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Best time to go after shaft material

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Taxus brevifolia:
I go after most things in winter now, having lost some prime ocean spray to checking/splitting. One in particular makes me cry, it could have been a powerful bow.
https://youtu.be/rNJbwoeKhJo

Stalkingfox:
Well I certainly screwed the pooch. I harvested a whole bunch of a completely uncertain shaft material, crazy long, strong stuff! But cut it in summer.but no issues I can see yet.

Pat B:
Different shoots act differently summer or winter. With viburnum, no matter when it is cut it will check if not handled properly. On the other hand I can cut sourwood shoots any time of year and peel them immediately with no bad results. I've even cut sourwood, peeled the bark and laid it under my wood stove for a week with no checking. I don't think I've ever had a sourwood check.
 Many of these shoots grow in thickets. That's where you'll get your best, straightest shoots. For me, late fall through winter are the best because there are no bugs, no snakes and a more open visibility for spotting potential shoots.
 I collect shoots all year long as I walk the woods. I always carry a pair of hand pruners and a folding saw just for this reason but my best shoots come in the winter.

Stalkingfox:
Only issue I'm having with self-arrows is the dont stay straight in the summer. I cut the shoots I have in fall, seasoned them under my bed, and today I was remembering the last time I tried this they get bent after shot from the bow. I'm not totally positive what they are for one.

Pat B:
After I straighten shoot and cane shafts I will temper them by moving them along the flame, rotating as I go. I like to see slight coloration before moving on. Once I get to the other end I lay it flat to cool. You may have to hand straighten again but they usually stay straight, at least for me. Be careful at the far end for steam coming out the end of the shoot. It will burn you.

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