Location for osage trees

[frogs338]

I build my own longbows for personal use; not resale. I live in St. Augustine, FL, and to the best of my knowledge, osage doesn't grow in Florida. Osage is my preferred wood, but will consider other good wood. I will travel to Southern Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia to cut the trees, clean up the mess, and pay the land owner.

[willie]

but will consider other good wood.

live oak?  I have found that within the species you work with, there is so-so, better, good and best. Selection and care is key

[Allyn T]

Ryan Gill from hunt primitive lives in Florida and he harvest all of his osage from there. Added bonus river cane grows there and is great for arrows!

[Parnell]

I’m in S Fl.  Osage really needs the winter freeze to grow...so I am doubtful that anyone harvests Fl Osage.  At the Tn Classic, I’ve never seen any hedge harvested south of TN. 

[Eric Krewson]

It grows way south of Tn, I am I Alabama and the stuff is thick here. It seems to grow in pockets, some areas of the south have it and others don't.

[Parnell]

You ever see it in S Alabama, Eric?  I'm wondering how much cold is needed for the growth.  I've worked TX hedge, but am wondering if it starts to cut out when you approach the Gulf.

[Badger]

   It grows fine in Ca and we don't have any freezing weather

[Selfbowman]

It grows all over Texas where you get   at least 35” rain annually. Just thickets though. Strange tree. Arvin

[S.C. hunter]

We have it in S.C.    but not a lot of it.

[Stickhead]

We grow plenty of excellent Osage in VA.

[Allyn T]

Osage natural range was texas, the very bottom of Oklahoma and bottom of Arkansas. It's been planted in all 48 continental states and canada.

[osage outlaw]

In the open it grows into a tangled shrubby tree that isn't much good for bows.  In a tall canopy it can grow tall and straight.  If you find some to cut look them over closely.   Study the bark patterns for twist or interlocking grain.  Try to avoid those.  The type of bark can even give you an idea on the thickness of the rings.  Look for some growing in moist soil.  They usually have good rings.  Second growth off of stumps can be good too. 

Good luck.  Post some pictures if you get to cut any.

[Eric Krewson]

Sterling Holbrook made a lot of osage bows, he lived down near the gulf in Alabama, I think he cut osage down there but I don't know for sure.

This distribution map shows pockets of osage as far south as Montgomery.

https://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/atlas/tree/641