Yew lamination advise

[garyschuler]

Fujimo, yes both exist at high -low elevations. What I have found is generally the tighter grained stuff is generally tighter grained with less thick sapwood. The trees generally tend to be smaller diameter and older. I have had some in the past where it almost took a magnifying glass to count rings.!i picked up-some
From around the Roseburg Or area in the 80’s that we’re really nice but were from low elevation and had growth rings almost 1/4” apart. I think better growing seasons in the lower elevations leads to faster growth and the shorter high ground stuff is tighter grained due to the shorter seasons and age. Some of the places I have found yew i won’t go back due to effort involved in packing it out and I am a lot older now. Most of what I get now is from timber cutters.

[Flem]

The elevation difference is interesting to me. It grows in a small region of the Rockies, but only at a narrow elevation band. I have never found it outside of this band, 4500-5000. Would that be considered high elevation if nearer the coast?

[garyschuler]

Flem,  Pacific Yew/ Western Yew, Grow in the Coastal rages from Alaska to Northern CA. With the British Canada to and WA, Or coastal MT's being the most prevalent. 3000 ft in that aspect would Be high altitude yew. In speaking to Don Adams and John Stunk. Ted Fry, Gerald Welch, at shoots, shows over the years, the Coastal MT ranges were considered high altitude. It can grow to 5000 - 8000 ft  but I never looked that high. It can grow inland in pockets and stands are known in N.E. Wash, Idaho, etc..

[fujimo]

Yup gary , for sure!
the key with the yew, is that its an understory plant, and its just another whole variable thrown in to the already complex mix.
i hear you on packing it out, it is damn heavy. its a lot of work, and its usually remote, which makes it even tougher!!, and you are trying your best not to damage the sapwood!
its a great bow wood, and i love working with it, both as a self bow and as a laminated under glass bow.

[Flem]

It's called penance.