Dealing with knots - advice needed

[Julian]

I've noticed poking around the place that a lot of you drill through knots in the stave.
I'm currently working on a bit of Osage, and i've carefully worked around the knots until now and would love some advice on dealing with them.
Here's the back side of the knot. I've only just roughed out the bow. Those horizontal lines are from what's left of the bark. I think once I chase a ring the stave will clean up a lot. I might have to go a fair bit down though.

And the belly side

Full stave - it's a shorty for my girlfriend. Do you think it'll work for me?

[JW_Halverson]

Drilling and plugging is a yew wood trick, for the most part. Be OCD careful about avoiding grain violations and celebrate that knot!

[DavidV]

Looks like you're dealing with it fine. I only drill dead knots, if it's solid on the back leave it.  If it's dead it isn't in the way because the wood grew around it like a "river". Just dig the knot out and clean it up with needle files. Sometimes the knot is only on the belly so you can plug them with sawdust and superglue.

[lebhuntfish]

Looks like you're dealing with it fine. I only drill dead knots, if it's solid on the back leave it.  If it's dead it isn't in the way because the wood grew around it like a "river". Just dig the knot out and clean it up with needle files. Sometimes the knot is only on the belly so you can plug them with sawdust and superglue.

+1, just take your time with the knots. Patrick