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Thanks for the welcome; and nice to meet you! Yes, I am starting with a compound, but I'd like to try longbow later. I'm also interested in making my own archery gear, so I'm pleased to hear you do that. That gathering sounds like a wonderful event, though I'm afraid I'm a bit far from MO (Wisconsin) and won't be able to make this July, at least. Where I am we have a Northern White Cedar forest in the backyard; I've been wondering if that's good wood to make a bow from. What is your opinion on that; and is there a good book on bowmaking you'd recommend for a beginner?

Several good websites are stickbow, tradgang and primitivearcher. two good periodicals are traditional bowhunter and primitive archer. good books are "the bent stick" paul comstock; Native American bows, arrows, quivers" by Jim Hamm; Hunting the osage bow by dean torges and secrets of the omaha bow by Vonderhey. on stickbow use the search: type in board bows and there are several tutorials that take you step by step. Enjoy, it is a pleasant pastime or cheerful addiction, depending on who is describing it. :-)