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Harvesting chokecherry shafts

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JW_Halverson:
Someone mentioned using a wrench as a guide for measuring a chokecherry shaft for when it is big enough to harvest. I have a nice little patch that I think is ready for harvest but cannot find the reference. 

Anyone remember?  Was it 3/8 inch?

penderbender:
That will be perfect. You want about 3/8ths or so on the big end. Cheers- Brendan

ksnow:
Not too familiar with chokecherry, but 7/16 is about right for hazel around here. You'll lose diameter in drying and debarking. I'd rather have a bigger shaft that needs sanding and scraping. I also try to cut 36 to 40 inch long pieces, so I can use the best part.

Kyle

JW_Halverson:

--- Quote from: ksnow on July 22, 2017, 07:11:59 am ---Not too familiar with chokecherry, but 7/16 is about right for hazel around here. You'll lose diameter in drying and debarking. I'd rather have a bigger shaft that needs sanding and scraping. I also try to cut 36 to 40 inch long pieces, so I can use the best part.

Kyle

--- End quote ---

A lot of these will be close to 50 inches, giving plenty of room to pick the straightest part of the shaft.

I have been going through this patch all spring and summer watching the straightest shoots. I have also been pinching off leaves from the bottom up as they grow to make a rounder and more uniform shaft.  Last time I harvested chokecherry shafts was when I ran across a thicket that had been clear cut by a new colony of beavers that moved into my favorite rabbit hunting creekbottom.  Much of it had 35-40 shoots per square meter the next spring - half of them very serviceable!  I had a couple dozen great shafts in just a matter of ten minutes cutting.  I meant to go back, but didn't that year. By the next year it was too late, everything had branched and was useless.

Pat B:
John, I've used a 3/8" open end wrench for years to check at the base bur I use sourwood and hill cane. You can always reduce the shoots with a thumb plane or belt sander.

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