Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: ColtSmith on April 18, 2015, 11:57:06 pm
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Ive been doing some research on what woods make good arrows and a lot of people say dog wood. I'm wondering i this is dog wood and if not will it work. Also how long do you guys let it sit and drie.(http://i58.tinypic.com/34pevy1.jpg)
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My first guess would be rough leaf dogwood. But, I an NO plant ID expert. I'm sure PatB will be along shortly to ID it for you.
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From the look of the leaves I'd say it is dogwood. The variety I'm not sure of. Where do you live? It should make good arrows.
You can probably get it dry enough in a few months but a year or more would be better. Don't scrape the bark right off the bat, give them a month or so or leave it on until you are ready to make arrows.
When you go to cut it bring along a 3/8" open wrench to measure the shafts at the bottom. Also, if the shoot has leaves directly attached to them leave them until next year. You want shoots with small branches on them and not just leaves attached.
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SW Missouri
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Pat B - why is it that you say to only cut the shoots with branches?
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Shoots without branches, often just leaves, are young and will frequently yield shafts with a spine to weak for hunting weight bows.
My 2nd year cutting shoots I have a much better idea what to look for... I think :) lol
Consider too leaf and small limb growth depends on light availability but to start with these are great guides to recognizing young and more mature shoots.
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Hardwood shoots with just leaves on them are generally last years shoot. After the next growing season would be the time to cut them, after its second growing season. When they loose their leaves after the first growing season they grow small branches from the buds at last years leaf scar the next growing season. I've used this method of selecting hardwood shoots for many years and it has proved itself over an over again. You can make arrows from first year shoots but they will probably be flimsy and hard to keep straight.
I'd guess that the dogwood you have there is red osier. There are only a few varieties that have red stems. We have silky dogwood (red stems)here but not red osier. I haven't had good luck with silky but have made great arrows from red osier.
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Looks like red osier to me too
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Got it, thanks Pat