Dean, I am glad those staves are going to work for you. I still look at those osage monster staves you traded me on a daily basis, they are peacefully waiting their turn. As for the gas. Everybody, or most everybody has to drive somewhere to get their wood, but I end up driving 300+ miles at the end of the day to get my yew, and I live in yew country.
And to my earlier post saying that the permit isn't the limiting factor. I feel like I have been fortunate with my experiences getting a permit, and that is probably because I used to work for the forest service, and I don't hesitate to name drop when I am talking to the special forest products agent. The point I wanted to make, is that yew does not grow straight, and free of limbs, and those few that do were cut down a long time ago. Basically, getting a permit doesn't insure you come home with good staves.
Bryce, I am printing your post out and tucking it away in my sons sock drawer.
That is a great thing you are doing.
One thing I noticed in going after yew is that in areas that have been thinned, or have adjacent clearcuts, the yew seams to be more prone to rot. These yew also have dead moss or no moss on them, whereas yew in dark corners has lush healthy moss nearly covering it. I wonder if yew is somewhat intolerant to increased light levels, possibly the moss that grows on it is beneficial, but can't handle the light. ? Anyone else notice such things.
