best wood for a longbow?

[drewm2]

I've been looking around online for info about making a longbow, and even found some specs for a hickory longbow. I've also seen them out of red oak, maple, ash,and saw one site that says cedar is the most similar wood to yew (the best for this). I suppose you could use any type of wood, but which would be best and would it need to be more or less beefed up compared to my specs for hickory? I've got access locally to about any American wood (except west coastyew)and maybe 15-20 of the "common" exotic african hardwoods.
[:@] Oh yeah, and the pressure's on: if I go through with this and it doesn't work out right, my status as a professional woodworker will become an item of local ridicule!

drewm, go to the traditional page. Alot of guys like "alex the hawk" and other make thier own longbows. He makes a bunch, even out of horns.

[JimPic]

Yew makes a fantastic bow.A good thing about yew is you can leave the sapwood on.Osage is another good wood for bowmaking.Cherry is good but it usually has to backed with rawhide,sinew or some other material.Ash,hickory,red elm all make nice shooting bows.