Gotta laugh when I see people question their lethality. Atlatls were in use long before bows, bringing down creatures as big as mammoths. Several mammoth skeletons have been found, in fact, with flint atlatl dart heads embedded in the bone. The darts weigh a several thousand grains, for Heavens sake!

I watched a guy at a trad shoot one year throwing darts with one. As we walked up to the deer target, I expected we'd pause at 10 or 15 yards for him to throw. Nope. We stopped at 40. First throw landedin the shoulder. Next, in the neck. Next, just behind the shoulder. All undoubtedly killing hits, with each one nearly taking the target right off its stakes. Pretty impressive to see someone experienced using one.

I made an atlatl from osage and an antler tine,and darts from bamboo stakes. At first, I was horrible with it. But after a few sessions, I slowly started to get the knack. Unfortunately finally I split all of my darts in the socket and haven't taken the time to make more. (I suspect the angle of the antler tine in the stick may be too acute.) If legalized in PA, then yes, I think I would buckle down, learn, and try it. Even if I couldn't find the time or get proficient myself, I'd love to see what some of PA's atlatl die-hards could do!