Ok... Lesson learned. They Shrink!!! Last winter I cut what seemed to be the perfect size to make arrows. Bundled them and put them under my bed to dry. Time got away and forgot about them. Found them tonight and realized they are pretty small. Just curious what size you guys cut when harvesting them?
Next time take a 3/8" open wrench with you and measure the butt end with that. You also have to only harvest 2nd year growth or older. The first year shoots have leaves (leaf scars now) but the second year small branches grow from last years leaf scars. So any shoots with small branches should be appropriate.
Also with rose shoots, don't peel the bark until they are dry or they will check.
Have you checked the How To section or done a search for rose shafts. Mickie Lotz used rose shafting some I believe and probably did a how to.
You mean that terrible nasty plant is good for something?
Rabbits love em -- super secure escape cover.
It's great bunny cover too! Just Ask Shawn. :rolleyes:
I need to read up on this. The land I hunt is covered up in this stuff. I dried some out a while back to attempt to do some arrows but the spine seemed so weak...and the diameter so large on anything useful in terms of spine...that I just tossed them.
If I could figure it out I'd love to convert some of that stuff into arrows.