does the dark stuff under the bark need to come off,,

Nope!

thanks ,, so the back of the bow will be the dark color,, on that kind of hickory,,

Yes. All the dark stuff comes off the outside/bark side of the stave. It's bark, inner bark, then cambium... all useless as bow wood. Take it down beyond them to the first solid white ring (sapwood) without violating it. There's the beginning of your bow wood, and the selfbow's back. If you violate that one, go more carefully to the next.

ok thanks, A friend sent me the pic,, , then I got confused so wanted to run it by the experts before he started, thanks you for the response,,

When I get close to the bottom of the cambium, I use a sharpened paint scraper and a teardrop scraper for any hollows.

I do the same as Jim. Pappy

I always left a little of the dark on my bows. Just sporadic blotches of it. Made for a neat pattern and helped me not violate that first ring

I do like Mike. It gives it a neat mottled affect once you apply finish.

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