which part of a maple should i use sapwood or hardwood?

[blades7558]

 i found a nice dry log of maple sitting in our fire wood pile its got a 3.5" dia heart wood, and is 7" dia in total. should i try and get at the heart wood or stck to the sap wood or a lil of both? i belive its a sugar maple... pop says its a swamp maple? i live in southern NJ any advice?

[Pat B]

How long has it been in your firewood pile. Might not be suitable for bows if left there too long.
  Generally you want to use the wood right under the bark, ie the sapwood.

[adb]

If it's useable, you want the white sapwood.

[Dauntless]

Nothing wrong with heartwood by the way.  I've chased a ring on plain sawn hard maple boards that looked like heartwood.  Obviously extra work, but makes bows nonetheless.

[blades7558]

well like pat b said i checked the log after i split it and its rotten oh well... off to the next one thanks for the run down though