New guy. Just getting started

[jcathunter]

I bowhunted for over 20years with compounds and have rifle hunted the past few years but decided I'd like to try my hand at making a bow to use on a cougar and/or bear hunt.  I've been trying to research as much as possible and have decided to try Yew and Viney Maple.  My first try will be with Viney and possibly a yew if I can find a dead standing that will be workable this winter.  I got a permit and cut a little yew today.  Here are some pics of what I cut.


Packing out a little one

[fishfinder401]

yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
can Yew tell i'm a fan of yew
great haul, cant wait to see what you can do with that
and by the way, welcome to what will devour all your free time from now on
noel

[Pat B]

Welcome Jcat. Yew will love it around these parts. Nice haul of yew. Ask all the questions you have. We'll get you hooked and teach you how to build a bow. 

[jcathunter]

Thanks guys.  I've got another dandy tree picked out that I think will be even better than the best I got today.  I will be getting it very soon.  There is also several dead, standing trees.  What should I look for in a dead standing?  I'd like to get one and dry it out for a month or two and get started.  Is there anything different to look for other than what I would look for in a live tree?

[fishfinder401]

if it is dead its dead for a reason, i fi were you, i would get a green yew stave and trade it for a seasoned stave of another kind
noel

[Del the cat]

That is some fine looking Yew.
I'm off to harvest a piece tommorrow, if it's half as good as that I'll be a happy man.
Del
(BTW if you havn't seen my website yet, there are a few Yew bows on there and I also run my Bowyers Diary which showed me building several Yew English Longbows (ELBs) at the start of this year. Google delsbows to find the site)

[iowabow]

My advice to a new guy is to cut more wood than you can make bow from for the next five years at least.  I started two years ago and the wood that when I started is just now making OK bows.  I am preparing wood for the next 8 years of bow making.  I would put the best wood aside and work the OK wood first.  I have made 4 bows per year.  I don't know about other bow makers but that is my advice as a new guy myself. 

[George Tsoukalas]

NIce! I'm starting to feel the call of the bow. Jawge

[soy]

That big one there, im sorry to inform you ,is no good...it should  be sent to me for proper disposal  good luck and welcome

[Pat B]

George, it is getting near bow building season, isn't it? 

[blackhawk]

Bow building season NEVER ends. Welcome to some good times that lay ahead in your future.

IMHO it takes yew a good while to properly season and be ready for use,a lot longer than two or three months,more like two to threes years+ even if cut into staves now. Maybe a year if done right for speed drying. I wood reduce the vine maple down to near bow dimension and strap it down to a board to quick dry it and if done correctly you could be working on it in a couple months. And remember to seal the wood. So start and learn on the vine maple first...please.

[johnston]

Glad you made it here jcat. Like Fish said it would not be worthwhile to mess with
dead wood but you can come up with something to work with while that pretty
yew cures. Don't get me wrong, that yew is a fine first step

If you were to purchase a suitable board you could set up your work area and tools
and even build yourself a serviceable bow or two. Would much rather mess up a 6$
board than nice wood and it ain't as much pressure.

Lane

[PEARL DRUMS]

Yew came to the right place. Welcome to our sport and enjoy the process!

[criveraville]

jcat,

Welcome amigo.. Happy to have you aboard.  That looks like a nice haul. 

If you don't already have a Primitive Archer Magazine subscription allow me to invite you to get one asap   It's an excellent read cover to cover and by getting a subscription you help support this awesome forum and you will be able to enter your bows in the BOM contest. 

Cipriano

[PEARL DRUMS]

Good suggestion Cippy! The PA mag is numeral uno. I get all antsy every time I know a new one is coming. Its cheap entertainment.