Hickory vs. Elm

[Scallorn]

I have forests full of both, and I've built good bows from both. I know the original is said to be hickory,  but which one would take a sudbury design better?

[Danzn Bar]

Being on the fence and having plenty of both ......I think I'd try one of each....................
DBar

[nakedfeet]

In my minimal experience with both....

Hickory is denser and will make a stronger bow for the same width.

Both are very tension strong.

Both will take some set/should be heavily heat treated.

Both will make a nice bow.

[PatM]

I think Elm is the better wood all around.  Hickory would have beeen more easily worked though which probably explains its greater use in the East.

[BowEd]

Personally I see more of a difference in quality in types of elm for bow wood.Not so with the hickory here.Good elm though I'll take just as quick as hickory.I think a sudbury design could work for both well if the quality is there.By that I mean the density.

[Scallorn]

Is it true that it is more difficult to get hickory dry? I've heard that hickory is not ideal in humid conditions because it retains more moisture

[Stick Bender]

 Hickory is a wood when mentioned you will get a lot of different perspectives but hickory if cut & ruffed out hung on the wall @50% RH  for 2 months should be good to go at least in my case ,I made a hunting hickory/sinew bow last year from stump to shooter in 2 months total  with no issues , heat treating hickory seems to turn it into kinda a poor mans osage & if you talk to some of the better hickory bowers around here they will tell you about making faster bows then when using osage , I think heat treating helps with moister, but with meteculious sealing of the hickory and proper build I wouldn't hesitate to go hunting in the rain all though I'm not much of a rain day hunter any more, it's like any other bow wood to me if properly cared for & sealed it will make a great bow

[Badger]

  I like elm a lot ( Not red elm). I don't care much for hickory. If I lived in a very dry climate I might prefer hickory over anything. Where I live we average about 70% humidity and hickory bows I have built tend to become mediocre over a short period of time due to moisture and set. The elm seems to take longer to dry but doesn't seen so hydrascopic. Red elm I don't fool with at all.

[BowEd]

I just wish I had more or a better variety of elm closer around me.My opinion could very well change on elm.I like the winged elm fine but it's not around here.It's red elm here mostly,and 2 different varieties of hickory...pig and shag.That and black locust and osage.
A person would just have to make bows out of them all to come to conclusions about the wood.

[JonW]

If I didn't have access to winged elm I would use hickory. Like others have said hickory is an awesome wood in a low humidity climate. Elm is an underrated bow wood IMO. The right piece of elm (density) will make a very good bow. Both woods benefit from a good toasting of the belly. I say make one of both and decide for yourself