Effective November 18, 2009, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency changed their guidelines for distance learning. Students are now required to spend a minimum amount of time on each course page before proceeding to the certification exam.

Click here to go to the latest version of the Today's Hunter in Tennessee online course—the official hunter education course of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

The following course material is for reference only. Please go to the new course to complete your Tennessee certification.

History of the Bow and Arrow

The use of the bow and arrow is recorded as early as 3000 B.C.

Cave painting of primitive hunting party

The Egyptians used bows shorter than a man’s height, with arrows two feet long or more.
Early bows were “C” shaped. When shooting these bows, the archer would pull the string with a ring held around the thumb. The early longbow was 5-6 feet in length and was usually made of yew. The legend of Robin Hood romanticized the longbow.
Native American Indians were America’s first bowhunters. European settlers brought their skills to America and contributed to the development of bows and arrows in the U.S.
In 1879, the National Archery Association was founded. It initiated the first U.S.–sponsored tournament in 1879.
Bowhunting did not really take off until the 1950s and 1960s as hunters learned more about this sport and about newer bows that were being developed.
Like other methods of hunting, the bowhunter first must acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to be a safe and responsible hunter.