean Charters’ Valiant Maid fishing vessel. The fine folks from Compton Traditional Bowhunters put together this adventure hunt,which was composed of an eclectic group of hunters with different experience and skill levels, age classes, and perspectives. We chased the evasive Sitka blacktail deer up and down those steep Kodiak mountains, endured high winds and rain, thick vegetation; but also had a few sunny days, full bellies, and lots of fellowship. 

Find out more:

Compton Traditional Bowhunters

Instagram: @comptontraditional        

Website: www.comptontraditionalbowhunters.com

Homer Ocean Charters

Website: www.homerocean.com

Keep this podcast on the radio waves. Support our show partners:

Polite But Dangerous Tools- Use discount code “bowyer” to save 10% off orders.

https://politebutdangeroustools.square.site/

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In this episode I sit down with Trent Wengerd, of Wengerd Archery. As crazy as it sounds, Trent started making bows at the young age of 12 years old! While his first models may not have been anything to write home about (Trent’s words), who else can say they started this craft at such a young age? Nowadays, the bows that come from Wengerd are arguably some of the best in the business. In addition, Trent is a talented craftsman and wood worker, family man, and spends much of his time hunting big game in the Rocky Mountains of the American West. While the intent was to dive deeply into the inner workings of Wengerd Archery, we spent much of our time chatting about hunting and hearing about an epic mountain goat hunt that Trent had with his son. 

I’m also joined by fellow bowyer and pal Peyton Owens, who filled the role of co-host on the episode. I look forward to having Trent on the show again in the coming months and diving deeper into the amazing bows that come from the Wengerd Archery shop. 

Wengard Archery: www.wengerdarchery.com 

Instagram: @wengerdbowyer 

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This episode dives deep into the world of traditional bow making as our host interviews Per Frieden, a Swedish bowyer and outdoorsman. Per shares his journey into crafting self-bows, starting from humble beginnings to creating functional works of art. From managing forestry in Sweden to teaching bow making classes, Per’s passion for craftsmanship shines through. The conversation covers everything from the challenges of working with hand tools and splicing billets to experimenting with fish skin bow backings. It’s a blend of inspiration, humor, and actionable insights for anyone curious about this ancient craft.

Check out our show sponsors:

Polite But Dangerous Tools- Use discount code “bowyer” to save 10% off orders.

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Vuni Gear- Use discount code “bowyer15” to save 15% off your order.

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On this week’s episode I sit down with Dan Santana to continue our Bowyer in the Making series. During Volume II of the series we discuss bow design and layout, tools, bow woods, making board bows, drying bow wood, and prepping the back of the bow. Stay tuned for Volume III of the series which should publish in mid-December. 

Reference Videos:

Quick Drying Bow Wood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZNfGMDLvKg&t=129s&pp=ygUXZGFuIHNhbnRhbmEgYm93cyBkcnlpbmc%3D

Board Bow Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htMTnZiRcHk&t=1225s&pp=ygUVZGFuIHNhbnRhbmEgYm9hcmQgYm93

The Back of the Bow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Soc6zGGqHXk&list=PLi5Xnel2aIJbu4eFn1MvC_w7cGVIPCFwD&index=2&t=1843s

Find Dan on his website, YouTube channel, or the r/Bowyer forum.

www.dansantanabows.com 

YouTube.com/DanSantanaBows

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bowyer/

Check out our show sponsors:

Polite But Dangerous Tools- Use discount code “bowyer” to save 10% off orders.

https://politebutdangeroustools.square.site/

Vuni Gear- Use discount code “bowyer15” to save 15% off your order.

https://vunigear.com/

Mark Sasser is a life-long Californian and outdoorsman. He lives in Fresno CA with his wife Alicia and their youngest of 3 children. After being introduced to archery with a bear longbow as a 4th grader at YMCA camp he started traditional bowhunting in 1990. In the last 34 years Mark has hunted the west from southern Arizona to Alaska. As a co-owner at Bwana Bows Mark is constantly working to deliver custom longbows and recurves to the Tradbow community and enjoys watching customers become friends as he becomes a part of their adventures.

Find Mark on the interwebs:

Instagram: @california_tradbow_hunter 

Bwana Bows:   www.bwanabows.com

Check out our show sponsors:

Polite But Dangerous Tools- Use discount code “bowyer” to save 10% off orders.

https://politebutdangeroustools.square.site/

Vuni Gear- Use discount code “bowyer15” to save 15% off your order.

https://vunigear.com/

Matt Tyler has grown up in Georgia his whole life, bowhunted for over 20 years, and been strictly a traditional bowhunter for a decade now. He is most passionate about introducing new people to the sport. Over the past three years Tim Channell, Jake Reese, and Matt have leveraged their own podcast called Inside Twenty to intentionally do just that. We spend more time talking about the important aspects of life, such as family and faith, but we liberally sprinkle in traditional archery also. 

Check out Matt:

Instagram: @insidetwenty 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@insidetwenty   

Keep this podcast on the radio waves. Support our show partners:

Polite But Dangerous Tools- Use discount code “bowyer” to save 10% off orders.

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Vuni Gear- Use discount code “bowyer15” to save 15% off your order.

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Ron is a Native American/ Italian traditional bowhunter and craftsman from Ontario Canada. He was given the spirit name Standing Wolf by a Native Elder prior to the creation of Standing Wolf Archery. He started by making accessories that he personally wanted (beaver silencers being the first) and decided to give selling them online a try with some ecommerce help from his brother and feedback from friends at the local archery range. One thing led to another, now Standing Wolf is making many badass accessories for traditional archers all over the world.

Find Ron at:

Instagram: @standingwolfarchery  

Website: www.standingwolfarchery.com   

Keep this podcast on the radio waves. Support our show partners:

Polite But Dangerous Tools- Use discount code “bowyer” to save 10% off orders.

https://politebutdangeroustools.square.site/

Vuni Gear- Use discount code “bowyer15” to save 15% off your order.

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During this episode Dan Santana and I introduce our multi-part series “Bowyer in the Making,” where we walk through the various processes of making your own selfbow, from choosing a tree to acquire a stave, hand tools, bow design, tillering, and finally putting a string and employing your new bow.  Dan is a master bowyer and YouTuber who wants to teach the world to make bows. He’s obsessed with self bows, their rich past, and the community dedicated to making them. He loves explaining the craft and sharing this rich art form with everyone he can. 

Find Dan on his website, YouTube channel, or the r/Bowyer forum.

www.dansantanabows.com 

YouTube.com/DanSantanaBows

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bowyer/

Check out our show sponsors:

Polite But Dangerous Tools- Use discount code “bowyer” to save 10% off orders.

https://politebutdangeroustools.square.site/

Vuni Gear- Use discount code “bowyer15” to save 15% off your order.

https://vunigear.com/