i have a hickory tree that just survived its first yr in a pot. the top died out so will have a multi stem when it budds out. is it even worth trying? i have a ash tree that i am playing with and know that keeping the compound leaf reduced is a difficult task.

I have never come across them as a bonsai. If you do not see species used as a bonsai it often means they are not doing well as a bonsai.

I could imagine they would only really work on fairly large specimens. It is not a tree know for delicate branching and small leaves.