Which Hickory?

[ripmyfly]

Of the several hickorys in the southeast are there any that are considered the best? Also, what is the shortest and optinum time one should allow it to dry?

Thanks!

[orcbow]

The true hickories are considered the strongest---shagbark is the most commonly recognizable of the true hickories. The pecan hickories are slightly weaker. But any tree can and does have variations, these characteristics are based on averages.

True Hickory group-Shagbark,Pignut, Mockernut,Shellbark

Pecan Hickory group-Bitternut,Pecan,Water Hickory, and Nutmeg Hickory.

[ripmyfly]

That answers my question! Thank you!

[Hillbilly]

Red, pignut, and mockernut are my favorites in this area, roughly in that order. There are some local ones I haven't tried, like the bitternut, sand hickory, or shagbark (shagbark is really rare here in the mountains.) Any of them should make a bow, though. If I remember correctly, the two fastest bows in the infamous "whitewood wars" bow tests at Mojam were Tim Baker's pecan bows.

[TRACY]

I've had good success with shag and bitternut in small diameter trees(8"). Just haven't been able to cut down my squirrel magnets just yet

Tracy

[Mechslasher]

i prefer the pignut. 

[bigcountry]

I have access to mainly pignut and mockernut.  I struggle identifying but think I got it.

I learned one important lesson this year.  Cut it in the summer or spring. I have 14 staves that I left the bark on and cut in October, and now I am throwing sparks trying to remove the bark.

[Hillbilly]

Bigcountry, the easiest way to differentiate pignut and mockernut is that the mockernut has fuzzy twigs and really big terminal buds.