I dont mean to make this sound difficult as it is not. Anyone can do it and it dont look half bad.  

Here's what you need
Dark walnut stain, mahogany stain and light walnut with polyurethane in it. The latter is thinner and a little sticky which helps blend or bleed the colors together.
3 strips of cloth 1/4' wide and 10" long or so.
And a scraper of some fashion.


1st Dip the center of one cloth in the darkest stain. Apply the cloth strip to the bows backing while holding each end of the cloth in your hands. One strip about every 3" to 4" or so.
Start at the handle and work out towards the tips.


2nd - Center the next darkest color between the first bands of dark color. Your first few bands will be thick and may want to run. Avoid this by going back every few bands and retouch the thick areas so they dont run.


3rdly - Take the light poly stain between each color before. Then place another row of dark bands over the lightest color and beside the darkest color. You don't have to be perfect or have an exact pattern from here on.


4th and final is repeat starting over with the darkest color & placing dark next to a lighter color. Go to the next color and the next keeping from placing the same colors side by side,,, which would just make the band of color wider.

As your cloth's start to dry out a bit use the poly'd cloth with the lightest color to go over all the colors, directly over them, blending them together. It should start looking like this.


Dip the poly stain rag again and just keep going up and down the limb on each color and between blending them all together.


End result leaves messy looking edges.


To take care of the uneven trim and runs, use a scraper to clean up the lines. Best to do this after it is completely dry to avoid any wood shavings in your finish.


Once the stain dries for a day or so you can apply a clear finish or satin depending on you.

Pretty sweet looking. I have a ST.Joe River with different colored stain over tiger maple. I didn't know I had a trad ganger so close. I live just across the Ohio River from ya Ceredo WV.

What's up WVLungbuster? Good to hear I got company close by!

Hickory backed osage with same stain process

Man that is just awesome looking,great job.

Excellent!!!

Outstanding..Thanks for showing us how its done...I was wondering how you got those sides so even and nice...a scraper!

Very camo cool Joe. Thanks for sharing.  I love the braced profile of that bow too.

Sweet bow! Love the camo. Very nice!

thanks!

Bob

Nice Joe! Like a snake but without the hassle. Good stuff and fine tutorial.

Very cool camo Joe. Thanks for sharing.Nice bow too!

WOW! That is very good looking, thanks for sharing.
Jack

Excellent idea and application.  Thank you for the inspiration.

Joe, thanks for the stain-along. I like the technique, lends itself to all sorts of paterns like mock snake skin and bark. Will definetly give it a try.

Thanks for sharing...you sure made it look pretty easy and I really like the look of the final results.  Going to have to try that one the bow I have in progress.  thanks!

very unique use of stain,looks great

Thanks guy's..

Just want to say that this is a modified verson of someone elses idea. "Horseapple" was his handle on an old MSN site.

I'm sure this will spur some good art work from some of you. Be sure and post pics here on Tgang!

I would say many versions of colors could be applied to this process and as a result some pretty bows! bet you could even use coolaide for stain or other pigments of some sort    

Be sure and post pics,,, everyone enjoys the pics!  

I would have never thought of using the strips. Great stain along. Thanks!

osage,
cool technique, and a great look. i have a dumb question.  seeing as i got roped into "sponge painting" by my wife one time, i noticed the similarity in concept.  have you ever thought of what the pattern would look like if you actually used sponges instead of strips with the stain like you did (instead of paint). just wondering. i think i will try it on some scraps.