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harvesting red osier for arrows

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sailordad:
 well ive been giving this primitvive bow making a try and like it so now i thought i would also trying making arrows.
after seeing some post of red osier arrows (and might i say beautiful). i googeld what red osier looks like and low and behold i know where there are thousands of these shrubs growing.
so now i was wondering when would be the best time to harvest shoots for shafts and how to care for and cure them.
any input is appreciated.
thanks.

                                                                                          PEACE,
                                                                                               Tim

DanaM:
Tim I like to cut em before they get growing or after the leaves fall, but only because its easier to see the good shoots.
I've strippedthe bark immediately and have also waited till they were dry, never had a problem either way. If ya strip the bark right off I would keep em some where cool and out of the sun. They straighten with heat pretty good no need to grease them either. Just use your heat gun on a medium setting. Also I like to cut them at least 1/2" at the base and 40" long. Gives ya room to work with it. Use a thumb plane and sandpaper to reduce the diameter to get the right spine. If I remember I will grab the camera at work and take a picture of where I get mine.

sailordad:
wel i know what i'm doing next saturday then. going to get me about 75 lbs of shafts lol

stringstretcher:
I sure wished someone would post some up close pictures of this stuff????????

sailordad:
stringstretcher,
i didnt have my camera with me yesterday,it was drizzling out. in another post iasked dana for a pic and he suggested to google it. i did that and found several types
depending on your part of the country,i did find what i was looking for that way and verified my find. so shrubs nearby need to be on alert come saturday. i'll be in the woods with pruner in hand and the need to collect with extreme prejudice. >:D >:D >:D
 
gonna try and get about 75 lbs of shaft,i figure i should be able to make about a dozen arrows that way( i'm new and figure if its like making bows i'll wreck more than i'll make lol )

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