Wood ?

[fling]

I want to make my first self bow and I'm looking for woods that don't require chasing a ring. Can someone give me a list of woods I could use.

[Sam Harper]

Hickory

pretty much any white wood doesn't require chasing a ring.

[Carpdaddy]

What Sam said, white sap wood just under the bark is back if your bow. I like pig nut hickory best.

[Mark Smeltzer]

I say Hickory too.

[LittleBen]

Considering Hesperia is dry .... I don't wanna be impolite and call it a desert .... Lol, hickory would probably be my go to.

It really performs well in a dry climate. Plenty of tension strength, no ring chasing, and when kept at relatively low moisture content will be a snappy shooter.

[Pat B]

I would also suggest hickory. Hickory, unlike other woods, loves dry climates. Hickory can take 6% M/C where most other woods need 9% to 11% or they would explode at that low M/C.
 Hickory should be cut during the growing season so the bark will peel off. If cut during the dormant season the bark will be hard to remove cleanly.

[fling]

No one says Vine maple?

[Pat B]

I've never used vine maple. I have a few staves of VM but haven't gotten to use them yet.

[fujimo]

the vine maple bows i have seen, have been phenomenal shooters.
also just peel bark and build!