Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: Brokestick on October 07, 2007, 08:02:10 pm

Title: Mojave arrows
Post by: Brokestick on October 07, 2007, 08:02:10 pm

Hello, Ive been away from the message boards for quite a while now.  It's been really busy since I left Alaska, and I haven't had much time at all to devote to bows.  I'm curious as to what type of arrow wood I might be able to locate in the area I'm living now.  I'm in the high Mojave desert, about 40 miles NE of Barstow, Fort Irwin, if your familiar with it.  I haven't come across anything remotely straight, and I was wondering what the natives would have used, and how to find it.  Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I'll try not to be a stranger anymore.

Title: Re: Mojave arrows
Post by: mullet on October 07, 2007, 09:00:55 pm

  I drove through Barstow in 1978.From what I saw,I think the native's threw rocks or lived somewhere else. ;)

Title: Re: Mojave arrows
Post by: wolfsire on October 07, 2007, 09:01:55 pm

This is not a joke, and probably not what you are looking for, but I live in Las Vegas and yesterday I was scavaging a vacant lot that had dried tree trimmings looking for suitable pieces for crossbow bolts and arrows.  Found a fair amount for the bolds, as they need not be long.  I also found a dowel and a very young, but now dead, appricot tree that I think will make an arrow.  One of these days Im planning on looking in some of the washes and at the lake.

Title: Re: Mojave arrows
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 07, 2007, 09:30:38 pm

If you look along any of the rivers or streams, even the dry ones,  you can probably find salt cedar .  Most of us in the southwest call it tamarix or tamarack.  Two year old or older shoots are what you are looking for.  Justin

Title: Re: Mojave arrows
Post by: Brokestick on October 07, 2007, 10:05:26 pm

That's a surprise.  I hadn't thought the salt cedar was strong enough to do anything with.  This stuff grows all over the place up here.  There's also a sort of tree here with green bark and little or no leaves (seems to be two varieties) which I think is in the mesquite family.  It seems to have straight shoots occasionally, and I'm thinking of trying that out.  Thankfor all the quick replies.

Title: Re: Mojave arrows
Post by: M-P on October 08, 2007, 04:16:15 am

Hi,  Threes with green bark and no leaves,  sounds like palo verde.  They are member of the legume family and somewhat related to mesquite.  The wood is brittle and not used for much that I know of.  Ron
ps.  palo verde is spanish for "green stick".