I have cut and split in half a hickory tree and need to know how to season it before I ruin it.  Wanting to make a non-backed one piece self bow.

Any info would be appreciated.  

Paul

I split everything into staves 3" wide across the back.  Cover with shellac and put indoors.  It'll dry in about 2 years.  To hurry things up a bit, you can take one of your staves down to near bow dimension.  Leave the handle and tips wide and get it down to 5/8" or less in thickness, all the way across the limb.  Keep it somewhere cool and dry for a week or two and then move it somehwere a bit warmer.  After a month, it should be dry enough to work.

Do I leave the bark on of take it off.

You will have a difficult time removing the bark this time of year. In another month to 6 weeks the growing season will have started and the cambium layer will be developing and the bark will "slip" right off. Now, the cambium is probably stuck pretty well(but not necessarily)and will be difficult to remove without some tedious work.
  Do as John said and your wood will season well. If you take your time you will be able to remove the bark and most of the cambium. A little cambium won't hurt anything and makes a cool camo backing.
Hickory makes a very good selfbow but you have to keep the M/C low.

Thanks for the info.  I have 2 more tree to cut so I will wait a month or so to cut them.  

Paul

Wait until the leaves are out. You will be surprised the difference a little time will make as to removing the bark.

Thanks.

Paul

Not trying to highjack this thread, just trying to learn more while we are on this subject. After removing the bark ,do you shellac the back as well as the ends? If you do, how do you remove the shellac without damaging the outer ring?

Good question.  Anybody have an answer?

Lots of folks do not seal the back of hickory but I do. Generally it is not as susceptible to checking like other woods are...but, a little insurance never hurts.
  Shellac is carried with alcohol so a wipe down with alcohol will remove most of it or a light scraping or sanding works too. The cool thing about shellac is it will stick to anything and anything will stick to it. If you are not planning to stain your bow, just put your finish over the shellac.

Great advise...thanks again.  

Paul