Hickory blisters?

[GaryR]

I peeled the bark off my hickory and found there is plenty of knot free wood to make a bow out of. I started drawing it out and noticed what looks like blisters or warts on the wood. What is it, and more importantly will it effect my bow?
Gary

[riverrat_67]

Two thoughts, I've worked a few hickory bow's and haven't see anything quite like that.   Since it is close to the side of the stave I'd look at it from the side.  If the growth rings follow the blister I'd treat it like a knot, else i would chase the wood down to a growth ring without the blister.

[RyanY]

The first hickory I cut had something like that, although it looked more clean. They were from knots from branches that had fallen off and healed over and looked like large bumps after the bark was popped off. Worked around them though.

[swtchbckshtr]

those bottom pics kinda look like the nests of a mud diver. could it be bug damage.

[crooketarrow]

  Those spots are roten spots if not to deep they can be worked down. But EVEN WHEN GONE THAT SPOT CAN BE AFFECTED.

[GaryR]

Crooketarrow, does that mean that limb will be weak and prone the crack or break?
Gary

[dwardo]

I would be worried about having that in the working part of a bow limb Almost looks like a Burl/Burr starting to form. The grain also seems to be all over the shop at that point. 

[crooketarrow]

   Could be. I have and unlimited surply of HICKORY trees so I never use those staves. But have se en bows from others that have worked down passed the bad spot.
 I'm sure the  bad area go's down some but who knows how far. WOOD IS WOOD