Bulrush Arrows?

[Jacob Parnell]

Hey!

I have like a thousand bulrushes in a field beside my house.  Would I potentially be able to make nice arrows out of these?  If not, what other weeds or woods could I use to make them out of? 
FYI: I live in the Kawartha Lakes area.
 
Thanks!

[Pat B]

Kawartha Lakes where? 

[Jacob Parnell]

Kawartha Lakes where? 

Peterborough, Lindsay and the surrounding area.  It's in Ontario, Canada.

[bow101]

Curiousity..........what size are the shafts.?

[Jacob Parnell]

Curiousity..........what size are the shafts.?

Well at the tip of the reed it is about 1/4 of an inch and the thickest part is 1/2 and inch.

[H Rhodes]

I live way down south, so I don't know what kinds of weeds you have growing around there.  I have made arrows from dog fennel, golden rod, and horse weed.  They are not the most durable materials, but in a pinch, they will make an arrow.  Horse weed dries a deep chestnut brown color and makes a good looking arrow.  I have found horse weed to be sturdy enough to cut self nocks into them.  I think the weight of these type materials is an issue.  I had to use shafts of 3/8" diameter or even larger to have enough spine to make a 28" arrow.   Cane is my favorite - it outlasts everything else I have tried.  Work with what you have.  Cut some and bundle it up, dry it out and see if they will shoot. Let us know how it works out.     

[Jacob Parnell]

I live way down south, so I don't know what kinds of weeds you have growing around there.  I have made arrows from dog fennel, golden rod, and horse weed.  They are not the most durable materials, but in a pinch, they will make an arrow.  Horse weed dries a deep chestnut brown color and makes a good looking arrow.  I have found horse weed to be sturdy enough to cut self nocks into them.  I think the weight of these type materials is an issue.  I had to use shafts of 3/8" diameter or even larger to have enough spine to make a 28" arrow.   Cane is my favorite - it outlasts everything else I have tried.  Work with what you have.  Cut some and bundle it up, dry it out and see if they will shoot. Let us know how it works out.   

Thank you! will do.  How long do you dry your canes for?

[H Rhodes]

I tie them into bundles of a dozen and let them dry for three months.  I read an interesting post on quick drying them in an oven, but I have never tried that.  The bamboo tomato stakes in the gardening section of some of the big home supply stores will make a good arrow and don't cost much.