Hickory vs Osage which is best

[bubba pharris]

whats the positive and negitives is one better over the other

[mullet]

 In Florida, I like Osage. I've hunted with a 68# hickory bow in the mornings here and by 10AM, with the humidity climbing towards 85% felt it turn to a noodle with no cast. And then it will take an hour or two for it to relax or recover sitting in the sun.  I like hickory for BBQ.

[El Destructo]

                            Hickory works great here in the Desert Southwest...no problems with Humidty here.........

[riarcher]

Even with sealant? 

Asking because I know humidity living in New England.

[Postman]

I have limited experience, but think I've read hickory is harder to get dry and keep dry in the bow building process for a beginner, especially without a hot box or in humid places like New England.  (But that is what the native Americans used a lot up there, and northern guys on here make beautiful hard hitters with it, too.)

 New England or not, though,  Osage is wicked awesome!   I've used it because it is common here in NW Virginia and easy to get

[Timo]

Getting the popcorn ready. 

[Postman]

I don't think riarcher is trying to start a fuss, I asked a few as a newbie and unwittingly did so...

[Timo]

 Sorry if I came off like he was, didn't mean it that way. I just remember "The white wood wars" from years past, and the differences in opinions,(one verses the other). It was interesting. Figured it might be DE-ja-voooooo.

They are both good woods,use what is in your area, or what you can get your hands on.

(I prefer yeller wood) 

[Josh]

i like hickory backed osage... 

[sailordad]

i live in mn
we go from one extreme to the other with humidty
spring and part of summer cane be very moist
winter and part of summer can be very very dry

i work on hickory in the winter months,well i did before i started knapping
i still work hickory in the winter,wheni am making bows.i have one all but finished up right now
got a nice piece of hedge waiting for summer,only cause it can take the humidity better

[bubba pharris]

i have plenty of both....still new to this tho i have made a couple of hickory bows and a couple out of oak...just went and cut some osage today,split it and put up to dry

[George Tsoukalas]

I like them both actually. Hickory is difficult to use in a high humidity environment but it is practically indestructible. Take off the bark and make a bow. Osage is  a great bow wood. I can't think of any disadvantages except it needs a heartwood back which may be an issue for the beginner. Availability is also an issue.  Using indigenous woods is pretty neat. Jawge

[mullet]

 Don't get me wrong, My very first hard shooting, go to, hunting bow was Hickory. And Chad is still hunting with it in Ft. Meyers, Fl.  But at 8AM and you can see moisture
 rising in the swamps or Cypress Bayheads in little swirling tornadoes, 85dgs,  and you have your shirt stuck to your back, I'll go with the yella wood. And I saw a TV commercial with a cowboy dressed in yella that will back me up

  But, I think my new swamp wood might be Ipe.

[Ryano]

Osage is better.....  Still.....

[Josh]

^^   ..somehow i KNEW you'd say that Ryan.