I have several ash staves that have been curing in my spare room for the past two years.  I'm ready to attempt a bow from one (if I can ever get the bark off).   My question; is following a single growth ring as crucial with ash as it is with osage?

It is critical with all self bows. Take the bark off with your drawknife but remove the cambium with a scraper. You don't have to remove all of the cambium and that makes for a good camo back.

Pat said it.

The cambium is the first thing you'll see under the bark, but you knew that.   :D

This has some cambium left on.

Scrape off a bit more. A little left on is ok but not too much. Jawge