https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/7df593ea-8401-4add-b16c-9530fb9eb1c7 Help us preserve, scan and post more rare and endangered films on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0g/join Website: www.PeriscopeFilm.com This film, "Arrows are For Lions," (1957) documents an archery hunt for mountain lions (cougars) in Arizona, led by legendary bowhunting pioneer Ben Pearson, and emphasizes the effectiveness of the traditional bow and arrow for big game. Known as the "Father of Modern Archery", Ben Pearson was born in the hill country west of Little Rock, Arkansas and went on to found the leading manufacturer of bows and arrows, producing over 6 million bows in five decades of operation. 0:00 The film opens by demonstrating the qualities of a blunt arrow: impact and penetration. A modern laminated bow launches an arrow that easily pierces a 1-inch solid board, establishing the arrow's accuracy and effectiveness. 0:43 The narrator introduces the mountain lion, a powerful trophy animal that can measure 9 feet and weigh 200 pounds, with incredible jumping ability. The arrow used to stop it must be true, matched to the bow, and tipped with a razor-sharp hunting broadhead. 1:23 The hunting party is introduced: Ben Pearson, James Smith, and Dwayne Holloway. They travel across Texas and New Mexico from Arkansas to Pleasant Valley in the Tonto Basin country of Arizona. This area is known for cougars, which prey on ranchers' livestock, leading to large bounties being offered. The bow hunters are welcomed by the local community in Young, Arizona. 3:49 The party is met by guide CJ Proc, who is highly familiar with the lions and their remote habitat. The key to the hunt is the pack of trailing dogs—a "superb mixture" of black and tans, blue ticks, red bones, and an Airedale. 4:41 The first few days are difficult, involving watching, walking, and riding. The dogs pick up many vain trails, as a mountain lion can range up to 20 miles in a single night, leaving cold tracks. The hunters work hard, even traveling through snow patches at elevations above 6,000 feet, but the lions continue to elude them. 8:29 The break comes when Bob Lerno reports fresh cattle kills 12 miles away. The party hurries to the scene. The dogs pick up a fresh trail and quickly bring a giant-sized tom to bay in thick juniper foliage. Jim Smith finds a clear opening, and a silent broadhead arrow finds its mark. The great cat of North America drops, scoring one for Jim. This cat is noted to be the largest ever killed to date with a bow and arrow and the 11th largest killed with any weapon (Boone and Crockett Club registered). 11:12 Immediately, the dogs pick up another fresh scent, indicating the tom had a mate. They bring a second, big, defiant lioness to bay only a couple of miles away. Dwayne Holloway's first shaft hits the wood, but his second arrow scores complete penetration in the vital chest area. Score one for Dwayne. 12:37 The exhausted dogs rest. One dog, Old Lou, has found her neck between a cat's jaws for the second time that day, but the injury is minor ("just the price of an education"). 13:17 Ben Pearson is astounded when the guide, Proc, reports fresh sign of a third lion not 10 miles away. This cat is designated to be Ben's, creating a "fantastic" day. 13:50 The party moves quickly on horseback to overtake the cat before daylight fails. Unlike the other lions, this one did not tree; it was denned up and came out fighting the dogs face-to-face. It is a tremendous tom, nearly identical in size to the first one. 15:36 Ben Pearson faces the problem of finding a clear shot between the fighting dogs. He finds an opening, makes a fast draw and loose, and delivers a perfect hit through the heart. The steel-tipped shaft achieves full penetration, hitting the rocks beyond. The bloodstained arrow confirms the "crack shot." Score one for Ben. 16:42 The film concludes that after a week of hard hunting, they secured three trophy cats, eliminating three killers preying on livestock. The arrow proved its accuracy, penetration, and impact all over again, confirming the film's title: "The arrow is for lion." Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we've worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you'd like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. 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