 | There are many, many woods suitable for making a bow. The top two on any bowyers list are going to yew and osage orange. Also suitable are hickory, pecan (many nut bearing trees work well like walnut) rock maple, elm, ash, oak (red mostly, but also white), ironwood(hop hornbeam), juniper, cherry and the list goes on and on. As for arrows, Port Orford cedar tops the list, but hardwoods like hickory, and ash are also used for stronger heavier arrows. Popple, birch, and most pines, while not suitable for quality bows, will often make excellent arrows if crafted properly. Rose shoots, reeds, cane shoots, and other similar vegetation are also wonderful arrow shaft material, and are a great choice for those trying to replicate the ancient art, as Native Americans (among others) often used these materials for arrow making. I suggest Reading The Traditional Bowyers Bible. It is stocked with information on how to make a homemade bow and string and accessories. The series gives many tips on making quality traditional archery gear with top notch performance. |