Elm will make a great bow and in about any draw weight you would want. Marc St Louis has made some beautiful, high performance static recurves selfbows from elm. It was one of the "other" war bow woods in Europe during the Middle Ages too,  I believe.
  From the pics you first posted the wood looks more like spruce to me. Is it definitely a "hardwood"?

Pat. Is there a definitive way to tell the diference between soft and hardwoods. The SG is 70+, no dent from a fingernail and grain does not raise when wet. I have a bow started and have it to low brace. it is bending well and has very little string follow. Limbs are 1 7/8" wide at fade out to midlimb then taper to 1/2" nock.

Sounds like a hardwood to me. Looking forward to seeing the finished bow.     Pat

Pat. I am cutting Slices off a board that is 2" thick, hence the width of the bow    Since the rings run vertical in the bow is it possible to make recurves or do the rings need to be horizontal for this design. I will probably be able to get 6 or 7 bows out of this board and I would like to try a couple of designs. Might even give an ELB a shot.

You will have to test the wood to see which way it bends the best. Probably flat grained like with a stave. Being that it is a sawn board, I would back it. Also, recurves add more stress to the limbs and unless I have a perfect back ring I would back it with something.

Would backing it with bamboo or hickory be a good option or would you think some cloth would be all it would need.

I'm not sure. I've never made a recurve from a board. I would probably go with hickory but linen might also be an option.

We have a forestry office in town. i think I may take a sample down to them and see what they think. It is behaving very nicely so far and I would like to know what it is for future reference and maybe finding a stave. Will let you know what they say.

TTT