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Various natural shoots arrow material, where it grows, how to ID them all.

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ssrhythm:
Nm

Pat B:
THe one with the yellow/green bark could be a dogwood similar to red osier, the other possibly hazel.

GlisGlis:

--- Quote --- As far as ID goes, I'll likely run into it in the fall when I'm hunting...what do I need to know about rose?  I figure that if I run into a long, straight, evil looking thorny shoot, it'll likely make a good arrow...am I wrong? 
--- End quote ---
they make good arrow shafts though it is pretty difficult to know how much pith they have so bettere collect more than you need and make a spine selection afterward
every brush tend to produce long shoots that usually are bent
this is not a problem
i cut the shoots longer than needed and remove all the thorns. I also remove all bark except the last 1 or 2 inches at tips
I straighten all my shoots by hand (no heat) and tie them toghether in bundles of 10 - 12
every other day for a couple weeks untie, straighten and bundle again. this will ensure that all shaft will be straights  when dry
depending on weather conditions shaft will produce checks at tips and occasional short checks along the length of the shaft
I remove the checked tips and do not bother at all for the checks along the shaft. they add character and I never found it a structural problem
cut to dimension and sand it. done

Pat B:
I made a viburnum arrow a few years ago and out of ignorance I stripped the bark while they were green. They checked badly but I made an arrow anyway. Once dry and straight they remained straight and I think the checks acted like lightning grooves that some NA groups added to their arrow shafts. I think that the edges of the checks hardened more than the rest of the shaft adding rigidity and helped to keep them straight.
 Sourwood shoots, on the other hand don't check when the bark is stripped, even green. I actually strip the bark with the back of my pruners as I cut them. I've done this and laid the stripped shaft under my wood stove for a few days to dry with nary a check and the sourwood shoot was dry enough to make an arrow. Saying this I still prefer to season arrow shafting just like bow wood and give them a year or 2(or more) to season. These well seasoned shoots make the best arrows.

ssrhythm:
Good info...thanks.  I can definitely get at some sourwood.

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