Winged Elm or Flowering Dogwood Sapling Bow

[Bluegoose]

Planning to cut some saplings within the next couple of weeks to build the first primitive bows I've made in over 15 years. I'm 6'3" with a 30 inch draw. Which of the trees listed in the subject line would you recommend most for a  sapling bow? Both should be available on some family owned property. Should 74" be long enough for a rigid handled flat bow? I'm rereading all my old books. Any advice or suggestion will be appreciated.

Goose

[huisme]

I don't have enough experience with those woods to pick one but I'd be comfortable making a 68" stiff handled bow at your dimensions, 60" with a bendy handle.

[Pat B]

Either should work fine. I've not made a dogwood bow but I was very impressed with elm.

[turtle]

I have no experience with winged elm but flowering dogwood is exelent bow wood and would work well for you.

[JonW]

I have done both. Make one of each.

[blackhawk]

It'll be easier to find a clean,straight,flawless piece of elm than dogwood...but both are good woods.

You prob have hickory,eastern hophornbeam,and others as well that make excellent sapling bows. Don't get to stuck on one or two species. Its more important to look for and find bow worthy wood that's clean and straight.

[Bluegoose]

The elm and dogwood are the best candidates on this property that I have access to I think. No nice hickory on the place just some twisted scraggly black hickory. There is plenty of water oak and sweetgum, but I'm thinking the elm and dogwood would be better.

So 74" is overkill for an unbacked sapling bow?

[simson]

No need to make it that long, max 70 for a ELB
and 66 for a flattie, just my experience

[sleek]

Width will play a big part in length dont forget. What size sapling are you thinking?

[Bluegoose]

The sapling size will depend on what I can find, but I'm thinking between 2-4 inches for ease of handling.

[sleek]

Well dogwood I have seen make some amazing war bows of saplings. Elm varies a lot between species. So for sure dog wood is a good bet. Elm is my favorite but unfortunately I cant be sure of the species.  I need to take a piece in to have it analyzed to tell me the species.

[crooketarrow]

  A 74 inch bow has a lot of limb mass. In my opinion any thing over 68"s the leanth only slows your bow down.  There's no need to make either wood this long.
 I one made a flowering dogwood 64"s 58#'s @ 30" and I've made 2 elm bows ,both 30 inchs draw. A 62" and a 66".

 I like dogwood a little better. I've made 6 dogwood bows. Dogwood just seams little better, awsome cast (springer) supper fast.

 I cut 12 staves and sappleing over 10 years ago. I have 3 left. DOG WOOD HAS MY VOTE.  64" Will pull 30"s easy.

 Not that elm won't fit your bill it will work with ease. Elm can be dead straighter.