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Why yellow locust (bodark) matters to traditional Cherokee bowmakers
Summary
Noel Grayson discussed preferred bow woods—"bodark" or yellow locust—explained traditional harvesting practices and cautioned that some locust species (black locust) can be tricky to work without careful tillering and seasoning.
On the podcast Noel Grayson identified 'Bodark' (yellow locust) as his wood of preference for bowmaking, using the Cherokee term 'Goswet de Longue' for the tree. He said the wood 'just makes a good bow' and contrasted it with black locust, which he called 'fickle' and prone to cracking if not tillered properly. "If you don't tiller it just right and get to being just right, it'll take cracks on the belly from compression," he said.
Grayson described traditional harvesting and seasoning practices: letting wood age at least a year (he keeps pieces for decades), removing bark and sapwood, sealing ends, and timing cuts in winter or during waning moon phases to reduce sap. He noted individual preference in technique but stressed that seasoning and careful selection produce better bows and longer-lasting tools.
