I have cut and split a lot of Hickory and it's really funny stuff,most of the time if it is cut in the woods it will split pretty easy,cut in fence rows or out in the open by itself it is very tough to spilt. We cut one in the woods this year 24-26 across the stump and it was as tough as I have ever seen.It would split to the heart and stop,wound with a round log of only heart wood,the sap wood came off in slabs.
Nice haul,I usually try and cut in early summer so I don't have to deal with the bark removal, but a man has to do it when he can.
Pappy