Amappo

Mechanically, the amappo was a simple crossbow of elastic yew wood set in a notch at the top of a short post or tree stump.

These arrows were wrapped in birchbark to protect them from rain, marked with an ikashishiroshi (イカシシロシ), or family symbol, to indicate ownership of the kill, and coated with a paste of surku (スㇽク), a lethal poison derived from aconitum ground in a mortar and pestle specially set aside for the purpose.

[2] Hunting by amappo was usually carried out in spring and autumn, when dense foliage made sighting prey more difficult and cold weather slowed the decomposition of carcasses.

[4] Aconitum roots and stalks gathered in the mountains were allowed to dry for at least one month before being ground and mixed with water, whereupon the strength of the poison would be tested.

According to information obtained by the surgeon Sekiba Fujihiko [ja] from the Ainu of the Saru River and Hidaka Mountains, brown bears poisoned with surku initially react violently but gradually become quiet, stiffening their limbs and foaming at the mouth before dying after about two hours.