Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: stuckinthemud on February 23, 2015, 12:37:39 pm
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Hi All,
I am in a quandary, any advice/comment/leg pulls will be helpful.
I need to make four or five bows in the foreseeable future and reckon I have cut enough staves to make more than double that from a variety of timbers (yew, holly, hazel, laurel, Chinese privet and hawthorn) but have stumbled over a tall, yew tree with several stems, of which 2 are 15 feet tall 8 inch diameter and arrow straight with minimal side branches. So what think you; should I thin out a lovely tree for timber I may never need, even if it is very good quality English yew?????
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if you know that you can take good care of it and not waste the wood, why not plan ahead for the future just past the foreseeable? I think it keeps well
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I would love a chunk of yew.
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Pros
1 Good yew is hard to find.
2 Cutting it won't kill the tree.
3 If you don't take it some landscaper may cut it down and chop it up.
4 You can always trade/sell for something else.
Cons
1 None come to mind unless it's in the police chiefs front yard.
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Pros
1 Good yew is hard to find.
2 Cutting it won't kill the tree.
3 If you don't take it some landscaper may cut it down and chop it up.
4 You can always trade/sell for something else.
Cons
1 None come to mind unless it's in the police chiefs front yard.
+1
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U can never have too much wood. U don't end up needing it trade it. It takes forever to dry so why not cut it and I'll have it down the road. It don't go bad >:D
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If the pruning is inevitable, or it's in a precarious situation there is no ethical dilema.....other than letting it go to waste. It would be a shame for good English yew to become something less than a proper English bow.
rich
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I think you picked the wrong site if you are looking for reasons "not" to cut it. It's kinda like asking my wife if it's ethical to dig up diamonds. ;) ;)
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I guess that even though the yew almost certainly belongs to no-one, it equally does not belong to me. Also, the tree is more useful as a tree than as a pile of lumber, but the comment about tree surgeons chopping it into little pieces really bites, especially as they are really active around here at the moment.
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Yup, if the tree will still be there when you're done then no prob'... You will probably be just "allowing some more light in" O:)
Better than seeing some idiot cut it into 3' lengths.
I think the secret is not to get caught... the best way to be invisible is to wear a hi vis jacket and hard hat.
Of course, personally I've never cut Yew without permission ::) (blimey it's hard to type with your fingers crossed :laugh:)
Are you in the UK? If so, where abouts are you.
Del
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I think that a bowyer that finds something like that is UNETHICAL if you don't cut it. Provided that you don't get into trouble for doing it of course. I would never openly encourage some one to poach wood. But it is kind of an unwritten rule that if you find good bow wood that is within your reach of cutting then it has to be harvested, otherwise it will possibly be turned into firewood or worse yet just piled up and burned. I don't think you can ever have tooo much good bow wood. If one day you look up and see that you have a bunch of stuff your never gonna get to you can always just thin it out and give it away like I did or sell it to someone that can use it, whatever you prefer.
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I would like to remind people of the other side to this arguement. it is definately unethical to take more than you need from this world...we should walk lightly through this world taking the minimum we need for survival...Isnt this the philosophy of the native american tribes, who have taught us so much about making bows, shouldnt we follow their example in all ways? not just when it suits us....If everyone lived like this the world would be a better place and we would all be much happier? Bit of devils advocate in there, but true non the less...cant imagine the original primitive bowyers massing great piles of staves in their lodges.....just incase they run out in the future >:D
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I agree with B-flair. You can never have to much bow wood. You might get a few more requests for bows and having some seasoned yew staves will come in handy. If you can harvest the limbs without killing the tree that's an easy decision for me. I cut a lot of fallen osage trees. I'd rather see the wood get turned into a bow and serve a purpose than rot away on the forest floor.
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Yeah, I think even the Indians would cut it ::)
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Hi Del, I have a high vis and safety boots but if I felt guilty enough to have to be invisible then I would have answered my own question....yes am in the UK, fairly close to Cardiff. The tree concerned is in a roadside copse and the only likely owner might be the local council who have a policy of chipping or chopping all their felled trees - no re-cycling or passing/selling on timber (I checked). There could be an outside chance of them cutting back the copse as there seems to be an insurance/health and safety issue for road-side trees and the possibility of them falling in storm winds - the council are actively felling all the trees in verges along busy a-roads and dual carriageways. This copse is near a B-road and I always say that there is nothing in all the world so lovely as a tree, but the copse is very dense and I could argue that it needs opening up as there is no understory growth at all and signs of active rot in some sections as there is no air movement. Still if I am going to do something stupid, its comforting to get some feedback .....
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I would like to remind people of the other side to this arguement. it is definately unethical to take more than you need from this world...we should walk lightly through this world taking the minimum we need for survival...Isnt this the philosophy of the native american tribes, who have taught us so much about making bows, shouldnt we follow their example in all ways? not just when it suits us....If everyone lived like this the world would be a better place and we would all be much happier? Bit of devils advocate in there, but true non the less...cant imagine the original primitive bowyers massing great piles of staves in their lodges.....just incase they run out in the future >:D
I kind of agree with you but the natives didn't have tree surgeons and landscapers to compete with. There was also no concern on their part that there may not be any wood when they needed it. At the same time we're not depending on our bows for food so we don't really "need" them at all so do we have the right to cut anything.
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Who pays the council? That would be you! So they are your trees!
I'd say that as long as the trees aren't lost and as long as the wood isn't wasted that's fine.
There was a post a while back (dunno if it was this site or AIUK) where someone had trouble with the council.. basically they got a daft answer from some receptionist who was unqualified to offer an opinion. When they persevered, they eventually got permission.
To be honest, it doesn't make any difference to three if you have permission or not! >:D
Del
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WWID. What Would Ishi Do? ;D
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There was a post a while back (dunno if it was this site or AIUK) where someone had trouble with the council.. basically they got a daft answer from some receptionist who was unqualified to offer an opinion. When they persevered, they eventually got permission.
That would have been me. What I've learned from the exercise is that the key is getting yourself an introduction to the council tree officer. I went through my parish council - they agreed they had no issue with my request and unofficially suggested to our county councillor that he have an unofficial word in the ear of the tree officer. Said officer turned out to be a first rate tree enthusiast who was delighted that the wood would be used rather than chopped and left to rot.
On the flip side, I would put myself firmly in the camp that if you have enough material for your forseeable purposes then any more wood is best left on the tree to grow/be there for someone else who doesn't have enough and could use it. I make an exception if I know the wood is going to be cut soon anyway or if the tree clearly needs work doing to it (and that work legitimately includes removing the bit you want).
Ultimately the decision is one for your own conscience.
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What is the worst case scenario if you do get caught in the act? That would decide it for me.
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What is the worst case scenario if you do get caught in the act? That would decide it for me.
In the UK, we are unlikely to get shot ;) >:D
Unless of course the Yew is in the grounds of Buckingham Palace :o
Del
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Not going to get shot here in Canuckville either. ;) Likely get chewed out and asked to leave on private land, and I bet you wouldn't get even a second look on public land.
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I recently cried my heart out for not having cut that inner pipe straight yew log when i could. I came round and saw the entire tree had been felled and chopped up to fire wood, and turns out the city workers had no official permit to cut the entire tree. They just felt like it stood in the way... And they were proud of it too. I complained for cutting this majestic tree, and they replanted a sapling...
You dont want to experience this feeling, trust me.
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A few years ago, when I lived in a nearby town, I spotted 2 Yew trees, unheard of here in Northern Ontario. These trees had been planted over 100 years ago near a building that was, at the time, a Hospital. This Hospital, along with the replacement that had been built some 40 years ago, was scheduled for demolition and a new school to be built on the land. When I saw that the construction had started I went to the temp office of the construction company and asked them if the trees were to be left alone. They said that no landscaping of the area was planned. A couple weeks later I was driving by and the trees were gone, dug up by a backhoe and taken away to the dump. I was sad
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Quickly , Quietly,
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This sort of argument could work in discussions with non-hunting friends. "Well, I was afraid some other hunter might come along, shoot the deer, and not cook it properly, so I had to shoot it myself." Or even better: "I am just trying to shoot these deer in case someone buys the land, bulldozes the trees, and puts in a parking lot - then where would they go?" Heh.
Seriously though, I would love to have a good piece of yew, but I do understand not wanting to wantonly cut trees. There are a bunch of big Eastern Red Cedar trees on my parents' farm that I have been eyeing for years, but it makes me a bid sad to cut them since it would change the landscape I remember from my childhood. Still, it doesn't sound like you have THAT many staves...
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I always ask people on this site "do you have permission to cut the tree". To many on PA steal wood wherever they can find it. I always ask permission to cut and always get it.
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I always ask people on this site "do you have permission to cut the tree". To many on PA steal wood wherever they can find it. I always ask permission to cut and always get it.
This brings up something else, is it easier for us old farts to get permission than it is for the young bucks? I'll bet it is.
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I've never had any trouble getting permission to cut wood if I ask, ...and promise faithfully to clean up whatever mess I might make harvesting the wood.
Your circumstance sounds almost ideal for getting real good permission based access to not only this wood, but future bits of it you may not otherwise be made aware of. Speak to whatever public servants are rightly in control of this patch of land. Explain yourself as a preserver of the ancient and patriotic tradition of bowyering, and apply for official sanction of the harvest. You might even figure out how the wood might have been taken historically and re-capitulate that process and have it filmed or photgrqaphed for historical documentation. Public servants LOVE to be seen as the patrons of historical preservation or traditional arts. Offering them a bit of good publicity could serve both your aims and theirs effectively.
Onebow
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Personally I'd never cut wood without asking permission, and as a result never recommend or support doing so either. It takes 5 minutes to find out who owns it, and what their thoughts are (although it often takes a lot longer to actually sort out getting the wood) and you'll either be told it's fine and you can go down the route of obtaining it legally and ethically, or you'll be told it's not allowed and you won't take home a bit of wood. That may sound daft as a bowyer but life isn't always about getting what you want regardless of others. At the end of the day it IS just a bit of wood. You've also said you have enough anyway, so stealing some would definitely be unethical and downright uncool in this particular case.
As bowyers I believe we should all be respectful of trees and the wood we use, and I think it should be an unwritten rule to ALWAYS ask permission instead of just chopping down stuff we want because we're greedy.
On a more positive note, I've found that here in the UK once you actually approach those who have the power to say yes or no and tell them it's for primitive or traditional bows they usually get quite excited and interested. I ended up giving a bow making talk to a park full of tree wardens, councillors and volunteers as a result of asking the local council for a length of yew. It's a much more pleasant way to do things, and you end up with a pocket full of contacts for the future and the support of the locals if you spot another good bit.
Drop an email or phone call to the local council or tree wardens and pump them full of enthusiasm about your hobby and the history of yew trees in archery and you can almost guarantee a brilliant response along with some more good bow wood!
Good luck, either way.
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I don't disagree that we should not cut wood we don't think we will use, on the other hand, when you find wood that is worthy of being cut and....you can legally and ethically do so, you should harvest it.
The only time I ever cut wood on property that I did not have permission was public property along the river in a somewhat rural part of the city, after I asked and they said no. If you understand southern kansas, they are cutting down acres of osage orange and turning it into more grazing areas. They are piling up acres and acres of osage orange and then just burning it. So when I ask the commision for permission to cut one tree along the river in the outskirts of the city and they said no because "if they granted it for one they had to do it for all", I said oh well. Then after driving by that area for 5yrs I finally decided that I was gonna get my night vision goggles and my muffler silencer on my chainsaw and go clandestiine on em. As it is we did it in broad daylight and no one said anything. Every other time I've harvested wood its been with permission. They just kinda ticked me off with there buearocratic BS and I got kinda rebellious.
I get people started in this thing a couple times a year. When you go through good staves to get people started you go through some good bow wood. You will always have an abundance of marginal stuff that comes with every harvest, but its the good stuff that goes first. I do not think, with all the waste and wanton destruction that goes one in this world, that having a few more staves than you think you will need is execessive.
But then again I could be a bow wood aholic and in denial. :o Danny
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I sometimes wonder if bowyers in osage areas replant at all when they harvest? I don't even know how abundant it is. I hadn't heard of osage trees until last year, even though I lived near osage county in Missouri for a year.
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I always ask people on this site "do you have permission to cut the tree". To many on PA steal wood wherever they can find it. I always ask permission to cut and always get it.
Good job you don't live here then or else you'd never have any wood! ;)
Have you cut this tree yet?
Forget the council, all that tree would ever be used for is firewood. I have quite a few tree surgeon friends who i've met over the years, less than a fraction of 1% of the wood cut in this country goes to a saw mill. Everything goes for firewood because it's brings the most money. Simple. Look at all those powerstations....they need around 1000 tonnes of wood a day each.....do the maths!
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It takes 5 minutes to find out who owns it...
I'd like to know how you find out who owns some random piece of land in the UK???
Even with a farm it's hard to find which of the surrounding farmers owns that particular plot.
Near me there is an old estate with various plots some of which are virtual gated communities interspersed with old cottages etc. Some Yew is part of the boundary, some is one plot some in another. Some is managed via a property management company... how on earth does one get to actually find who owns it and manage to talk to someone who even understands what you are after. The people living the properties don't own the land and would doubtless think you were trying to sell 'em something or rob 'em if you knocked on the door.
It's easy enough if it's on council land.
Del
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I'd put on some Green tights and a Green hat with a pheasant feather and take it. Wasn't there a famous Brit that did something similar years ago in Sherwood O:) ? Bob
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It takes 5 minutes to find out who owns it...
I'd like to know how you find out who owns some random piece of land in the UK???
Even with a farm it's hard to find which of the surrounding farmers owns that particular plot.
Near me there is an old estate with various plots some of which are virtual gated communities interspersed with old cottages etc. Some Yew is part of the boundary, some is one plot some in another. Some is managed via a property management company... how on earth does one get to actually find who owns it and manage to talk to someone who even understands what you are after. The people living the properties don't own the land and would doubtless think you were trying to sell 'em something or rob 'em if you knocked on the door.
It's easy enough if it's on council land.
Del
He said it was on the side of a B road. I'd go to the local council, ask them, and they'd be able to tell him after a short check who actually deals with it.
I've had quite a lot of success knocking on doors when after yew. I take a bow along if they want to see what I'm talking about, have business cards printed out and if you're open and friendly and don't skirt around the actual issue most people either say "what a cool idea, go for it" or "no, I quite like that tree being there, sorry!" and that's it. Very simple, very ethical and if you chuck in twenty quid 99% of them are all for it.
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Did you say wear a short skirt? :o :-* ;)
Del
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I did, but that's not the point. I think it was the lipstick that really swing it. Looked great with the beard.
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what about asking permission from the tree its self? many natives actualy did this in recognition of the the spirit of the tree... how do you own a tree anyway,?? You tough guys may laugh at this , but a tree has a powerfull spirit, it isnt good to upset them... ...It is the same with owning land, does anyone really own land, or do they just think they do, because a peice of paper says so? Because a so called land owner gives permission does that make it OK.? A tree is a living being, it cant talk, but it does have awareness....
I once cut a limb of yew from an ancient church yard. on returning back down the path a passer by asked if I had asked permission to cut the tree, so I asked him, "who do you think owns the tree then.? isnt this Gods house, ? so yes, I asked permission from Him, " He never answered so I presumed He didnt mind..."....the guy looked annoyed with me, so I muttered nosey bastard to myself as I walked off....he didnt get my car number so what could he do...
It makes me laugh, people who think they own land and trees...Yes there are many of us in the UK who descend from Robin Hood... >:D
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Put me down for one more vote of contacting the council. You never know till you ask, and it'll go alot smoother with permission. If they said no, personally I'd not poach it, even if it did end up being chipped, because you really don't know if they will just chip it or if they truly wanted it to remain.
As far as cutting trees along rivers . . . riparian areas are generally different and more fragile ecosystems than non-riparian. I can't speak for Kansas, but here in AZ, if you poach a riparian tree, the po po gonna come get you. But then again I'm pretty sure our ecosystems are a bit more fragile than . . . well basically almost everywhere else on the planet haha.
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Everything in my mind tells me not to respond to this, but I just can't help myself, I am the honest and outspoken type by nature. Does anyone here REALLY live with the bare essentials, only using and possessing what they need for survival? I'll answer that....NO. That doesn't mean that wasting resources is OK. But if you have access to the tree and want it for a bow, then cut the dang thing. I can assure you, it has no feelings and you don't need to ask it. Resources were put here for us to use, not the other way around. This is getting dangerously close to political, God forbid. But seriously dude, stop over anylizing it and just cut it, it's wood for crying out loud. You can justify the whole bloody thing by fashioning it into a beautiful bow!
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That's all fine, taking what you want and stuff anybody else, but what happens if the wood IS special to somebody?
There's a yew tree outside my front door. I mean, so close that I see it every time I'm sitting in my front room. It's just right there, and has some stunning bits that would make great bows. I asked around the neighbours a while back to see if anybody would mind me cutting it down, and it turns out it was planted years and years ago by somebody in memory of a dead relative. It's looked after by each generation who move into the house and it has a special meaning for everybody in the neighbourhood.
If I did what some of you are suggesting and just threw caution to the wind and did the most selfish, greedy thing and take whatever I wanted "because it's just WOOD, dude", that tree gets cut down with no thought to those who care about it. What for? Another bow. Another bent stick to satisfy a personal hobby.
I'd be outraged if somebody did it to my property, so I certainly won't be doing it to somebody else's and would hope most others on here who claim to be passionate about trees and the wood we use think the same way.
We can't always just take what we want. Life doesn't work that way.
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Jimmy, how can you assure me or anyone else a tree doesnt feel? thats your belief, a belief with no basis, or evidence is worth nothing...just an idea,.. I can assure you a tree does have feelings
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??? :o :-\ :) By the way careful guys. ;)
Pappy
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In the US each county courthouse has a public record of who the landowner would be. You should be able to get their address or even phone number. As a real estate broker I do it all the time.
If you find a tree and it is legal to cut...and you can take care of it after harvest then why not cut it. I'm not saying be a hoarder but don't let a good piece(tree) of bow wood go up in smoke. I very rarely cut bow wood any more unless I have a specific project because I have plenty of seasoned wood stored in my basement shop. I do still accept gifts though! ;)
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Only going to make a couple of points. First, if you cut a tree and split staves, you have not wasted that tree even if YOU never use the staves. They will continue to be staves until SOMEONE uses them.
Second, the English bowmen in days of yore did not use English yew (except that England owned the staves). England imported yew from Spain to make its bows. English yew. according to what I have read, is no great shakes as bow stock.
As far as trees having feelings. I'm sure they are just as sensitive as today's dragons, right dragonman? BTW, I hope your name does not signify that you kill dragons, they being rather uncommon.
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I dont kill dragons anymore ASharrow, I only ride them these days....
Did you guys know, in the seventies, people experimented attaching a lie detector machine , to plants. All pl;ants have a small but measurable electric current running thru them....trees have more....when subjected to various forms of stress, even anger, they clearly register a response.....not my belief...it can be demonstrated...google " the secret life of plants" if you doubt me brothers....
they even respond to different types of music.....apparently they dont like jazz....!!
I do take bow staves my self , obviously we have to take what we need.in this world .....the problem is taking more than we need.....
The trees scream out even when another tree in the woods is felled....I know you will laugh....but I had to say it, cos its true...
some english yew is pretty good actualy,
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Second, the English bowmen in days of yore did not use English yew (except that England owned the staves). England imported yew from Spain to make its bows. English yew. according to what I have read, is no great shakes as bow stock.
Don't tell Del you said that...
Seriously though, English yew is fantastic. If you get the right bit. It's the same exact species as Spanish and Italian and Portugese yew, and if grown in the right conditions is every bit as good. There are plenty of fantastic warbows made from English yew, and to be honest with the current state of Italian and Alpine yew being the way it is, I'd say there's probably MORE English yew that's better than that from other parts of Europe at the moment.
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I've made great bows from IRISH yew, which is supposed to be decisively inferior.
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Trees are special to many people. I have a tree in the city I work that was planted by a family after their son died. If it ever is blocking a street sign I go and let the home owner know, and he takes care of the tree himself.
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Trees may be just wood, but they stir strong feelings in people for all sorts of reasons (as witnessed by the range of opinions in this thread). In our local paper a few months ago there was a piece on the front page where several residents had got upset that the council had come and cut a load of birch and hazel in what was clearly just standard woodland management.
Take a tree if you feel you have more right to it than anybody else, but just bear in mind that it may be special to somebody for any number of reasons that probably have little to do with logic. Maybe another bowyer who struggles to find any decent wood has been spending the last few months negotiating with the council to get permission to cut it. Maybe you will make some random member of the public's life slightly worse if the tree is no longer in their life. I think the point people are making is that if you don't ask but just go and poach it you will never know.
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Very well put.
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And if you do end up cutting it, put me down for trading for a stave :)
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I agree one shouldn't poach wood. Nor should they trespass on another mans land without permission. I don't think anyone is suggesting or encouraging that. I admitted my one time of doing it on public access and why. I believe we should alway uphold the highest standards in this type of thing. My earlier statement about it being un-ethical not to cut it was not really referring to poaching, It was more of in response to the issue of cutting it when you did not necessarily need it in the foreseeable future and I stand by my position on that point. If you can cut it and prep it proper do so. You don't know what it will be like a few years from now . I was also being a bit of a smart elec.
I have developed relationships with landowners over the years that have allowed me to cut a tree here and there on their land. I always reward them either with a shooter bow or a wall hanger. Thats one of the reasons you never toss a bow that your not satisfied with, you can always find a home for it, just maybe not as a shooter. I guess sometimes I take for granted how very little access many of you have to harvesting bow wood and in particular osage orange. I will say that when I started this journey 8-9yrs ago, I lived in the suburbs and did'nt have access to bow wood. I also knew I needed to get started finding places I could find some and then cut it and process it. Its taken a while to get to the position I'm in now, but I'm glad I did. I rarely am short of a stave for a new guy. I give those away along with help in making their first bow. The only thing I ask in return is that when they start gathering their own wood that they replace it in my stash at some point in the future. I have only had 2 guys so far do it out of maybe 8. But that does'nt mean I'm gonna give up on the next guy. I like to infect others with the bug of bow making and shooting and if you don't have some extra materials around to share then all you can do is talk about it. I'm more of an action guy.
As far as the trees crying over it...well no disrespect intended but electrical impulse response does not indicate pain so I'll have to pass on that idea. Danny
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what about asking permission from the tree its self? many natives actualy did this in recognition of the the spirit of the tree... how do you own a tree anyway,?? You tough guys may laugh at this , but a tree has a powerfull spirit, it isnt good to upset them... ...It is the same with owning land, does anyone really own land, or do they just think they do, because a peice of paper says so? Because a so called land owner gives permission does that make it OK.? A tree is a living being, it cant talk, but it does have awareness....
I once cut a limb of yew from an ancient church yard. on returning back down the path a passer by asked if I had asked permission to cut the tree, so I asked him, "who do you think owns the tree then.? isnt this Gods house, ? so yes, I asked permission from Him, " He never answered so I presumed He didnt mind..."....the guy looked annoyed with me, so I muttered nosey bastard to myself as I walked off....he didnt get my car number so what could he do...
It makes me laugh, people who think they own land and trees...Yes there are many of us in the UK who descend from Robin Hood... >:D
I like the way you think
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I "butchered" about 5,000 tree last summer, many were babies. So if they feel pain . . . I'm a very very bad man
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I "butchered" about 5,000 tree last summer, many were babies. So if they feel pain . . . I'm a very very bad man
i laughed at this then i thought to myself...
this guy better watch what tree he parks under.. ;D
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O MAN, you guys ant right, I really needed a good laugh this morning and got it, from both sides of the fence. Very bad man. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Pappy
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Haha I'm glad I was good for a laugh. If it makes anyone feel better, I sprinkled hippy tears on the stumps . . .
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Less talkin' mo loggin'.
Yew is typically left outside the harvest area for "forest health" reasons (ie biodiversity, wildlife trees etc).
It grows so slow, leave "some" for future bowyers.
Stealing "marketable timber" will lead you to fines. Stealing yew will lead you to a sore back.
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Second, the English bowmen in days of yore did not use English yew (except that England owned the staves). England imported yew from Spain to make its bows. English yew. according to what I have read, is no great shakes as bow stock.
English bowyers used spanish and italian yew because they had cut all their own yew, then the french yew and so on. As their hunger for yew grew, they had to search further and further to get it. This is the reason yew is so rare and endangered in many parts of Europe. though yew is in Belgium, with juniper, the only native conifer, it's extremely rare in the wild with just one extant population near the French border.
Most
yew harvested nowadays are from trees planted in gardens and parks.
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I've already harvested this fine piece of yew. It is now in my possession, class dismissed!
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What happened to the millions of bows made during that time frame?
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It has been said that your personal ethics is how you act when you think no one is watching or something like that. I have my troubles with ethics and I know there is someone always watching. "Try to do what is right and defend your family name cause if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything."
A yew tree. Cut it or not? Does it belong to someone else? Does it serve a greater purpose than a bow where it is? Since it is already cut, let the shaving begin!
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Does it serve a greater purpose than a bow where it is?
I think that's the whole point here. You can't ever know if it serves a greater purpose, because it could have sentimental value. You don't know who planted it, why it was planted, how important it is.... And if you don't know, and it isn't yours to decide, you leave the damn thing alone. Otherwise it's simply theft for selfish reasons. Nothing more, nothing less. You can justify it until the cows come home, using whatever analogy or "logic" you can think of, but you're still taking something that doesn't belong to you because you think it's worth more to you.
If somebody breaks into your house and walks off with your TV, they can say "I'd watch it more than you did" or "I needed a gift to give to my poorly wife who lost half her face in a freak rowing accident" but that doesn't give them the right to take it from you.