Rural Missouri - January 2021 - 41

Above: Dave Patterson crafts multiple styles of atlatls for demonstrations. Some utilize rests to help newcomers hold the projectile on the
thrower while they grow accustomed to the motion of throwing. Below: Brian and Dawn demonstrate a side-arm and overhand style of throwing.
The Wagners also have animal targets, including a full-size
mastodon, in their barn. The couple encourage young people to take up the atlatl in anticipation of its possibilities
as a competitive sport. Several colleges have atlatl teams.
" There's talk of it even getting into the Olympics, " Brian
says.
Steve and Barb Spencer hold ISAC and fun throws at
their home in Trenton. The Spencers introduced their
grandchildren to target shooting with an atlatl at age 3,
Steve says, and by age 7 they could hit the target. Steve
has also introduced Cub and Boy scouts to the sport and
taught a week-long class at the local high school.
Atlatl throws are held in conjunction with the Pomme de
Terre Rendezvous and the Osage Knap-In at the Missouri
River Valley Steam Engine Association Park near Boonville.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has hosted atlatl
workshops around the state. Van Meter State Park near
Miami holds an atlatl shoot in conjunction with Archeology
Day in September, which Daniel Pierce, site director, hopes
to resume this year. Van Meter also is home to Missouri's
American Indian Culture Center, which showcases the history of the Missouria, who lived in the pinnacles above the
Missouri River.
" It is believed that all the tribes (in the area) used them
for hunting, although we don't have any archeological evidence, " Daniel says.
In September 2021, focus shifts to Cahokia Mounds
State Park in Illinois, where the World Atlatl Association

plans to hold its annual meeting. A UNESCO World Heritage Site just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis,
Cahokia Mounds is the largest pre-Columbian settlement
north of the Mexican border. The Missouri Atlatl Association also holds annual meetings there. Ron estimates the
interests of the roughly two dozen members are evenly
split between hunting and competition.
The tool has also raised exposure for atlatl makers.
Mitchell Lockwood of Atlatl Madness in Marceline experienced that when the movie " The Silencing, " was released
in 2020. Mitchell was commissioned to make 28 darts for
the movie, which was filmed in Canada. Mitchell set up the
business in 2015 to make darts for himself and friends,
then expanded production into a dedicated workshop.
" We are mainly online sales, with the occasional store
front customer, " he says, adding the store started shipping
to Europe in 2020. " We ship anywhere from 150 to 200
shipments a year. "
The movie has prompted inquiries. " I did have a customer purchase one as they were watching it, " Mitchell
adds.
Whether your interest leans toward hunting, competing,
owning a piece of movie memorabilia or just throwing a
dart for the fun of it, give throwing an atlatl a try. As Steve
Spencer says, " it's a fun activity for all ages. "
For more information about atlatls, visit www.worldatlatl.
org or follow the Missouri Atlatl Association on Facebook.

JANUARY 2021 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP

http://www.worldatlatl.org http://www.worldatlatl.org http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Rural Missouri - January 2021

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