How would you design a hand thrown spear for small game or varmits like coyote or bobcat? I'm thinking something light, like bamboo for the shaft about 6' long. And a fairly long slinder point. Maybe even put fletching on it or longer throws? Maybe that wouldn't be needed?

I'm not planning anything, just noodling some ideas.

Not exactly related to the above topic, but when you are using a spear for big game (on the ground not from a stand) what would you think the max range would be? 'Cold steel' recomended something like 6 yards. I've heard of alabama deer hunters being able to hit a milk jug at 15 yards with a hand thrown spear suitable for deer hunting so I think it is more of an individual thing. I wonder what the optimum weight for something like that would be?

I think the Samburu javelin would be good for what you are describing. Haven't used one yet but plan to.

Otherwise I would consider a long slender spear similar to what the Australian Aboriginies used but with a slight bladed point. And if proficiency could be developed using a woomera type device I couldn't see why small to medium sized animals couldn't be taken even at 30 plus yards range.

Would take a lot of practice to develop the accuracy required with a woomera.

Atlatlhunter,
Check your game laws,some States forbid the use of single point spears,as they are considered poaching weapons.
As a child of 10 or 11 years old a neighbor taught me how to wind a eye onto a fishing rod.
From that point,it was just a short jump to
making a spear by removing the leather wrapped handle from my 98 cent throwing knife,sawing a slit in the end of a light weight broom handle
and wrapping the knife into the shaft with the same method.
I practiced every day,throwing that spear at quart milk cartons,oil cans,etc.I became quite good at 20-30 ft.
I don't remember killing anything with it,although I may have.In addition to the spear I usually carried a slingshot or a bow and arrows,
belt knife and or a tomahawk.
In those days,I did not understand why game laws should apply to kids with primitive weapons,
so I hunted anything I could at any time of the year.
I carried that spear for a couple of years.I
lost it by sticking it in a tree limb when I was squirrel hunting.
I pity the children of today,as I believe I
had a much more fullfilling childhood than they will ever be able to have.
WC

Wildcat, You say you're from middle Tennessee, I lived there for a while when I was a kid. It was an alright place from what I remember. I also hunted everything I could all year with primitive weapons I had made. I never got anything.

We made spears by cutting straight sticks and rubbing the tips on the sidewalk until it ground it to a point. I was a regular suburban aboriginie.