I am going to try black locust next year. I cut down a tree and split it, and its drying now. I removed the bark since it comes off easy in the summer and coated the "back", and the ends with elmer white glue then put spray shellac on just to make sure. I will let dry for a year, and hopefully be making bows next year. I am also considering covering with insectiside. I just put them in my garage on a rack.

Osage Orange is about as good as you can get. The bark is going to be orangish, and put off this seed filled orange looking fruit. Thorns everywhere.

Have you read traditional bowyers bible yet? Volumn 1 explains how to cut and all.