Sugar maple, it's common name, is one of the hard Maples and what most tap for maple syrup. It is nearly as dense as Hickory. I've had better success backing bows with Maple than I have with Hickory. Yes you need a good eye to be able to tiller a bow like this out.
I could have made the bow a couple inches shorter but because this bow is for someone else I prefer to give it a bit more durability.