Best place to get cane shafts?

TaterHill Archer · November 26, 2013, 05:31:00 PM

A friend of my dad makes self bows and makes his own arrows and stone heads. Went for a visit today and he gave my son a 95% finished bow and several heads. Also gave us some turkey feathers and a quick tutorial on stripping them for fetching. He recommended getting some cane or bamboo shafts. Where can I get some? My son is itching to get the bow finished and get to shooting.

onemississipp · November 26, 2013, 08:17:00 PM

They grow a lot around the landscape. Look a long creeks and rivers.

There are some sponsors that sell them as well.

Duncan · November 26, 2013, 08:28:00 PM

Here's a link that might help.

http://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/bambooriver-cane_20.html

Also, Traditional Bowhunter had an article this year on growing your own cane. I've been thinking of doing this myself.

TaterHill Archer · November 26, 2013, 09:21:00 PM

Guys,
Comments are always welcome, but I know where river cane grows. I also know Texas has quite a bit. But most is on private land and I don't feel like a trespassing charge to get cane. I also don't have time to grow it. I have a 10 year old that would like to shoot it today. I know some sponsors have it. At least one charges quite a bit for it. I was hoping to not need to look at every sponsors website to find it. I was hoping someone with experience could recommend where to get it.

Pat B · November 26, 2013, 10:11:00 PM

Get a package of bamboo tomato stakes from Lowe's of Home Depot. They are Tonkin bamboo and make excellent shafting.

TaterHill Archer · November 26, 2013, 10:11:00 PM

Pat B,
Thanks. I'll look there.

TaterHill Archer · November 26, 2013, 10:23:00 PM

Pat B,
Thanks. I'll look there.

onemississipp · November 27, 2013, 02:35:00 PM

You could ask permission to cut it if you know where it is at.

3 rivers has it for under $20.00.

You could cut it, straighten it, and be shooting it before it arrives through shipping.

It won't take long to dry this time a year.

If he has to shoot today, then give the poor boy an arrow. I doubt he cares if it's cane or not.

As Pat said garden stores carry it.

Jon Stewart · November 27, 2013, 05:09:00 PM

Tater: to answer your question.

Glacier traditional Archery, John Fredenberg, TX: 406-756-2697, fletcher@glaciertraditionalarchery.com sold me some very nice, finished bamboo hunting shafts for around $38.00 a dozen mailed last year

TaterHill Archer · November 27, 2013, 05:17:00 PM

Jon,
Thanks. I'll give him a call.

TaterHill Archer · November 27, 2013, 05:20:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by onemississipp:
You could ask permission to cut it if you know where it is at.

3 rivers has it for under $20.00.

You could cut it, straighten it, and be shooting it before it arrives through shipping.

It won't take long to dry this time a year.

If he has to shoot today, then give the poor boy an arrow. I doubt he cares if it's cane or not.

As Pat said garden stores carry it.

He has a Dryad Phoenix lite and carbin arrows to shoot. So he has arrows and I don't need to give the "poor boy" one.

He actually wants to shoot it with arrows he helped make. I'm not going to discourage that.

Duncan · November 27, 2013, 07:38:00 PM

Well pardon me. I didn't intend to insult anyone's intelligence.
If gathering cane is impossible in Tx then yes the garden stakes a very good option. I'd get more than one bag though because they are not all uniform. You may get 6 or so that are fairly matched.
Another option is look on 3 rivers site they had some very nice straight tonkin cane. I have a dozen and can attest to the quality of the product. All straight, spined and ready to build.

Todd Cook · November 27, 2013, 08:26:00 PM

If you wanted to cut some, most people that know what it is will probably let you for free. It's very invasive.

onemississipp · November 28, 2013, 11:52:00 AM

Kinda strange how you asked for help and then are so unreceptive to suggestions.

Good luck in you search, you discouraged me from helping you. I had a dozen gathered and ready to mail you for free.

Poor was not used in terms of monies, maybe I should have said unhappy, but I was unaware of your sensitivities.

Happy Thanksgiving!

TaterHill Archer · November 28, 2013, 12:53:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by onemississipp:
Kinda strange how you asked for help and then are so unreceptive to suggestions.

Good luck in you search, you discouraged me from helping you. I had a dozen gathered and ready to mail you for free.

Poor was not used in terms of monies, maybe I should have said unhappy, but I was unaware of your sensitivities.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm not unreceptive to suggestions, but I guess I could have been clearer about the fact that I wanted to buy some.

I apologize for being testy. I realize you had good intentions.

I sent a pm to apologize as well. I let an already bad day affect the way I read things and I shouldn't have.

macbow · November 28, 2013, 01:42:00 PM

Way to act as true TG members.

For the future if you and your son want to work on some bamboo ( might be cane) I have a bunch that will need the whole nine yards such as straightening.
It is cut to around 29 inches.
You can have as many as you'd like for the cost of postage.