Traditional/primitive archery is more of a freelance art form, whereas compound archery is more like a paint-by-numbers set.[8D]
I started making my own bows and arrows when I was 6 or 7 years old. Can't remember exactly when. Grampa always kept some seasoned elm wood in his woodshed for me to use. I got away from making my own stuff when I hit high school and bought all my archery gear for many years.
Once I retired though, and stuck on fixed income, I got back into it. A LOT cheaper to take a piece of wood and make a bow than to go out and buy one every time I got the hankering for a new bow.
My traditional and primitive bows. I made the longbows and selfbows, but haven't made a recurve yet.: