i made a rawhide backed erc for my grand son a couple years back. he shot it like only a 10 year old full of the spirit could it finally blew a coulpe months ago. never lost tiller and shot an arrow fast to the last one, and then just come apart into 7 pieces.i think cedar just gets so dry, that they do so. gonna have to build him another, he hasnt liked a bow as much since.