Tarascan (Mexican) Atlatl


Still used for fishing in Mexico today.

Material:
Wood, 26" x 3" x 3/4"

Construction:

• Cut out the outline (handle and shaf)
  
  
• Starting 2 1/4" from the peg end, cut the groove 3/4" wide by 1/4" deep with a rounded bottom. Continue for 15", flaring the end out on the grip.
  
  
• Carve out the peg and extend the groove around it.
  
  
• Drill the fingerholes. Use 1" holes for larger fingers, 3/4" holes for smaller ones. Leave about 3/8" between them.
  
  
• Round off the bottom of the shaft.
  
  
• Round off the edges and sand smooth.

The original ones have a hook on the bottom. This is used to retrieve the fishing line and dart. If you want to make this style, you have two options.

1. Start with a 1 1/2" thick board instead of a 3/4" board. Follow the steps above and after drilling the fingerholes, remove the bottom 3/4" of the board back to where the hook starts. Carve out the hook and continue.
   
   
2. Cut out a 2" x 1 1/4" x 3/4" piece of wood. Follow the steps above and after drilling the fingerholes, glue and clamp this block under the peg end. When dry, carve out the hook and continue.
   
   
   An article about this atlatl can be found at http://www.msu.edu/~oberg/articles/duck/hunt.html.
   
   

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