I wouldn't say that you couldn't make a bow from it, but I would say that I wouldn't try unless it was for a challenge. It's lightweight wood. Like Pat says, it does make excellent arrows. Anywhere that tulip poplar is growing, there is probably much better bow wood also growing. Try hickory, white ash, locust, mulberry, persimmon, hophornbeam, black walnut, maple, or any number of others before you try the poplar.