For all you selfbow folks out there, when is the best time of year to cut one and get quality staves?I found a beaut and got permission to cut it.Thanks
                                 Izzy

The general consenus is; for white woods like hickory the ideal time to cut is late summer before the leaves change and fall. Then you are most likely to have a good thick growth ring for the back, and the bark is much easier to remove.

Actually you can cut it whenever you need it or have the opportunity. It's just that after the sap is down and the leaves fall, the bark is stuck on like glue and has to be carefully peeled off with a drawknife. When you peel it off with a drawknife you run the risk of violating the growth ring (the ring just under the bark)that will be the back of your bow. In the late summer it peels off easily almost like peeling a banana.

I read somewhere the winter is best,because the moisture content is lower in the tree.Ray/mamba

Don't fall for the lower Moisture content in winter bit. Especially with hickory, like BBB said already if you cut it in the winter its a wrestling match to get the bark off. Its hard enough work splitting it, you don't need the added frustration of cantankerous bark. You also run the risk of the back checking if you cut it now. I'd wait til july or august and cut it then.

I cut one down in September, it has made some nice bows so far. Check out Ferret's page in the how to section, answers a lot of questions.
If ya need any help, let me know. Im no self bowyer yet, but I can lug staves if ya need.

I cut some in late October a few years ago, the bark came off ok but the layer underneath checked badly. I gave it away I wasn't chasing a ring on hickory.

I prefer to cut hickory early in the season, shortly after the leaves come out. That way the back ring has had time, over the winter, to mature and harden off well. In the late season you are dealing with a new ring that hasn't had time to mature. JMO   Pat

I cut mine in the summer and the bark pulls right off leaving a really cool textured surface for the back surface of your bow...I know it's hard but I would wait until summer.

QuoteOriginally posted by Pat B:
I prefer to cut hickory early in the season, shortly after the leaves come out. That way the back ring has had time, over the winter, to mature and harden off well. In the late season you are dealing with a new ring that hasn't had time to mature. JMO   Pat

PatB,haven't heard that one before, but it does make sense.

I cut hickories in the spring also.  I like to wait for the sap to rise to make the bark come off easily.  This also gives you a full thickness back ring to work with.