I went on a hunting trip with my brother last year to Illinois. I was lucky enough to come home with a good buck a doe and an Osage log. That was October 27 of 2006. When I got home I split the log and sealed the ends. It been drying in my garage ever since. Everybody said I needed to let it dry for a year, I guess its close enough. I was hoping some of you more experienced bow builders could walk me through building my first bow. I guess the first step would be to pick a stave. I have 4. I was hoping I could at least get one bow out of the staves I have. Here they are. They are all about 86 inches long.
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I like the third one from the left. Won't take much to line that one out. I assume the rings are the same on all of them?

Check out this tute:

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000046

read all 8 pages.

This log has a bit of a story behind it. The morning I killed my buck. I was sitting in the stand admiring this Osage tree that was right next to my stand.(we don't have Osage in the south so I was real curious about the trees) I was amazed at how straight this particular tree was compared to all the other ones I had seen during the week. About that time this guy walked out at 13 yards. I put an arrow through both lungs and he only went about 30 yards. We were hunting with an outfitter. After we recovered the buck, I was telling the guide about this Osage tree I saw next to my tree stand, and I could not believe how straight it was. I told him I was thinking about trying to make a selfbow. I was so excited about the deer that I never gave it a second thought. Here was the deer I took..
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Well, the next morning I got up and helped the guides drop out all the other hunters. When we were headed back to the camp, I was surprised when the guide said, lets go get you that Osage log. I didn't even think he was paying that much attention to me when I was babbling about the self bow. He already had the chain saw loaded up. I could not believe it. I was on top of the world. Anyway this log has some good mojo, and a lot of memories attached to it. I sure hope I can get a bow out of it..

Ferret, I was thinking the same thing.(I was hoping you would chime in) Do you think I should cut the length down? (maybe the curvy end) If so how much? I will try to post some pictures of the rings next.

You don't need 68" but you will need anywhere from 63 1/2 to 65 1/2 depending on what length bow you plan to make. You have to see if the good end checked any. If it didn't I'd cut it off 65 1/2" from the good end, and fix the rest with a heat gun if need be.

PS that's a really nice buck      and nice of the outfitter to help you get some bow wood  

I would remove the bark, sapwood and chase a good ring Before I cut any of the length off it.  Sometimes you run across little unwelcome surprises hiding under the bark.  If you leave it long, you can shift the layout a little one way or the other to get the best bow out of a stave.  If you cut it off first, ya got what ya got.

Quotewe don't have Osage in the south so I was real curious about the trees  

I'm guessing that you've never been to Texas or Oklahoma. lol
Sorry couldn't help myself.

Anyway, you're in good hands with Ferret.
Nice buck and some great looking staves. The bow you make will definitely  have some mojo    

I like #1 and #3 both have straight sections that will make dandy selfbows.  Follow Mickeys' advice and you'll do great.

BTW hang onto #2 you'll want it for a bow later when you have more experience.

Mike

Hey guys, I have the bark off my stave. I am in the first ring of the late wood. I will post some pics shortly of what I have done so far. I was reading ferrets tutorial about the stave having 9 rings per inch. My stave has about 14 or 15 per inch. They are real close together. Will that be a problem? So far it looks to be pretty straight with harldely any knots or checks. Oh one other thing... how many rings should I go down before I have the back of my bow?

OK here is what I have done so far..I got the bark off the stave. I have scraped most of the first wood and am in the first ring of the late wood. I have been following ferrets instructions. I guess next I will lay out the bow. Sorry the pictures are not all that good.
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