Thanks you guys for all the help. I've started tillering the stave and preparing it for the backing (will take a while as I will need to process at least three leg sinews for it). Will fill in the belly crack with CA and give the back a nice sizing layer before.
Not to resurrect a dead thread, just want to be sure I am understanding the mechanics, as I have been looking into checks on bow bellies as this issue made me curious. I used to think that a check in a finished bow was bad, but it sounds like it isn't unless it runs off the bow, and even then it can be fixed. Does it matter how deep a check goes into the wood? Or does the bow sort of deal with it the same way as a knot; a bow still bends at this spot as long as there is enough woods on both sides of the problem area?
Sorry if I am overthinking this, it's just made me curious how this shouldn't be a problem