Selfbow trees?

[Bowjo]

I was looking through my woods today for possible selbow trees.I have a few locusts,I just can't tell if they are honey or black.They are too tall with no low limbs to see the thorns.Can you tell the difference when you cut them? I am sure I have some Hickory just need more practice Identifying my trees.I have alot of Oaks of different sizes and different kinds.There are alot of maples also,I don't know the difference in them either.There are alot of other trees I don't know what they are.I probably should wait untill the leaves appear,maybe that will help me some with identification.What do you guys reccomend for me to start with?....Thanks Joe

[Eric Krewson]

Honey locust has clusters of long, wicked looking thorns on the trunk from the ground up, you can't miss them.

Some hickorys are supposed to better than others for bows but I find hickory is hickory and any nice clear stave will make an acceptable bow.

Oaks and maples would be down the list after hickory then locust.

[Osagetree]

Joe, black locust grows in patches most of the time as it tends to sprout saplings from its roots. If the trees you suspect are locust and are in a patch of the same, you probably have black locust. Look at your farmers fence posts, mostly used is black locust. The large trees will have thorns mostly on the smaller limbs. Also thet have thick bark and a darkish dull yellow color to the heart wood. Do a search online for black locust ID. should be easy ti identify without the leaves.

Just realized where you live, Athens is not to far from where I live. I don't find as much honey locust around here as I find Black,,, it is everywhere you look.

Good luck!

[NightHawk]

you also may have hop horn beam or ironwood. it's a small tree that grows in the understory of the woods. I would suggest going to the local libary and checking out a book on tree identification helps alot when your in the woods

[Forester]

Give this a try, you may find some helpful info.....

 http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/DENDROLOGY/factsheets.cfm

[jimneye]

Good link Forester,  I can play for hours.  Thankx

[Bowjo]

Thanks everyone.It is black locust here.When I was a kid everybody called these trees honey locust,but they are black....Joe

[Bowjo]

These are the ends I cut off the four logs I cut tonight.Some are pretty crooked.Hope I can get a bow or two out of these....Joe