im doing research on bow woods... What are YOUR top bow woods recomendations?

[George Tsoukalas]

Hickory, osage, red and white oak, and black locust are my favorites in no particular order. Jawge

[M-P]

Howdy,  I'm getting to like osage, though I have no chance of harvesting it myself.   I really like junipers, especially ERC and its very close relative-Rocky Mountain Juniper.   Ipe is a very nice bow wood,  It is usually backed, but only because the grain is so difficult to see, that making sure the back is straight grained is almost impossible.  I've also trie  Ash, slippery elm, hazel, yew, black walnut and hickory can all make great bows
Here is a sinew backed Rocky Mountain Juniper
Here is an unbacked ELB out of Rocky Mountain Juniper
And this one is an osage ELB       
Ron

[Catnapper]

Ron that is a sweet juniper bow! Juniper is the only bow wood that grows  where I live in Northeastern Wyoming. I have yet to try it though. And I am not quit sure how to tell what kind of juniper it is.

[FlaCubanRedneck]

i have to say i love the support this community offers. you guys are some of the best people. im honored to know you all.. please keep it coming..!!!


thank you so much guys..!!!

[SA]

i like osage (of course) mulberry,elm, red and white oak. hickory and ash for backing..

this one is sapwood mulberry...

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Osage best all around bow wood in my opinion.
Bamboo #1 for backing material.
Ipe for an awesome belly wood.
And soon to find out about Hackberry so the jury is still out on this one.

I have yet to search for any Hophornbeam, but that's next on my butcher's list of trees to drop.

[M-P]

Dang, I did it again! I just never post the pics right.
Here's the real picture of the unbacked ELB out of juniper.
Catnapper-  A good guidebook will help to identify your junipers.   Junipers do hybridize, so even the best guide may not tell you for sure.  To some extent it doesn't matter.   If you can find a straight grained juniper, it should make a bow.

[jturkey]

mine is osage hickory oaks white and red then maple in that ordre trying out chinese privet and an unknown tree that was given to me after being debarked and also about to try sassafrass. and dogwood. will let you know how they work. in pics in order osage, hickory, oak

[Gordon]

Yew, osage, vine maple, guava

[Del the cat]

Yew, made for the English Longbow.




Del

[SEMO_HUNTER]

I forgot to give you some pics, sorry about that. I thought you just wanted our favorite bow woods?
Here's a few of my favorites.

Snake skinned BBO





My nephews with their Osage Longbows that I made them for Christmas 2010

Tucker 8yrs. old



Garrett 6yrs. old

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Here's another Osage longbow I made for a friend of mine in VA.







Here's an Osage Indian flatbow that bends in the handle that I made for myself just because I always wanted one, and it shoots awesome!
If you want a nice forgiving, fun to shoot, zero hand shock bow..........Build yourself one of these! I tillered and finished this one in an afternoon, they are simple and easy to tiller. I think even a novice bowyer could knock one out in a weekend if they wanted to.

[druid]

Ash definitly. Here it is always above 0.7 SG and realy good wood.

[Keenan]

 Yew!, Yew and Yew!   Juniper, Cascara, Vine maple

[Elktracker]

My favorite as of now is Vine Maple easily available where I live and makes great bows!