Went today to cut some hickory.  Found a tree that I thought was hickory, leaves were just coming out and were way up, but it turned out to be elm when I got it down.  Later found a shagbark hickory that I harvested.  Hard to misidentify them.  So now I have a bunch of hickory and elm staves.  Are elm any good for selfbows, or what should I do with them?

I am looking for elm stave.  Especially slippery elm.  Everyone of them i have seen has been great shooters.  Better than hickory.

Is chinease elm the same way or no?

I have made a couple elm bows and they work great! i would recommend it to anyone. great bow would!

What would be a good design with Elm?

Ok 1 7/8'' then 6'' back from the end tapper to 1 3/8'' then tapper from there to whatever size of tip,this is a design i really like but i also have done 1 7/8'' all the way down the limb to the 6'' back from the tip it shot real well also.

You can make it anyway you want but just dont get to narrow...

Do you use the white wood under the bark as the back just like hickory?

Since we are on the subject, what is a common hickory design/width?

From what i have done yes you can use the sap wood uder the bark,Ive done it both ways.

well it depends on the style of the limb but 1 5/8''s to 1 7/8''s will work fine for pyramid or the style of the same length all the way down the bow limb then tapper at the end.I just look at it to make sure its not to narrow but if i feel its a little to narrow then i dont make the tapper as sharp.