I have heard that a tree branch makes a better bow than a tree trunk? what do you guys think? if so im going to be harvesting alot more osage branches!

The trunk is the better bow wood.

Branches have too much reaction wood or tension wood in them. You get a better balance out of a trunk.

You need to read Dean Torges's bool hunting the osage bow. Also another good book is Paul Comstocks The Bent Stick As well as the Traditional bowyers bibles.

Stiks

I have read all the traditional bowyers bibles. but theres so much info in them its hard to learn it all

I hear ya Chris, LOL I have to go back and reference them all the time if I'm working on a particular project.

If you haven't read Dean's book It has a wealth of knowledge in it about osage.

I learned more about osage in paticular from his book than any other source.

Stiks

Ok ill try to get that book. Thanx stiks

It is much easier to get good bow wood from a trunk than a branch.  That being said, branches can make fine bows when chosen and designed well.  There are no hard-and-fast rules with osage.  Take each piece for what it is.

Well said John.

Lookin forward to the weekend man.

Bowhunting world had an article this month By Mark Hicks where he says " the wood in the upper half of the  limb is especially resilient because it spent its life resiting gravity. When the bow is finished it will cast an arrow with authority" Don't scrap anything.
I come home just a minute ago from hunting and found my neighbor Bucking up their Osage tree into fire wood. :mad:  I have drove by this tree a thousand times and thought "there are several good limb stave's in that tree".... now all that it could make is an 18" mini bow.

why not try wedging them together? or even skinning them and making them into composite lams...


i have yet to see an osage here in NE ohio , so i would take even bucked pieces at this point...


-hov

I see tons of osage trees in the middle of ohio near delaware but none on the east which is sadly where I live...