Category Archives: News

Busy Shipping Holiday Atlatl Orders!

December is hectic at the Thunderbird Atlatl shop! It is definitely our busiest time of year! We bring in extra help to make atlatls and darts to get them out the door to you.

We ship the majority of our packages via the US Post Office, utilizing priority mail service. Priority mail predicts mail delivery in two to five days but it is not guaranteed. The post office says the last date to mail priority is December 18 to receive your packages before Christmas. We can also utilize Priority Mail Express-guaranteed service and UPS if there are concerns about guaranteed delivery. These services do charge extra but guarantee delivery.

Please feel free to contact us before 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at 1-800-836-4520 if you have any questions or email at contact@thunderbirdatlatl.com

Packages ready for delivery!

This holiday season we are missing our best canine helper, Tina. Tina was always ready to accompany our packages out the door to the post office. We cannot count how many trips Tina made to the post office over her 14 years but there were many. We post this picture in loving memory of our beloved helper and friend.

Atlatls Great Outdoor Individual or Small Group Activity

In this time of social distancing, small groups and less travel, atlatls do offer a wonderful opportunity to get outdoors without a lot of people.

While many of the atlatl meets have been cancelled this year at state parks or public places, a few have and continue to be held in backyards or private locations. Check out the World Atlatl Association Event Page to see the status of events. The Ohio Atlatl Association is still keeping its dates but has switched to private locations as public places grapple with summer of 2020 events.

Events are being held with awareness of small groups, social distancing and masks. If you are unable to get to a group, spend some time by yourself or with a family member practicing your skills. The WAA will try to keep everyone updated about events. Stay safe as our country wrestles with this pandemic.

No doubt- atlatls offer a great sport for social distancing and small groups. Stay safe and well.

Check out this depiction from the Aztec Codex Nuttal. Looks like these folks are observing social distancing.

Leap into Spring! Build Your Own Atlatl & Darts!

It’s leap year and soon it will be spring! Take the extra day and the approach of spring to build your own atlatl and dart set. Thunderbird Atlatl has a variety of kits to choose from. In a few hours, you will have an atlatl and dart set made with your own hands. Check out our instructional videos on You Tube.

The photos from a workshop using Thunderbird Atlatl kits. The workshop took place at Mounds State Park in Anderson, Indiana. Interpretive Naturalist Kelley Morgan led the program. Thanks to Kelley for providing the photos.

Come to Sopchoppy, Florida! Visit Ochlockonee State Park.

Visit Thunderbird Atlatl at Ochlockonee State Park Friday, February 21, and Saturday, February 22, at the 13th Annual Primitive Arts Festival

There will be atlatl contests, flintknapping, demonstrations, lectures and more. International Standard Accuracy Contests (ISACS) are scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.
Mark Bracken of Pennsylvania practices for an atlatl contest at the 2015 Ochlockonee State Park Primitive Arts Festival. (Weather should be a little warmer this year!)

Thunderbird Atlatl in Florida

Thunderbird Atlatl will be at two Florida shows this month! This weekend we are at the Silver River Knapin at Silver River State Park in Silver Springs, Florida. Come visit us on Saturday, February 15, and Sunday, February 16. Check out the poster for the event: Silverriver poster 2020

Next weekend we will be in Sopchoppy, Florida at the Stone Age and Primitive Arts Festivalthe Stone Age and Primitive Arts Festival at Ochlocknee State Park in Sopchoppy, Florida. The event will be February 21 to 23.
Ochlocknee River 2020