So I went ahead and looked for the straightest ERC in my yard this am to see what possibilities for bow wood exist here.
Not having any trees backed up to others/canyon walls, I settled on this 2 trunker on the roadside:
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5718.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5718.jpg)
Sorry, did not think to take photo before cutting...
After felling, I measured 90" to the first branch on one side, then cut there:
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5713.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5713.jpg) (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5714.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5714.jpg)
It is 5" diameter at base, and 4.5" at 90" up:
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5715.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5715.jpg) (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5716.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5716.jpg)
Here are the rings at the top and bottom of this log (bottom not a straight cut):
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5717.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5717.jpg) (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5721.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5721.jpg) (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5732.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5732.jpg)
Hard work, this harvesting stuff, especially when trying to not disturb the local fauna too much swinging a 90" hunk of wood around...
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5729.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5729.jpg) (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5730.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5730.jpg)
He wouldn't stay still enough for a good photo, wouldn't you know?
So- I now have my first log, pre-splitting, with which to play. Now, to split and store...
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5720.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5720.jpg)
(A man with his wood) :D
I did also manage to get another 126" worth of relatively straight log from above the first 90" cut:
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5726.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5726.jpg) (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5723.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5723.jpg)
Although, there is a big spot where some branches y'ed off the trunk, we'll see what comes from this one after splitting.
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5728.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5728.jpg) (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5727.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5727.jpg)
One more fuzzy pic of my local friendly neighborhood spidey for fun:
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/th_IMG_5724.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/dmikeyj/Archery/?action=view¤t=IMG_5724.jpg)
well now that should make a pretty bow if nothing else.Good luck
Good lookin wood. That bark should peel like a banana if you get to it pretty quick before it dries out too much.