I only know what I was taught by my old friend croortarrow. He was half Iroquois And built and hunted with self bows for over 50 plus years. He said he was taught that a bow won't last as long it heat was used on it.
He never used heat and he was one of 3 of the most knolagable men I know a bows( his form of bows) and the things around him and how everything fitted together. He very seldom strayed from the bend in the handle bow. It worked for him and thats mosty what he made. Not only untill we met did he cut a shelf and try it.
I don't think woods like osage might not be afected as much white woods. I went though a period starting out when I did'nt know how to get around not useing heat. But adventlly stop useing heat on any moveing parts of the limb. I will heat the handle and aline tips with the handle if needed.
As far as if it hunts I say yea if you reallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy putting a lot of arrows through the bow. I'D SAY YEA IT DOSE AFECT THE LONGEVITY AND DURABILITY OF THE BOW. I can here all the rumming now but I contrube that to close minest. The way you've been taught or the way TBB said is gospal.
I do'nt have any of my old heated bows to look back on. But I've never had any returned. But I can say this. I do have unheated bows 10 ,15 years old thats had 100,000's of arrow shoot through them. That have the same set and string follow as when I made them.
It dose take a little exture thinking and work or some bows that would be simper to heat the bow.
You can do everything you need to do (reflex ,straighting) to the stave while green to where you never have to use heat. There's been 100,00's of bows made useing heat. It's just a step I chose not to have to do.
