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Source for River Cane Shafts

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PeteC:
Hey osage bender,what part of the country do you live? Cane is really very common,although localized.With a little lookin',you've probably got it somewhere near to you.God Bless

Dave Dellinger:
Any tips on harvesting can for arrows? Size, etc? Things to avoid? What about sourwood shoots?

I have a friend with a bamboo grove, it gets to be only about 1.5"dia when mature. Has it any use?

Hillbilly:
Try to get back in the middle of the patch and pick canes that are about 3/8" diameter at the big end, have long spaces between the nodes, and don't have a lot of low branches. The part of the cane from the ground to the branches is the best part-it's rounder without the big flat divots behind the nodes. Also, only cut canes that are at least a year old, the younger canes that still have the papery sheaths attached are often too thin-walled and will be flimsy, spine weak, and crush or break when you're straightening them. Cane will shrink some as it dries. With sourwood shoots, I like to cut them a good bit bigger than the final shaft size. they shrink a lot on drying, and part of the diameter is bark and cambium that will be removed. I have better luck and less warpage by cutting little-finger sized shoots and planing them down to the diameter/spine i want.

M-P:
Trading is fun, but PineHollow longbows does sell river cane.  Ron

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