Osage Orange is one of the best tree species we have for building selfbows. This video covers how to identify osage orange, what to look for in terms of quality, how to identify a good bow stave, and how to cut bow staves safely. Harvesting osage can be a challenge due to the tangled tops and thick growing conditions.
I'm attending the Oklahoma Selfbow Jamboree, OJAM, and the hosts were kind enough to let us harvest some bow wood on their property.
One of the most difficult things about harvesting osage bow staves is getting the trees to drop once cut. Due to the thick growing conditions, the tops often get tangled with one another making it difficult to safely get the logs on the ground. Osage has thorns, furrowed bark and often grows in association with elm and locust in bottom land forests along creeks. These staves were harvested in spring when there were no fruits so other features are used in identification. Harvest time matters little in my opinion.
In future videos we'll split bow staves and follow a few bow building beginners through the process at the OJAM in central Oklahoma.
Making your own traditional archery equipment, or even your own self bow or longbow is a great way to get more involved with archery and bow hunting, improve your self reliance, bushcraft, and survival skills.
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