Howdy, I've felt a little overwhelmed by all the votes for anything but juniper. I have not worked with Ashe juniper, but I have made and like bows of ERC. rocky mountain and western juniper. I'm also a believer in "using what you have", especially if that means the difference between getting started, instead of putting things off while waiting for the "better"wood.
I hope Arthur finds a great stave and is successful on his first bow. Realistically most of us break a bow or two (or more) when we are first starting.
I still say go for it. The hard part will be finding a straight, knot free stave. If Ashe is anything like the junipers I've harvested. the best trees will be found in areas where shade makes them struggle to reach the light. The center of a dense grove, or the bottom of a north facing bank are places that have worked for me. Another possibility is a a horizontal branch from a tree growing out in the open. Sometimes the lower branches are quite straight and long. The worst that can happen is that Arthur has to walk around the country side looking for the right tree. And if he has a tree ID guide, he might find one of the yellow trees, too. Ron
Ron
