Woods ?

[Southern Sam]

I hope to have my Big Jim longbow here by mid summer.  I plan to shoot/hunt with woods out of it.  What is the life of wood arrows?  Meaning just everyday use of shooting.  I have heard that after a while they loose there spine,and I know they'll prolly have to be straightened after a period of time. Any of you shooting the same shafts for several years?  I'm new to wood arrows so any help would be great!
Thanks, Sam

[JAG]

I've had some for better than five years.  No spine loss, that I can tell.  I don't shoot every day.  I do hunt with the same arrows every season, just check, striaghten, and re-seal if needed.  
I'm using cane arrows now, and love them.  Little harder to build, but seem to be tougher.
Port Offord cedar, Douglas Fir, Ash and Hickory are all in my extra quiver.  Just get the best shafts you can find, and they'll all last for a long time.  Don't skrimp on the quality.  There are several sponsors on here that can provide you with good wood and info on how they stand up.
Hope this helps.
JAG/Johnny

[Stumpkiller]

Wood arrows last until you hit something harder than they are or drive one into the nock of a previous shot.  I still have some cedar Howard Hill Field grade arrows I bought in 1985 that I use for bunny hunting.  Down to like 5 out of the original 24, but they have been used hard.

I've got probably 6 left from a dozen of the Hunter grade from HH that are the same age and have seen only target use.  Several nock and fletch replacements as needed, but they soldier on.

[maxwell]

They may loose some spine but most shooters will never notice the difference.  A friend of mine thought his were becoming weaker because he was shooting poorly, yet when he concentrated his arrows flew to the mark.

[Swamp Yankee]

I've never heard or experienced any significant spine loss and I'm shooting some arrows over 10 years old.  Any wood arrow may need to be straighten from time to time; no big deal once you figure out how to do it.

[Pat B]

I have cedars that are over 10 years old and they still shoot well and show no loss in spine. I now make cane or sourwood arrows and they are virtually indistructable...even after hitting trees, rocks, etc!

[TWarrows]

still have 8 left from a dozen I made up 16 years ago.. still shoot great and just shot a 28 animal 3D event or I would have 9..Darn TREE.

[Southern Sam]

Good stuff fellas, just what I was lookin for!  I'll have to do some more research on types of woods and the weights.  I'd like to be somewhere in the 550gr range if it works out.  Ther's just something about wood arrows and longbows I like!  :D

[moththerlode]

Something about longbows and woods that just go hand in hand , love em .. I'm shooting the Sherwood firs now and like em a lot, seem tougher than POC

[chubber]

Im still shooting Acme shafts from the mid 80s, most are still straight. just hard to find now. I need a new supply..

[wooddamon1]

I have a few dozen cedars that are over fifteen years old and they still shoot excellent,when I do my part...no noticeable spine loss at all.