I started shooting wood arrows to be legal in the longbow class at tournaments. Although these days many have started allowing carbons and aluminum in the longbow class, I will stick with the wood arrows (as long as I can afford to anyhow). In my opinion, you can't beat a quality wood arrow. Quiet, forgiving, doesn't have to be within 3/1,000th's of an inch tolerance for being straight, I don't have to add weights or tubes or any of that mess, my point's don't get loose or rattle, and if I take the time (or can con my buddy into it) they are beautiful to boot. They can be shot as accurately as any other arrow--Ben Pearson, Howard Hill, the Wilheim (sp?) brothers, etc. proved this--and I don't have any problems with penetration (don't much matter to me how far my arrow buries into the dirt/tree behind the critter I just shot).

As with most everything else, they do have a down side. You can't just walk into any shop and pick up a dozen XX78 POC's, and depending on where you get them the quality can vary. Raw shafts take some work and knowledge to make them into good arrows, and pre-made wood arrows are expensive.

Still, there is something that just feels right about shooting wood arrows from a longbow. One of those "if I have to explain it, you won't understand" things.

Chad