Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Badger on October 08, 2016, 10:54:29 am
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Does anyone here use osage from Kansas. I know a group of guys who are going out on an osage collecting trip to Kansas. I know they have plenty of osage there but I have only seen one piece of it used in a bow. The early growth dominated and the wood wasn't very good. Anyone here with good direct knowledge of Kansas osage?
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Yes I do Steve. Have used many pieces of it. I can't testify to all of Kansas osage because all the pieces I have used came from the Wichita area. I would say it was mostly exceptional wood. It is so prevelant around Wichita they actually burn it for firewood!
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Steve, I use mostly Kansas osage, mostly because I live in Kansas... :D
Not a thing wrong with it, I have found a variety of ring thickness, early wood too late wood ratio, color, etc. Every tree seems to be different, and obviously it's hard to tell ring thickness and ratio until it is cut down. But I have found that it is best to look in a thick hardwood canopy for trees that grow straight.
I have also used Osage from different states; Missouri, Indiana, Oklahoma. I have not been able to tell any significant differences solely based on location.
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They were also looking for a couple of young strong guys too help with splitting and hopefully pay in wood if you guys happen to know anyone. Not sure what area they will be in. I would have loved to have gone with them but I no longer qualify as young and strong.
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The stuff I got from sidewinder(danny) made great bows!would love to get some more but with stave price,shipping and a poor canadian dollar,i have to stick to local supplies!dang!
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Lol, I wish I could take you up on that offer Steve, but my time is very limited.
I'm sure someone here would be more than happy to help you split it and load it up.
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Lol, I wish I could take you up on that offer Steve, but my time is very limited.
I'm sure someone here would be more than happy to help you split it and load it up.
I won't be a part of this. Just helping them try to locate some help.
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It's hunting season right now but I would be available right after I fill my tag.Kansas City is around 4 hours from me.Do they know when they are going?From California too?I've got my own tools.Chain saw too.I'll help cut/split/and load it.Debarking is up to the new owner.I think the growing season is a tad longer there then farther up north by me.Old Gun Doc would know about Kansas osage I'd say.
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These guys are actually old friends of Tim Baker. I told him I would try and hook them up with some help if I could find anyone. I will get there phone numbers from Tim and find out where they are going and get back to you all. They have a place picked out allready.
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PM sent Badger.
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When we go to Colorado for elk hunting I just look at all that Osage growing along Hwy 70. Since it takes 24 hours to drive across Kansas it is a looonng suffering drive looking at that Osage begging to be cut and made into bows......
I envy those with all that King wood!
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Osage is osage, trees don't know borders or states lol
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Osage is osage, trees don't know borders or states lol
I have fallen in love with the stuff from Ill and Michigan and ohio.
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I think the biggest challenge with Kansas Osage is finding straight trees with little or no wind shake.There is thousands of miles of Osage hedgerows but it can be tough finding anything that is not laced with small branches(pins) that are not visible until you try to split them, of that don't twist like a barber pole for the constant wind. Trees growing in open pasture growing resemble giant mangled bushes.
If you can find them growing in a sheltered creek bottom, or where they are growing in a woodlot that offers them some protection,you will have a better chance of finding something reasonably straight grained.
As far as quality, I haven't ran into to many that would not have been good bow wood if you can find you could find the workable ones.
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nclonghunter-- 24 hours to drive across Kansas, that's about right, but osage all the way? I don't recall seeing too many trees west of Manhatten, but I may have been in a trance by then.
Any straight piece of osage should be a good candidate for a bow.
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All I ever get is Kansas Osage. Works as good as any other:)
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I can be available in the whichita area.
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South of Topeka??
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nclonghunter-- 24 hours to drive across Kansas, that's about right, but osage all the way? I don't recall seeing too many trees west of Manhatten, but I may have been in a trance by then.
You guys must be the ones in the left lane on the turnpike with the blinker on going 55... ::)
For those of us who live here Denver is a 9 hour trip from the KCK area.
Oh, and the osage here is just fine to make bows, just don't call it osage to a native Kansan, they call it "hedge".
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Ditto Paul....The locals here call it hedge too in southern Iowa.You call it osage orange and they'll look at ya like your talking spanish.....lol.
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Hi all - Paul Rodgers here. I'm the friend of Tim Baker's who's heading out to Kansas.
We will be cutting around the Wichita area, only bringing back the excellent stuff and leaving the rest there. We've made many successful Osage trips before.
Need help with the heavy lifting and driving. Plan on leaving the 15th, so e-mail or call me ASAP if you're interested. 925-550-4759
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It's "Bodark" here in Texas.
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Like old Jim Hamm liked to call it bodark too.
Thanks Ishi there for the ph. no. and the date of departure.Around Witchita?That's quite a ways for me to travel.At least 6 to 7 hours one way.I'll have to bow out of this one.Good luck!!Sounds like the weather will hold up for ya.
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it's "non-existent" here in south florida...
i am so jealous of you guys access to actual bow wood that i can't see straight...
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it's "non-existent" here in south florida...
i am so jealous of you guys access to actual bow wood that i can't see straight...
Not totally true! Mullet's got one growing in his front yard. REALLY SLOWLY!
We need to start planting Mulberry, Brian.
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it's "non-existent" here in south florida...
i am so jealous of you guys access to actual bow wood that i can't see straight...
Not totally true! Mullet's got one growing in his front yard. REALLY SLOWLY!
We need to start planting Mulberry, Brian.
we need the patience to wait till his osage is grown... then we sneak up north there with a axe... i'll hide and wait... you take him for a burger... we split the haul... >:D >:D >:D
can't go wrong... until he catches us and beats the snot out of us... :-\ :o
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Drive on up to Mojam next July and we'll send ya home with plenty of osage. Heck, being as you are from Florida, you'll be the only guy there not grumbling about the heat and humidity. :D
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Drive on up to Mojam next July and we'll send ya home with plenty of osage. Heck, being as you are from Florida, you'll be the only guy there not grumbling about the heat and humidity. :D
lol... coldest day of the year i am in shorts and chacletas *(sandals for the gringos)...
i am hoping i'll be able to fly up this coming year... depends on what the little cuban princess tells me...
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Mi cubana esposa prefiere el aire frķa mas que el calor.
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Mi cubana esposa prefiere el aire frķa mas que el calor.
la mia no ha sentido frio.. ni vio nieve...
*(mine has never felt cold nor seen snow)
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the stuff I've got from Ks seems to be more reddish in color than my oklahoma osage. thats the only difference I ever noticed. that and when I went up to the race track in topeka I couldn't drive more than 12 feet down the hiway with out seeing another osage tree! the ratio up there is something like 50% osage. in fact the second time I rode topeka I took a saw and ax with me ;D. thats how I found out how colorfull it was up there.