Mike, give em a try and see if they work. I made a few bows from trunk wood and they worked fine but the bows pictured are limbs. The upper half with natural reflex. I shape the bow right after cutting the wood and sinew back em a week later 3-4 layers and usually another layer after the tiller. I get em bending before the wood dries out too much just like the Miwok did. I figure hundreds of years building these bows they knew how to do it. They still shoot great so far after 3-4 years. The wood gets brittle when too dry. I grease the wood till it will take no more
These trees grow in spots around California but are thickest in the sierras. East side of the range. They get quite large and live a long time. branches from big trees work the best. Google Incense cedar for more info.