maple in ga?

[jham]

would the maple trees in Georgia make a good bow? reading up it sounds like they would either be red maple or florida maple. My uncle has several of them around a pond that are straight and knot free. What would be the best way to go about it? chase a ring or just debark?

[Bow Nut]

hey cant comment on the maple to much as I am new to self bows but what I have read is all hard maples can make a good bow.  what part of ga are you from I live in atlanta.

[blackhawk]

Red maple is a "soft" maple. Its not a hard maple/sugar maple. Its not as good as sugar maple but still can make a lower poundage bow if designed correctly. I made my son a kids bow out of red maple. There should be better woods than that in your area such as hickories/pecan,hophornbeam,etc....just do some research on what's available as good bow wood in your area

[jham]

I'm down in Brunswick. There is some pecans around, but not that I can cut. I dont know of any hickory closer than fort stewart. Plenty of oaks and sweetgums around, which I know both can make a bow, but was hoping for the maple as there was plenty I could cut and several straight and knot free. Im working on a board bow until I find a good stave(s),  so no rush on finding a tree, but yall know how it is.

[mullet]

You can make a bow from it, use wide limbs, and keep the weight low. We call it Water Mape down here. You guy's should have some Chinaberry or Cedar up there.

[ken75]

lots of pines and oaks in south ga. you should have some useable oaks ,and the maple here is mostly silver lot lighter than hard but will make a bow as said before keep it wide . watch folks yard for pruning . crepe myrtle ,bradford pear , apple most fruit and nut trees will work

[HoBow]

I have family down in Baxley. Go to a big pecan orchard. They are always cutting trees and pruning limbs. Plus, pecan is better for smoking than hickory IMO, so you can get good smoking wood.

[jham]

going to cut some crepe myrtle tomorrow to start drying while I finish up my board bow, will see how this does, and also checking with my uncle whos a couple of hrs away to see if he will let me know if he ever goes to cut any of his pecan trees down. We have a few pecans in the yard but cant cut them unless they become a danger of falling. crepe myrtle is one wood I can get at least a stave or two of every year around here.