Bob Berg & Atlatl Bob Agree. ..Foreshafts on Atlatl Darts Ineffective for Hunting Big Game

I have hunted a lot of times with atlatls. Over the years, I have hunted mostly wild boar and deer. Many of our customers use our atlatls and hunting darts for hunting deer, elk, bear, boar and other game animals.

A couple of days ago, “Atlatl Bob”, William Robert Perkins, called me to talk. Every few months “Atlatl Bob” calls to make sure that everyone knows that I’m not “Atlatl Bob” and that we continue to enjoy our friendly competition.

Bob Perkins and I often don’t agree on various atlatl theories. We do agree, however, that foreshafts on atlatl darts are just not effective for hunting large animals. We both have done many experiments with atlatl hunting including the use of hunting darts with foreshafts.

Both of us have come to the conclusion that atlatl darts with foreshafts were probably used more for warfare than for hunting. There have been countless examples of darts with foreshafts found in the Southwest. Every time either of us have used darts with foreshafts for hunting, or witnessed someone else using darts with detachable foreshafts, we have found them to be ineffective in penetrating deeper than the connection. Usually the foreshaft breaks off from the main dart shaft when it strikes an animal. If the foreshaft is only five inches long that is how far the dart penetrates.

A dart without a foreshaft has a lot more penetration and is much more effective in killing an animal you are hunting.

16 thoughts on “Bob Berg & Atlatl Bob Agree. ..Foreshafts on Atlatl Darts Ineffective for Hunting Big Game”

  1. I wish I had seen your site. I ordered 3 darts from atlatlbob back on the first of March. He took my credit card info and told me he would have them to me in three weeks. Spent a lot of time on the phone bragging on how great his darts were. But i have not received them Apparently he took my money and ran! ;0( they were supposed to be for my son’s birthday which has come and gone! ripoff!

  2. We are sorry you had a problem. You might try contacting the supplier again if you have not received your order. We would be happy to sell atlatl hunting darts to you and promise to get them to you. We have 100 percent customer satisfaction which we have maintained for over 20 years.

  3. I ordered a really high end custom atlatl from atlatl bob perkins, he never sent my atlatl, nor did he refund my money…a really dishonest man.

  4. We are sorry you had some difficulties. We do not know what to tell you since it is another atlatl business. Bob Perkins is not affiliated with us. We understand he may be having some health problems. Try contacting him again.

  5. Thunderbird Atlatl and Robert Berg do not have anything to do with BPS Engineering or Atlatl Bob Perkins. We are both atlatl manufacturers. If you have an issue with BPS, you need to contact them directly. Thunderbird Atlatl prides ourselves on our customer service.

  6. I am another ripped off person who ordered a dart set from Bob Perkins at BPS over a year ago now in June of 2017 even talked to him by phone said he was waiting on parts, total crook not darts no refund blamed it on his health.

  7. Unfortunately, we have nothing to do with Atlatl Bob or Bob Perkins’ business dealings. Thunderbird Atlatl – Bob and Cheryll Berg always work on great customer service and filling our orders. We are sorry for your experience.

  8. You must only deal with modern atlatls and darts. Foreshafts make it easier to re-service darts with stone heads.

  9. An atlatl with a detachable foreshaft may have not been used in a manner modern “one shot, one kill” hunters of today are used to. It may have been meant to wound and harass the animal, or herd of animals into a kill zone or a jump.

    In Australia different Native groups used to wound kangaroos with darts, spears, or low velocity arrows. The group of men would take turns running after the animal until it collapsed from exhaustion for an easy kill. Nothing to it. It’s akin to the picadors at bullfight. The matador delivers the final strike with his sword. The other men in the spectacle are there to weaken the bull to make it safer for the matador to approach and kill.

    If you’ve ever seen feral dogs/coydogs/wolves pursue a deer, it’s similar. They pick out a weak one and run it to death, biting and nipping at it until it falls.Then it’s dinner time.

    Humans had been watching these pack hunters running animals down, including themselves for time immemorial, long before they left the trees for the savanna. By the time humans were moving to apex predator status, they’d learned a lot from watching the other pack hunting animals in dealing with larger, more dangerous animals. The atlatl w/ a detachable foreshaft was perfect for the job when it came along.Once we domesticated our teachers, canines, it was off to the races.

  10. Thanks for the input. We find it much easier to put stone points on the end of a long shaft. I prefer to put it on a long shaft and if the point gets damaged, it is easier to repair. It is easier for me to fix that than one on a foreshaft. It is just easier, in my opinion and experiments, to use these. I just haven’t been able to find them usable. These have been my experiences. Bob Berg

  11. I’ve done experiments and have found the darts without foreshafts worked better for me. A few other modern atlatl hunters share similar views but whatever works for you is definitely the best method. Thanks for your input. Bob Berg

  12. I am 77 yrs. old and have been making and using atlatls since I was a teenager. Bob Perkins got it all wrong about the use and placement of a stone atlatl weigjt on the back of the atlatl shaft from about center and back some tword the hook. When thrown, there is sort of a wrist flick made in the later part of the throw.Never, ever would one place any stone or weight on the shaft in that way. Just no good at all ! Be glad to share just how weights if used were used and why the proper location is critical.. Bill “snappinturtle” Adams

  13. Here in Texas (and across the border) we find atlatl points attached to foreshafts in the dry caves. I’m sure some were made without forshafts but the majority have them.
    The reason obviously is it’s easier to carry a pouch of hafted dart points while hunting than 4-5 spears. Break a point, just reload.

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