I didn't remove anything from the back. This was made from the top side of a 4" thick branch. Juniper, like most conifers reacts differently to gravity. Instead of growing tension wood on the tension(top) side of a horizontal growing limb, it instead grows fat rings on the bottom side. This means the top rings are very thin in comparison. On this one, the center ring was only about 3/4" from the top surface. The bottom half of the rings was about 3" thick. All that to say the sapwood on the back is only about 1/4" thick and thus allowed the handle to be nearly all heartwood. My trucks been broke down for a couple days, so I had some time to give this girl a good workout. My son and I did a little flight shooting today and I was getting a little over 200 yds with 500 gr. Arrows. The best shot was 218. I realize that's not exceptional by any means, but I'm more than happy with that .
