Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: Parnell on November 08, 2009, 01:47:42 am

Title: Common SWFL shaft ID?
Post by: Parnell on November 08, 2009, 01:47:42 am
 Dried some shafts from this for just over a week and given little "re-adjustments".  This stuff is shaping up great.  What is it?

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Title: Re: Common SWFL shaft ID?
Post by: sailordad on November 08, 2009, 09:34:07 am
i cant say for sure
but looks like it could be some type of willow
Title: Re: Common SWFL shaft ID?
Post by: Swamp Bow on November 08, 2009, 09:47:48 am
Hey Parnell,
  Break/bruise a piece of that.  If it has a strong aromatic quality, its Dog Fennel.  I get a bunch of it here.  I need to get some goats, they love it, and the cows won't touch it.  I don't have a clue if it is good arrow material, let me know if it is.  We do have giant reed and elephant grass in the area (I've got that on my property as well).

Swamp

ETA:  Dog fennel not dog bane, musta been on auto pilot when I posted originally.
Title: Re: Common SWFL shaft ID?
Post by: Pat B on November 08, 2009, 10:32:15 am
That is dog fennel(Eupatorium sp). it will make shafting similar to horse weed, golden rod, etc. Probably makes good shafts foe a fire drill also. The bruised leaves also make for a good cover scent.
Title: Re: Common SWFL shaft ID?
Post by: Swamp Bow on November 08, 2009, 06:16:04 pm
Pat you are absolutely correct!  I was thinking Fennel, but wrote Bane.  Realized it a a little later, but was away from the 'puter.  I'll edit my post.

Swamp
Title: Re: Common SWFL shaft ID?
Post by: mullet on November 08, 2009, 09:12:41 pm
  Yep!, It's Dog Fennel. You can cut B'jillian shafts of the stuff in florida. It's alright for light splined arrows. I, personnaly wouldn't hunt hogs or deer with them. It is a good cover scent, like Pat said.
Title: Re: Common SWFL shaft ID?
Post by: Parnell on November 08, 2009, 10:17:55 pm
Alright, thanks for the information.  Too bad it isn't a little tougher.
Thanks, again.
Title: Re: Common SWFL shaft ID?
Post by: Pat B on November 08, 2009, 11:12:25 pm
I think it would work fine for a survival arrow. I have a few I cut and will try them as arrows this winter. I also have a couple of pieces of goldenrod and horse weed. Get enough of them, split them in half and make a basket type quiver with them.
Title: Re: Common SWFL shaft ID?
Post by: mullet on November 09, 2009, 09:34:28 am
 when I was a young'in we used to make arrows and spears out of them. We had plenty of ammo when we attacked each others fort.
Title: Re: Common SWFL shaft ID?
Post by: Parnell on November 09, 2009, 06:43:46 pm
Hey, that's a good idea Pat - I may just do that...

You've got me beat mullet - I was shootin the cardboard tubes from shirt hangers.  It didn't last long when my parents found all their hangers limp, haha!

Fun memories!
Title: Re: Common SWFL shaft ID?
Post by: sailordad on November 09, 2009, 06:53:43 pm
man must have been nice to have stuff like that to use when attacking each others forts
we didnt have such nice natural weapons,we used thistle plants as clubs and bb guns as our main weapons
we would also take the ink cartridge from pens and shoot them out of our bb guns
Title: Re: Common SWFL shaft ID?
Post by: mullet on November 09, 2009, 08:12:08 pm
 Tim, We used to be able to get those little hickory bows with two arrows for about a buck and a quarter. They had rubber suction cups on the end and the first thing to go. Then they went in the pencil sharpner. When they were gone, it was self nocked dog fennel, (Cub Scout pocket knife) ;), long shaft, and unfletched.