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Message: <blockquote data-quote="surfarcher" data-source="post: 5214615" data-attributes="member: 84774">As a long-time self-bowyer I can tell you that it's very easy to make a bow without cutting the tree down. I've done it a number of times. More times than I have actually cut an entire tree down. It's simply easier, more efficient and does less damage (the latter's a moot point in primitive cultures).This is also the preferred technique for many, arguably most, native cultures... They tend to be VERY efficient about that kind of thing. You have to be when you are working with primitive tools and time = food for your family and tribe!By far the most efficient technique is placing two notches about bow length+1' apart on the upper side of a big branch or the uphill side of a medium trunk. Let it dry out for a few weeks (assuming it's summer) and then lever it out of the wood. This leaves a scar on the tree but does no real structural or permanent damage. It's CERTAINLY no more damaging than pruning or other "tree doctor" work.Now introduce Elves who have an affinity with trees that we don't have, and are better able to tend to them and heal them than we are.  I think there's a couple of very real resolution's here. Perhaps the Elf might cut the surface part of the tree, possibly as part of tending to the tree's needs (again - tree doctor work). Afterwards they'd tend to the tree's healing and possibly more to over-compensate for any minor harm. This "harm" would likely be no worse for the tree than cutting a human's hair or nails (surface scarring like this is nothing, trees are "designed" to survive worse). Or they might interact with the tree's spirit, letting the tree know it's need and resulting in the tree "gifting" them some of it's wood - the tree could form the notches of it's own accord, in harmony with the Elf's needs. These needs would be to provide food for it's family and protect the woods and the trees.  The Elf would, of course, carefully tend and praise the tree out of respect and special thanks.Oh yeah. Real wooden bows can't really be passed down more than one or two human generations before they fail. We also never use timber from dead trees (very dangerous). And lots and lots of folks have made composite bows that contain no wood.Hope this brain-dump helps!</blockquote>

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