Why do you shoot wood shafts and why do you choose a certain type of wood?
I just started.... My first batch isn't even a month old. Been shooting carbon for about 10 years now pretty sure I'm not going back. For me it was the allure of the wood arrow. Definately adds to the "more trad" feel for me. I used to use the "excuse" that carbon was more "tune able" and nothing could be further from the truth. Granted yes. Carbon is strong and straight. But I got my wood shafts tuned within 4# of spine and 2 grains of weight. And another plus because of wood density variation. I could make a 600 gr arrow for elk hunting no problem...no weight tubes. Or if I want a 500 gr arrow for target shooting. I just match em up!
I went with Doug fir from surewood. I didn't even have to spend much time straightening them.
I shoot everything: wood, carbon and aluminum. I prefer to shoot wood in my longbow because all the tournaments I enter require longbow shooters to shoot wood. I've shot wood for so long out of longbows that it wouldn't feel natural for me to shoot anything else.
When I hunt, I want to give myself the best odds I can, given the overall limitations of trad bowhunting, so I shoot carbons from my recurve. For me, the goal is to take the animal I'm hunting cleanly with a trad bow. For others, the goal may be the same, but to do it with a self bow and homemade wooden arrows. I can understand that, we're both self-imposing limitations; their's are just a little more challenging than mine.
I find they are just more alive then metal or carbon. Hard to explain. You just have to experience it. They seem to me to be more forgiving too. Wood arrows shot out of a wood bow is a beautiful match. Then you have the looks of wood. We choose wood in our bows for how beautiful wood is. Same for arrows. As far type of wood, that has been discussed quite often on this site. I love douglas fir for it's durability and mass weight. Surewood Shafts are the best.
Dave said it all right there I just started shooting them and they do feel more alive.
I've been shooting cedar for years, and have shot other wood types occasionally, but cedar does the trick for me. They are quiet, and good ones keep straight without a hassle. They work very well for hunting, and they smell great. I don't have to mess with them much; I see so much about tuning carbons, and I pretty much get the right spine, weight, and seal my woodies, fletch them, stick a point on them, and go out and have a ball, whether it is shooting in the back yard, stumping, or hunting. I like simple, and for me, that is what wood arrows are.
Woods are enjoyable to make for me. Being retired time is not an issue. They are just not a durable option foe me here in desert.
I have not been back into trad very long, But I just love wooden arrows. I've been shooting po cedar but I might look for something with more weight. doug fir perhaps.
Wood feels more natural. Makes me feel closer to my heros.
I also use my own trade points and self nocks, but thats just me. We all have different things that "do it" for us.
I typically shoot Sitka spruce, they are the most durable wood I've found, more so than Doug fir and western larch, for me. Also it keeps the weight down as I do not like heavy arrows.
I shoot wood mainly because I love tournament archery and I prefer LB wood arrow class. Honesty I prefer shooting my 2016s but I mainly shoot woods
Good question and I don't know if I have an answer. I have always shot wood arrows and really don't have a reason to change. They are more accurate than I am. For fun, I have made arrows from boards and dowel rods and they shot fine. They seem a little more traditional if that's your thing. Quiet in a back quiver. Durability can be a problem but if you don't break a lot, they are cheaper especially if you make your own. If I was starting in archery today, I'm not sure what I would shoot.
I shoot Douglas Fir and Sitka Spruce. I like wood because it's easy to get the weight up where I want it without adding inserts. I think they are quieter than anything else. Great penetration with moderate heads. I like 160 grain heads.
Plus they have the cool factor!
I do have a few carbons around but have pretty much quit using them.
I shoot ash arrows out of my hickory long bow because they group better than my aluminum does.
they are quieter , have a nicer feel- warmer than ali. i prefer sitka. with a lighter weight arrow, i can add more weight into the head to get up to hunting weight, and get good FOC by doing that. and sitka is super tough.
strongest wood for its weight!
i agree with Dave on the feel .
easier to tune than carbon maybe!- well for me they are- just go up or down a spine group, and adjust by trimming- not have to deal with a multitude of point weights, then try and add weight tubes etc.
nothing wrong with carbon- just prefer the wood!
They just seem right.
You can paint alum. and carbon but nothing looks nicer/better than a painted up wood arrow. And they shoot as good as alum. or carbon.
Advantages: since they are a solid shaft they absorb more energy from your bow, therefore they are quieter. Penetration is better for the same reason. Probaly easier on your bow
too. Their beauty is limited only by the builder.
Disadvantage: although they are more durable than most think. They are a little more fragile than aluminum when stump shooting. Port orford cedar is what I've used for years!
i dont like advertisements or camo on my arrows...wood is purdy all by it's self !!!
I shoot wood and carbon so I'm not biased. I think I shoot one as good as the other I think wood may be quieter they just don't hold up like carbons when I miss my target and hit my brick wall .
Why would you shoot anything else, from your wood bow ?
I guess I feel the way many of the others have already stated. But I admit that I like the nostalgia of it as well. I have shot aluminum some, but it just doesn't float my boat.
Because I can and it feels right.
Started with wood in 1968,too old to change now,besides I just like em
Terry
To me longbows and wood just belong together, you bump them together and it sounds natural in the woods. I do shoot aluminum and wood out of my recurve, but just prefer the appearance of a nice made wood arrow..
Except for a few years with aluminum and compound I've always shot wood and I now shoot mostly hardwood shoot arrows or cane. If I have to depend on technology to enjoy myself, what's the point.
I just converted to wood 2 years ago and love em' they are much much quieter in the quiver than carbon or aluminum and seem to be more forgiving if your form isn't perfect. I just love the way they come out of the bow. The down side is they aren't as tough and I don't think I get quite the penetration as with carbon of the same weight. I'll still take wood though.
Making some Doug Fir as we speak,I shoot Sitka spruce and Doug Fir,as some have said quieter when shot,quieter in a back quiver and they just seem to go with ASL longbows
Because I like them........fun to make, fun to shoot, and as good as anything else. There is nothing like a back quiver full of wood arrows. I have used cedar, spruce, fir, laminated birch, laminated Doug fir, maple and poplar.....all with good results.
Price per arrow, I do not buy the carbon is cheaper thing because they are more durable. I have target wood arrows that are over 25 years old and been refinished and fletched numerous times. I like wood because it is desposable. I have tapered carbons that get very limited use. Slap together a cheap set of cedars with blunts and you have a quiver full small game adventure.
Because I shoot wood bows ;)
I shoot any and all of em, from woodies I made up myself all the way to the newest carbons. like em all for different reasons.
as for the "feel right" part, old Easton autumn orange aluminums are what "feel right" to me. maybe cause I grew up on em, but if and when I can find them, they are easily my choice.
I shoot wood for the exact same reasons I shoot traditional bows. I have a ton of cedars because they're so prolific but I'm switching to doug fir because theyre tougher, stay straight, and dont cost much if any more money.
QuoteOriginally posted by snag:
I find they are just more alive then metal or carbon. Hard to explain. You just have to experience it. They seem to me to be more forgiving too. Wood arrows shot out of a wood bow is a beautiful match. Then you have the looks of wood. We choose wood in our bows for how beautiful wood is. Same for arrows. As far type of wood, that has been discussed quite often on this site. I love douglas fir for it's durability and mass weight. Surewood Shafts are the best.
What he said. Missed a ground squirrel yesterday and did this ,a carbon would of shattered and a aluminum would of bent.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/timkoi/002_zpsvgaock4h.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/timkoi/media/002_zpsvgaock4h.jpg.html)
Arrow still in great shape and strait. and my self nock did not fly off.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/timkoi/003_zps14h91d9x.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/timkoi/media/003_zps14h91d9x.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/timkoi/001_zps7o7imeuw.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/timkoi/media/001_zps7o7imeuw.jpg.html)
Wood is cooler also.
They're Biodegradable!!!!!
A few hundred years from now... Someone will find a plastic nock and wonder.....?
I use wood mostly for one reason. There is nothing more rewarding to me than to make a great shot on an animal with a wood arrow that I crafted, straightened, stained, finished crested and fletched. What beautiful creations they are. I love doing it.
I shoot wooden arrows with my self bows. And my HH
95% of my shooting is with a selfbow, it just doesn't feel right to me when shooting anything other than wood, boo, or cane. However, my buddy Doug has no qualms about shooting AD's out of his selfbows.
I shoot wood arrows because I prefer to make my own gear. What we get out is directly proportional to what we personally invest... and I want to get as much challenge and satisfaction from this as I can.
I usually shoot hickory arrows, sometimes arrows from wild shoots of viburnum, rose, etc. and have for almost 20 years now. I barrel taper the hickories and match them VERY closely in the process. Except for maybe a solid fiberglass bowfishing arrow, I've shot nothing as tough as hickory.
Another reason I shoot wood arrows is following crafting a selfbow from scratch, it wouldn't seem right going to the store to purchas mass produced arrows to shoot from it.
Performance wise, wood arrows leave me wanting absolutely nothing, so other materials don't even draw an inquisitive glance from me. They're just easier.
Since the mid 1960s, I've never shot anything other than wood arrows.
Currently using poplar and a few cedar shafts.
Wood arrows to me seem simple, pick your spine, grab a pocket knife and a little hotmelt and you are ready to go. plus crested wood arrows are simply beautiful.
but the main reason I shoot wood is because I was able to pick up a couple boxes of 12 fletched cedars made by Rose City archery for about 35 bucks a box :)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/631/QkHu2J.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/hjQkHu2Jj)
I don't shoot wood arrows. never have been able to figure out how to get them to tune well, or shoot well for me.
I will shoot bamboo arrows off of primitive bows. Bamboo is grass, and not wood! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Bisch
I shoot them at times because they go with the bow that I'm toning such as a Howard Hill or selfbow
Mainly because the arrow pass is typically the widest part of my bow and carbon just about can't be made to work well with it. You'd need a brick tied up front to make it flex.
Oh, and the vibe is all wrong shooting carbon from a selfbow.
On the occasion I shoot a glass bow?... Sure, carbon works. But I like wood.
I shoot cedars and do it because they fly perfect and are quieter out of the bow than any metal or plastic arrow.
I prefer to shoot cedar because that's the way its supposed to be....isn't it???
i have shot carbons aluminium but i always go back to my woods as it just feels right and any how i can't see the point in spending all that money any how i shoot a horse bow
and carbons don't seem right. but i use natures carbons (aka ) river cane best damn arrow and boy is it cheap as in FREE :biglaugh:
The allure of the Longbow and Selfbow go hand in hand with wooden arrows..they ARE alive, and its a great feeling running one thru an animal with a sharp, 2 blade head on the pointy end.
Ishi, Howard Hill, The Wilhelms, to name a few, cant be wrong... :D
y'all got that right Bro
Because aluminum and carbon don't shoot any better and cost way more.
I enjoy building wood arrows. So far this year 16 or 17 doz, 6 doz. for me and the rest for a little traditional archery shop and friends. I started with carbons and after a year or so made the switch and not looking back. Woods are way better looking, tuned to the bow are just as accurate,quite a bow down and build a heavy arrow with out putting a ton of weight up front to mention a few. For the most part i shoot ASL's and the woodies just look and feel right shooting off them bows and my other longbows and recurves. Shoot what you like but and enjoy but only wood arrows for me.
Because wood bows and wood arrows just go together. For me anyway.
For me making primitive wood arrows from shafting I collect during the winter, age a year, then work into an arrow for a specific bow is a labor of learning and love. There is a beauty in natural material that begs to be reviled...
(http://i.imgur.com/ddrrMiO.jpg)
The deep purplish red bark on this wild rose shaft is scattered along its length combined with dark and light browns revealed by sanding to weaken the shaft and allow it to flex the right amount it flight. Persistent scraping and sanding produces a white creamy base layer. A self knock carved and sanded to perfectly fit your bow string.
(http://i.imgur.com/UVA3Yd0.jpg)
Dark areas from heat straightening a stubborn spot to much...Little oval spots scattered about randomly from limbs that were cut and their protruding bumps planed and sanded smooth...
(http://i.imgur.com/uLl4iYe.jpg)
Using sinew you attach stripped turkey feathers from a spring kill and molted Canadian Goose primaries, then a carp gill bone plate hunting head. This will be my first hunting shaft this year.
(http://i.imgur.com/7MoPorT.jpg)
The possibilities are only limited by your time and patience... the more time I spend trying to accomplish something the more I appreciate achieving it... but it all starts with some wood :)
The Reason I shoot wooden arrows is; When I made the shift to traditional archery, I bought a wooden bow. It only seemed rite to use wooden arrows..
All the reasons above plus the fact that I like to.
Plus when you miss or hit something and break one you can enjoy the smell :biglaugh: