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Apple tree shoots?

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Mesophilic:
I gave my apple tree a massive haircut about a year and a half ago.  This is a fairly big tree, still about 14 feet tall after being topped and a trunk diameter 12 to 14 inches. I have a lot of new growth branches, many which are very straight and look to be about the diameter I'd look for as shoots.

Please tell me apple makes a horrible arrow.

These are very straight but pretty snaky.  And I need to go ahead and thin out the new growth before spring.  Shame to waste good shoots,  but not looking forward to working out the snaky...or even sure it's possible to work out.

Hawkdancer:
2nd year growth, 3/8" diameter, 36" minimum length just might make a horrible arrow (lol)!  On the other hand, you might accidentally get a darned good arrow and be hooked on apple!  in the event the arrows don"t turn out, you can grill steaks, or smoke hides! :fp
Hawkdancer

Pat B:
Most shoots on apple trees are usually too big for arrows and they are first year growth. Second year growth are better for arrows. I've never made arrows from apple shoots but that doesn't mean they won't work. You could maybe plane them down to size but will they make good arrows? I think you should be able to find more appropriate shoots for this like red osier and other bush type dogwoods, viburnums, forsythia, spirea and many others.

Mesophilic:
Dang it, I knew somehow I'd be talked in to further exploring apple arrows...truth be told, I sort of want to anyway but I'm in denial  ;D.  I'll just trim just what has to be trimmed and let the tree go till next fall after the leaves drop.  It'll give me plenty of time to try to futher talk myself out of it.

Hawk, haven't been able to identify a single dogwood in these mointains.   I have some possible viburnum, but I want to go back and check them out when they flower.  The only usable shafts I've collected have been wild rose.  We do have lots of currant but I find it too floppy and doesn't spring back well.  Also a lot of Apache plume but so far I've only found one usable length shoot.  Most of everything is scrubby, short, and gnarled up here.  Our predominant forests are pine and aspen, with lots of scrub oak and black locust in the lower elevations.

Pat B:
Hazelnut is supposed to be good too as in salt cedar.

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