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Shoot shafts

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Fox:
I have been trying to make arrows from shoots for a good while but I have only gotten maybe 3 arrows that shoot well from them... I am trying some red osier dogwood (I think). It was in my dads back yard and he was cutting it so figured id take anything that might work. Cut a week ago and have been straightening with heat every now and then. I tried without heat and it snapped :-\.
I think these might be too thin but I guess ill see. I might go out and look for more shoots somewhere, I would really like to be able to not have to buy arrows anymore!

(Before sanded)
Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr (After sanded)

Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr (the finished arrow isn't a shoot shaft just a comparison)

BowEd:
Yes it is convenient & a lot cheaper to not to need to buy arrow shafts.Nice looking finished one there.Plus most shoot shafts are tougher than most split timber shafts.They all don't make it.
Douglas fir is about the only split timber shaft I ever bought in the past.
Feathers are getting awfully expensive also.I've been collecting turkey feathers for some time now too.
Harvesting them at the right diameter can reduce the work,plus leaving a little cambium can give it a little character & camoflauge too.
Established 2 year growth dogwoods stay straight the best also.
Bundling them if you have a lot of them and straightening them every few days while green and drying.A few singles it's not necessary to bundle them.On green ones I never use heat.Just dry ones.
Usually takes a good 3 months for sure to cure.Better to let them set a year.Harvesting them off and on throughout the year can build up your inventory.
I'll show some dogwood shoots soon that I made to match the color scheme of a recent bow I made.I'll call them snake arrows and not because they are wiggly shafts either.

Pat B:
Be sure any shoot shafts you harvest are second year growth. First year growth had leaves along the shoot. Second year growth has small branched where last year's leaves were. Also be sure it's after the end of the second growing season and not the beginning.
 Shoot shafts are more work but once you get the hang of it it's easier. Harvesting the appropriate shoot in the first place makes the process go a lot smoother.

txdm:
In my experience, it's relatively easy to make a shoot-based arrow, but it's really hard to make 4 that shoot the same (at least with yaupon). I've been saving oak and hickory cutoffs from making board bows to use for arrows someday. Also loads of Apache arrow weed has been growing in my yard, so I plan to try that too.

Fox:
Thanks guys. Pat what is the correct time to harvest them then? Fall? I am definitely wondering how to get a set of arrow that would match, these weigh 27, 26 and 25 grams (not grains) so there all pretty different. Im sure that makes a difference for grouping, how much though? Can you hunt with arrows with such different weights ?

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