Thank you for inquiring about my bows. My name is Norm Johnson and I am, like yourself, a dedicated archer and bowhunter. I live just outside of the small community of Reedsport, located on the Southern Oregon Coast. My home and shop sit on a one and one-half acre lot where Blacktail deer roam freely about the premises, hence the name, Blacktail Bows. I began gun hunting with my father at the age of twelve. By the age of eighteen I began bowhunting, searching for new challenges. The added challenge captured my fascination. This same challenge is what started me building bows in 1987, as I was looking for new rewards. By 1991 the reputation of Blacktail Bows had grown and my hobby became a full time family business. It employs myself, and my wife Kathy, who handles the phone, does the string making, paperwork, and shipping. I now have bows reaching almost all corners of the earth. In 1993 an Italian archer won the IFAA World Bowhunter Championship shooting one of my TD recurves. Over the years I have received hundreds of photos and letters from satisfied and successful customers. Many have found that their shooting ability and accuracy have reached a new level. This is the most gratifying part of what we do.

Bowhunting as well as bowmaking offers an unlimited supply of knowledge to be gained. As I gain this knowledge I am privileged to pass this on in the quality bows I have to offer. My goal is to make the next bow a little better than the last, always improving and innovating, setting new and higher standards in craftsmanship, performance, and durability. Each bow is built by hand, one at a time, of only the finest materials available today. All hardwoods used in the bows, be they exotic or domestic, have been hand selected for their density, hardness, and beauty so that in the end they will create a one of a kind bow that is not only a work of art but also extremely functional. The close attention to detail is what sets my bows apart, from the smooth graceful lines to the extensive overlay work which have become trademarks of the Blacktail line of custom bows. My shop was built exclusively for bowmaking. Several of my grinding and sanding machines, are custom built for the elaborate contour work that goes into my bows. This contouring and sculpting is what truly brings out the best in a piece of wood, creating smooth graceful lines and eliminating blockiness.

The finish work is quite extensive also, using multiple layers of a clear flexible non-glare satin finish, which is applied, sanded, and reapplied until all wood pores are filled, bringing out the true beauty of the wood. As you will see from the extensive order form I pay close attention to your physical attributes, intended use of the bow, as well allowing you to make all the decisions in the woods used in your bow so the end product will be a truly custom bow. I have personally field tested my recurves and longbows, taking the many species of game that inhabit the western US and Alaska. Many of these hunts have taken me to remote regions where reliability and dependability are an absolute must. You can expect the same care put into your bow that I would put into my own. My job depends on it!