How to Build an Atlatl for hunting (part 1)

Ryan Gill shows and explains the hows and whys of building an atlatl suited for hunting. Ryan is an accomplished Primitive Hunter that goes further than anyone to recreate and improve upon the tools of the past, and then put them to practical use.

You can find more information and Purchase atlatls at

Other videos of interest are linked below.

[allendeanhuscusson]

I’m 63 years old and recovering from open heart surgery I had a valve replaced and 80% of my aorta rebuilt an after seeing you and several videos I want to learn I understand that I’ve not got as much time to become skilled at tool making my hunting experience is minimal but I did hunt when I was a lot younger

[TheAca]

This is the best video on atlatls on YT, in my humble opinion, and one of my favourites videos of all time!
Thank you for making this kind of educational content, and I can only see your channel growing from this point on! Good luck, and continue, you are on the right track!

[wallaroo]

I just moved to Arizona, and what a great place to pick up materials for atlatls! I found a great grove of cane in a bridge ditch by the train tracks. They grow pretty straight since the ditch is deep and steep sided. I just harvested my first batch today, and I was... ehh, close to what you describe as ideal, so not bad for not having seen the video first - I have some viable pieces I think, just shorter. I look forward to your instructions for the thowers.

[thelastneanderthal]

Great video, Man. I like the paleo-correct way that you build your hardware. I have learned a lot. Forty years ago I saw very similar techniques among BRAZILIAN Indians that until a few years before lived with Stone Age technology. The points may have been made of hard palmwood or shaped animal bones, the glue was made of resins and dissolved animal hide but he idea was basically the same. I have seen Tapirs and Peckeris been effectively taken with this technology.

[jasestrong]

You make it look so easy just sitting squatted down and building this atlatl . Thank you for all the great information you provide the public. Great job again Ryan.

[kerlthorsen]

Excellent video! I like your clear way of communicating everything and I very much respect your skills!

[allendeanhuscusson]

I’m so captivated by your trining I feel as I’m connected to you as you convey what you are doing I used to be a trainer in restaurant industry I mastered the techniques first and became consistently efficient I trained out of necessity.I truly feel that I understand the procedures that you are talking about

[robertcole]

I've always felt that a large amount of these banner stones were actually used as clubbing tools. That way you can dispatch an animal that may not have been killed by the dart. I have no evidence for this but a large amount of these stones looked highly effective for impact. That way their dart thrower was a weapon as well.

[larryeddings]

Beautiful and knowledgeable primitive craftsmanship.

[dannywatson]

I've wanted to make and hunt with one since I was a kid. Enjoyed your video.

[Worldtraveler]

It’s more and more apparent to me that the so called primitive people lived a lot better than we do today. The ate fresh food, drank fresh water, breathe fresh air and the most important thing, they had time to enjoy this life. I would trade this modern life in a heart beat to go back in time and be a primitive hunter who respected nature and lived for the hunt off the land 🙏🏿

[joshuaolewiler]

Dang...built a thrower and dart set after watching your pig hunt a year ago, but after watching this realized my darts are the same diameter as your foreshaft here 😳. Looks like I need to upgrade!

[dcstolteadventures]

Another excellent video. I really appreciate your experimental science approach to primitive hunting.

[draven]

Everything you are saying and teaching is right on, the dart and also have to be made to suit the handler, I use 8 1/2 - 9' darts myself, the shorter 6' darts are great for rabbits and fish and point size depends on what you hunt

[raythaneelarquero]

You gave me some cool ideas, specially about foreshafts. Thanks a lot!

[Carlos-hszo]

This is good stuff...I enjoyed your video. You are a craftsman and attention to detail is good to see.

[AtTheHomestead]

Been watching videos for a couple of hours on how to build and yours has been the most informative by far. I definitely have the concept down now and I'm confident I can build one. Thank you for sharing

[gabrielpottebaum]

Love the video Ryan! Kinda peiced together your philosophy on hunting Atlatls from previous videos (which I believe was the goal) but it's nice to hear your reasoning for why and even better to have it accompanied by a great build.

[HalfQ]

Excellent, I have grown bamboo for exactly this reason and it's ready to harvest. That was a great instructional film. Ty.
p.s. I'm planning on making a blow pipe too. I'm just waiting for the thistles to go to seed for the flights.

[fabricio-agrippa-zarate]

Interesting fact: most people think that the atlatl was a war weapon for the aztecs, but actually it was just a hunting tool. Just as it is being mentioned here, the atlatl throws a heavy, powerfull projectile, that really it wasn't necessary in war. Because most of the warriors aztecs fought against were pretty much naked, any sort of sharp thing would had done the job, but when the spanish warriors appeared, not only armour itself made impossible for aztec weapons to do any damage, but even the woolen clothing did it hard. This is why the atlatl had to be put in service against the conquistadors.