You could say that. I've had a few "go south" as we say. Sometimes they crack, other times they literally explode (interesting experience), other times, just fold in. Repeat as often as necessary to get a shooter.
Then comes experimentation with different designs, different materials.
ps. next step, making your own arrows. Lots of materials and designs to try there. Then leatherwork for a quiver, tab and armguard and handle wrap.
Mine?
The Karankawa Indians here in Texas used the wood of a native tree that was latter dubbed 'bois d'arc' (commonly pronounced 'bow-dark') that has a yellowish dense wood. It is known to have long thorns on it and the females grow these huge knobby balls that were known as 'horseapples'...they were supposed to be good at keeping the roaches away. Anyway, I grew up with one of these trees in my backyard...fortunately we had a male, which never gave fruit and it made the best shade tree. One had to be cautious about going out barefoot. Those thorns were PAINFUL! But I became adept at stepping around them. We tried burning some of the wood after we had to cut down one of its extensions, but all it did was spark and sputter and smoulder, even after we waited two years to burn it. I have read the Karankawa made something equivalent to the English long bow.