David, I might have a year old elm stave I could send you -- it would have some small knots and swirly grain -- not unusual for elm, but it's fairly forgiving stuff. Reflexed pretty good. Might be a challenge, but I think it would make a good bow. Or a black birch or red maple board for a board bow. Much easier to work with. I'd guess that the red maple would be the easiest. The black birch needs a pretty thinly tillered limb. The red maple would be thicker and easier to tiller. These would both be clear wood.