Quote: "I only rigged the bow with bones so I could mold it into the right shape."
Do you use milk shape or max Higgens? A loft in max would be an easy make for a shape like this.
Quote: "and did symmetry"
Sounded like Max but since I don't use milk shape. But making a loft with a rectangle then resizing the verts as it got closer to the handle would be a real easy way to do this. Then just double that section and put a "handle" in between.
After saying that I decided to make one:
Once the loft is made apply a "bend" modifier( what axis depends how yours is sitting) to taper the bow so the ends are thinner then where it is toward the handle section. It's not that your ways wrong or mines right....just another way of doing it.
Image included: Did that bow in less then 2 minutes