Commercial wood for hunting bow

[Vgo750]

Hey guys long time lurker here...the knowledge contained here is invaluable and w that being said i am looking for opinions. i am sure a similar q has been posted before here so im sorry for repeating.  i have called just about every lumberyard within 100 miles of me and the bow wood lumber i have commercially available are:
Hickory / pecan
White maples
Black / American walnuts
Red / white oaks
Cherry

I have made 2 shooting red oak am flat bows (both 40@28 w hundreds of arrows through both) so I am CAPABLE of making a shooting bow but obviously still super green round the ears.  I'm looking to craft a 52sh@28 afb / pyramid style bow to deer hunt w this year. Does one of these woods stand out above the rest as a hunting / brush bow w grain being equal? If your opinion is just... pick one they are all plenty capable of taking deer w proper shot then that's great and I will just focust on crafting whichever speciment properly. But if u have a preference please state. Thanks a lot guys.

[red hill]

I vote for hickory. That's what I have experience with and it makes a great bow.
Welcome, to TG!

[Todd Cook]

Hickory  Keep it as dry as you can

[John Scifres]

Hickory for sure.  But can I ask why you are restricting yourself to lumber?  A great osage stave isn't that much money, maybe $125.  A good one can be found for much cheaper especially on the auction site or in trade here on the TG.  Get a stave and Dean Torges' book "Hunting the Osage Bow" and you will make a great hunting bow.

[talkingcabbage]

I second John's advise. osage is the most forgiving bow wood you will ever find. My first successful hunting bow was osage, and I'm still shooting it today. Check around on the sponsor classifieds here. There may be someone selling some staves. If you can't find any, pm me. I've got a few. They're not perfect, but can easily become a great hunting bow with a little work and patience. Someone else may have straighter ones for sale, though.

[fujimo]

Hickory backed hickory if I had to, but I would do as above, get an Osage stave, sure is nice wood to work with! Like golden butter!!!

[Vgo750]

You guys r great thanks for the replies.  Boo or hickory backed hickory is what ill try for first hunting bow.  I actually will be acquiring some osage staves from a buddies ranch here pretty soon but wanted to make sure i had some good experience first before i tackled a stave.  By buddies grandfather was an incredible bowyer and has made osage bows all over the place...as well as a handful of staves still laying around before he passed.

[LittleBen]

Yeah I was gooing to say depending on where in texas you are there whould be OSage around.

Good luck.

[fujimo]

If its your first bows, then just make some hickory board bows, simple, cost is low. Less effort in the blank, heartache not so great!!   :D  
Then move onto backed bows, once you have a feel for tiller ing, just my thoughts, sure many will differ!
Good luck, and enjoy the process, don't be in a hurry to get to the finished product!

[Mike Most]

What part of Texas are in?

[Vgo750]

Richmond / Rosenberg area.  I have a lot of family in San Antone btw

[RAU]

yea Johns advice is spot on! Ive gotten a few staves off the big auction site for CHEAP! Like $25 for 1 or 2 of them shipping is steep but its still the cheapest way to get a real nice stave when theres no osage nearby to cut. Deans Book is the best manual on osage bows out there IMHO. Bow building and an alaskan caribou hunt all wrapped up in 1 book!

[RAU]

also Deans video hunting the bamboo backed bow is top of the line as well!