Rocky Mountain Juniper Bow Wood

Juniperus virginiana known as red cedar eastern redcedar virginian juniper eastern juniper red juniper pencil cedar and aromatic cedar is a species of juniper native to eastern north america from southeastern canada to the gulf of mexico and east of the great plains.

Rocky mountain juniper bow wood.

All of the native junipers are valuable ornamental species and many horticultural varieties have been developed. As you move into the western states it s replaced by other closely related species common juniper rocky mountain juniper and a few other species. Its tough wood was used extensively by first peoples for making bows turner 1979. Although the rocky mountain juniper can be found growing in close proximity with utah junipers it prefers sites that are more cool and shady.

Within its range the distribution is very scattered little 1971. The rocky mountain juniper wood of the cheetah boasts the most diverse character of any of the woods. The 70 primitive self bow record at 332 yards with a hickory recurved bow with a heat treated belly. Flutes made from juniper wood were highly regarded by the cheyenne.

Coupled with two inner lams of bamboo this is one of the most aesthetically beautiful bows as well as an exceptional performer. The wood of red cedar is very durable and is used for lance shafts bows and other items. It is found between 5 000 and 9 000 feet elevation. Eastern red cedar is in the juniper family and it is very common throughout the east and midwest.

The seed cones of creeping juniper are similar but attach to branch tips by short recurved stalks. My plan is to have a sinew backed reflexed bow with stiff tips that will weigh in at around 50 28. And the 70 simple composite broadhead arrow division at 262 yards with the same sinew backed juniper bow. From what i understand they all are suitable bow woods.

The low elevation forests consist mostly of utah juniper juniperus osteosperma and colorado pinyon pinus edulis. Creeping juniper juniperus horizontalis is a low shrub with trailing branches near the base and a creeping growth form. Rocky mountain juniper is a dry or more rarely moist subhumid plant which grows well on open exposed bluffs rocky points or ridgetops on southern exposures and in ravines or canyons. The 70 primitive simple composite at 343 yards with a ishi style reflexed sinew backed juniper.

Here in western colorado we have one seed rocky mountain and utah juniper. Like rocky mountain juniper it has opposite scale like leaves and ascending needle like leaves. Rocky mountain juniper juniperus scopulorum is common in bryce s middle elevations. I ll be headed up next weekend to harvest some juniper staves.

Rocky mountain juniper is widely distributed in western north america. They will all make great primitive survival bows if they are backed with.