Okay, here I go.  I have been shooting a traditional laminated longbow exclusively for about seven years now and recently (St. Judes auction) picked up a snakey osage selfbow...I absolutely love shooting it and am planning on sending an arrow from it into a muley in about a week and a half.

I have now fallen in love with the self bow.  I recently purchased Traditional Bowers Bible vol. 1 and Hunting the Osage Bow by Dean Torges.  I have spent all my free (and some not so free) time reading these things over and over.  

I am ready to attempt to build my first bow, but out here in Idaho no way to get an osage stave locally that I know of.  Any point in the right direction would be appreciated.  I would like to stick with osage or possibly yew.

Thanks to all

Travis

Osage selfbows are addictive as you have found.. Someone will chime in I am sure. Sorry but I don't part with my osage staves.

Gary Davis would be a good place to check if anyone knows how to get a hold of him?

Joe

Travis I have some nice ones cut back in March. Send me an email at marlow@adams.net if interested. Dean

Gary's number is 989-845-7740

travis i can fix ya up on yew   send me a pm brock

I'd tell anyone about to make their first bow to go with a board bow to get the tillering down, then cut into a "real" stave.  No offense, but shooting and tillering are two different things.  Learn to use the gizmo for an even tiller.  Learn to sharpen your scraper.

Lowe's and Home Depot sell red oak 1x3's and 1x2's which can be fine shooters, and the cost and availability are great.

Good luck finding prime staves and dealing with the monkey now on your back.  You're in for some good times, so dive on in.

Joel

Travis,

I'll PM you.  I live in Moscow and have a garage full.

--Steve

Thanks to all who responded.  Wow, in less that 12 hours I got all the feedback I could need.  One of which is only about 11 miles from my house and has graciously offered to help me along the way.  Thanks Steve, you have a PM back!  This site is absolutely amazing.

Brock, I'm going with osage on the first, but I already know there will be more and I'd really like to try a yew bow soon, I'll be getting in touch with you.

Thanks again to all!

Travis

Remember........  ONLY  On  TRADGANG  Can You Get This Much  Genuine  Generosity!! Bless You  ALL!!          

Travis,

Steve is a great bowyer and will lead you in the right direction.  It's possible that I even helped carry some of his wood out of the woods     I'm positive it's well seasoned by now.

Steve,

Where's my elk update?!!!

What Shakes said..... ditto

I met Steve and most of my bowyer friends on the *********** of the Bowsite.  So, it's tough to say that "Only on Tradgang..."