Osage saplings?

[TroutGuide]

I drive by a group of 5 or 6 osage saplings that look like they are probably regrowth from a stump as the are arranged in a ring.  All are about 4-5" across but long and staight.  Could these be used or do they need to grow.  Is this type of growth good bow wood or less desirable.  It wouldnt be exactly easy to get these if they are not worht it.

[Pat B]

I have a 2" osage sucker in my shop, sawn into two staves and dried. They'll make excellent hunting weight bows when done.
 So yes, those will probably make good bows too. You will have to cut one to see how many rings they have. I've even made a bow from a 3" diameter piece of osage with a heartwood center of only about 1/4".

[George Tsoukalas]

One of the best bows I ever made was from a 1 inch wide osage sucker. You end up leaving sapwood on the back because there isn't enough heartwood. Should be fine. Jawge