Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Mark Smeltzer on August 22, 2008, 01:26:56 am
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I thought there might be some Osage growing in my area, but did not expect to find street signs leading me right to it, and land owners willing to let me work my but off for three, 10 hr. days to get a truck load of it. That is the toughest stuff I have cut and also by far the densest.
This will be the first Ca. Osage I've used. The earlywood latewood ratio is really good. I was surprised!
Mark
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That's hilarious! Where's the picture of your truckload :).
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After cutting, splitting and loading the trees I was such a whipped pup that I did not take pics of the truck loaded, but I'll put up a couple of the wood pile. Had to clean up ater myself really good too.....I want to be invited back.
Mark
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lucky man!
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What part of california are you in? I used to see some in orange county years ago. Steve
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I feel pretty luck to have gotten that Osage.
Steve, I live half way between Tahoe and Sac off hwy 50. That Osage came from the Sac. area. In the farm lands it's planted along the country roads. Much of it is on the counties right of way.
Mark
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Thats great! Sometimes ya gotta follow th signs. Lookin forward to seeing some of that!
Steve
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Hey Mark,
Thats great! There is no doubt you can turn this into a side gig.. :o If you have any clean wood left after Badger buys most of what you have :o ;D, please keep me in mind. I'd love to get some local bodark....
Rich
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So Orange County is short for Osage Orange? Cool.
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Those old ranches in so cal were loaded with osage, now most of them are housing tracts. I remember seeing the hedgeapples when I was out training my bird dogs. Mark, if any wood goes up for sale please keep me in mind. Thanks Steve
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I wouldn't mind parting with some. I'll let you both know. I'm pretty anxious to make a bow from it too. Not too often I can get local stuff except Yew.
The rural areas here are disapearing too. But there is still some Osage out there. I'll post a couple more pictures of what I have. About half of it is pretty snakey. That is the heaviest wood I've ever cut. I had to split most of it on the spot, I could not load it in the truck
Mark
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Mark - I'm from Tahoe, and I've heard of Osage trees around the Sac Area, but I was never able to find any. If only I had known that the map had the location right on it! As for local stuff: don't forget white oak. That stuff is nearly indestructable. It's like west coast Hickory. There are also a few places with some good Maple, birch and other good white woods around. You wouldn't happen to cut your yew in Pollock Pines?
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Waterlogged,
Actually I have cut some White Oak and you are right. I haven't had good luck with the Local Black Locust though. That could just be the particular location it came from. The Yew that I have cut was near to Bear River Res.
That is a very limited deal though. It's hard to find private land owners willing to let you take it. And the state rarely gives permits to take down any tree on state land.
Mark
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Really? I had no trouble getting a permit from the forest ranger's office at fresh pond. Found a good amount, though I'll need to scout more in the area when I go to cut some more, because I pretty much got all the straight wood from the area I found.
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No kidding. They gave me heck for even asking to take down a live tree. Firewood is OK though.
I live in Camino, it's fairly common in this area too. Sly Park has lots also.
We'll have to talk. Ranger station at Fresh Pond you say?
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Yeah, talked to a very nice lady behind the desk. Told her I make bows, she said it was really neat, and that I could pretty much cut whatever I wanted within certian rules, and under 8cords (that would be /a lot/ of bow wood) for a $20 permit, though I had to specify hardwood, softwood or half and half. There seemed to be no problem at all. Drop me a PM sometime.
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PM sent.
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Congratulations on your score. Here in Kansas its all over the place, problem is most and I mean most, is too knarly to make bows with. Thats why I'm always rubber necking it looking for straight trees. Seems like that constant south wind really puts the strain on it. I think the twist and such is just the trees way of dealing with it as it grows. Did you get it debarked and seal the back and ends yet? Osage likes to check pretty bad if you don't seal the ends. Hope it turns out well. Danny
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Thanks Danny,
I haven't taken any bark off yet but the end are sealed very well. This stuff was a little knarly but not too bad. here's a few pictures.
In the picture with two staves the one one the right is 64" long and approx 6-7"wide, it weighs 55lbs
(http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq23/alder65/OsageStaves003.jpg)
(http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq23/alder65/OsageStaves007.jpg)
(http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq23/alder65/OsageStaves004.jpg)
Mark
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wow nice haul. you need some help choping it up into bows let me know..
congrads.
n2
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you are one lucky son of a buck. :o
i dont have any growing anywhere near me :'(, but i do have a neighbor who goes back home to Ok area to hunt very year,he said he would bring me back some
bodark this year. all i could say was "sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet dude."
i think he'll get the first bow from it once its been split and cured,that is if he rememers to bring it back.
dang that must have been rough to have to cut and split all of that would,and the whole time you were probalaby already picking out the best ones and
seeing the bows in them, i know i would have been.
tim
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oh yeah, theres bows in them thar staves. Danny
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Nice haul! Now part two of the saving it from the bugs starts - getting it all peeled and sealed :P shew :).
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I started peeling a few today. I did spray the whole pile of wood with a pestiside hopefully that will help. I have one roughed out and sealed. I like to start working them green, I'll let it sit for a week or so and then make sure it's sealed reallly good and then put it in a cual to get some reflex then the hot box @ 90-100 F for 10-15 days.
Mark