Hill cane au natural

[Pat B]

I sent Todd from Khans Arrows a few pics of hill cane growing, harvested and bundled(seasoned) and one of my hunting arrows, along with a little info about hill cane.
Here are a few pics of Hill Cane(Arundaneria appalachiana), a native US cane(bamboo) that grows only in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. It is also the only deciduous native cane.
These pics are hill cane growing on our property here in Transylvania County NC. The pic with the dogs in it shows smaller hill cane not big enough for arrows. Hill cane grows to about 7' under the right conditions. Also I've added pics of harvested and seasoned hill cane, in a bundle of 15 culms, a single raw culm and one of my finished hill cane hunting arrow. This arrow is hafted with a single edge trade point made by PA member "Little John". The point is hafted with pine pitch glue and wrapped with deer backstrap sinew. The self nock also has a sinew wrap as does the forward end of the turkey feather fletching. All sinew wraps are sealed with pine pitch varnish.

[artcher1]

Hill cane is one of my all time favorite shaft material Pat. Thanks for turning me on to it! You get penetration plus with these shafts. Couple of my best hill cane arrows are lost in the woods from pass-throughs...…..Art

[Pat B]

Art, that bundle above can be yours for the asking.    Cut last winter. 

[artcher1]

Thanks for the offer Pat. I'm no longer able to build and shoot bows so I have no need for arrow material anymore. Kind of you to offer though...….Art

[Pat B]

Sorry to hear you can no longer shoot or build arrows. You taught me all I know about building cane and sourwood shoot arrows. Hopefully I can pass it on the way you did.

[Deerhunter21]

im sorry to hear that Art! i have the binder Pat gave me and your articles and pictures really helped me on making my trade arrow! it turned out great and my recipient said their taking it hunting!

[artcher1]

It's a hard thing to have to give up something you truly love to do Deerhunter. But time marches on...…

Even though I can't shoot or hunt with a selfbow anymore I still enjoy helping those that are willing to learn and put in the effort. Keep your feathers dry...……..Art

[PEARL DRUMS]

I have a bow and arrows displayed from you mister Butner. Even though you threatened to whoop me if I didn't hunt that arrow . Aint happenin' my friend. 

[artcher1]

..……..and that is why you only have one bow and one arrow of mine Pearly (wink wink).

[willie]

It's a hard thing to have to give up something you truly love to do Deerhunter. But time marches on...…

Even though I can't shoot or hunt with a selfbow anymore I still enjoy helping those that are willing to learn and put in the effort. Keep your feathers dry...……..Art

Glad you still take time to contribute. Thanks

[razorsharptokill]

That looks like what we call river cane here in Oklahoma.

[Pat B]

What you have, Jim, might be switch cane. Both hill cane and switch are very similar and only grow to about 7' but of the two only hill cane grows in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. River cane grows to 15' or more and is about 3/4" in diameter.
What you have could also be one of the Asian exotic canes that were introduced into the US many years ago and are pretty prolific.
The tern "River Cane" seems to have become a generic name for most cane used for arrows these days.

[artcher1]

I enjoyed working with switch cane. Very easy to straighten and made an awesome shooting arrow. Physical weight was light along with max dynamic spine of around 45# or so.....Art