I've wondered about this for a while.
How many guys and gals are shooting wood? You read a lot about aluminum and carbon.
I have adopted Byron Fergusons system of shooting and it seems to work for me. I know he shoots aluminum and the reasons why he does according to his book but hey, I'm not shooting asprin out of the air either,   :D
I love Cedar! It's hard to explain why fully but I'm sure a lot of you understand. It's the same thing that draws me to a long bow. Simplicity, wood, challange....romantic?
I don't look down at all on someone shooting aluminum or whatever, no way.
I just wonder what the percentages are of the main 3 materials as far as use.

I shoot wood for the tradition and nostalgia, but also have a few aluminum and carbonwoods laying around, but you have me curious as to reasons why Mr. Ferguson shoots aluminum?

Thanx

A good friend got me into making woodies, and since then, I never looked back.  I think I enjoy breaking them so that I can make more.

I started with aluminum a long time ago.
But, most of my friends used wood I didn't
understand why until I got some now I know why.
They just feel like a part of me, I like making
them and the way a good wood arrow shoots.

We are required to use wood in some tourneys to quality as a longbow. Anything else and we are classes with recurves

Zbone,  
He states he feels they are to inconsistent, from shaft to shaft. (wt.,spine)
He also says the old wood has all been used up and everything today is green then kiln dried and that can cause warpage and inconsistent spine due to spiraling in the grain of the shaft.(his words)
He used to shoot wood but I think he got tired of matching the shafts with all the shooting stuff he does and finds it easier to just have the consistency that aluminum provides(my words,thoughts)
There's a little more in the book but that's the idea.

Mostly POC for me

i wonder if its a sponsor thing? i know i would like free arrows.i started with wood tried aluminum and carbon but im sticking with the wood,there is just something about them.i think you" become your arrows" when you make them from raw wood shafts,and enjoy the whole process.

I won't shoot anything but wood. I have tried the rest, and will stay with the best.

There is a variance in spine with wood as well as weight. Aluminum is streight and true. Don't shoot Carbon so I won't comment. However If you specifiy weight and spine for wood, most venders will get you a five pound range and the good ones will get you a ten grain range in weight.

Joe

I love wood but found it tougher & tougher to find high quality shafting - only shoot them on my self bow now. Made the mistake of trying carbon with our recurves and got hooked by the consistency and ease of making up a quiver full of shooters. Definately lacking in aestheitcs...but a nice wrap and real turkey fletches help.

All i shoot is wood..POC and Fir.. I love making them. I know carbon and aluminum are more consistent but if im shooting an arrow its gonna be wood.

The more you know about making arrows, the less reason there is to use wood shafts. However, I love them and they are all I use.

I only shoot wood, I'm sure they break more often and aren't always as straight but they get the job done.

I only make and only use wood arrows.
They shoot well enough for me and I don't feel the need for the finer tolerances you get with carbon or aluminum.
Wood arrows make me happy.
No matter what kind of pants you put on an aluminum or carbon arrow, it's always going to be simply a carbon or aluminum arrow. No one is going to say, "wow, that carbon arrow is really beautiful!"
But a wood arrow... I can make them beautiful. I can have people look at them and say, "that's too beautiful to shoot."
For me, archery is about having fun and enjoying what I'm doing. I wouldn't enjoy using carbon or aluminum arrows.

Guy

Only wooden bows and wooden arrows for me.

Mostly wood, but I do play around w/ carbon.

Only wood here. I like making them, losing them,(can make some more), breaking them (can make some more). I use cedar, Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce and Laminated Birch and prefer the heavier shafting. They do need more care, straightening, etc. but are quiet. I am just starting to experiment a bit with bamboo. I don't have any carbons and my aluminums are finding their way into other archers' homes.

30% wood 70% aluminum. About half my hunting and practice is with wood arrows but I use aluminum for 3D and major shoots so I dont blow through a dozen and a half arrows in a three day weekend. I to like spending the time making them.

when it comes to arrows, all that matters is consistent accuracy - and aesthetics should always take a back seat to accurate performance.        

i love and will ALWAYS build and shoot woodies, but wood can not hold a candle to carbon or aluminium when it comes to consistent, durable performance in all manner of weather or hunt venues.  dat's really all there is to that.  and that's why byron switched to aluminium shafting - after all, it's his livelihood.