what do you guys use for a hunting bow length? im debating whether to build a 15" ilf riser with medium trad techs, which will make a 58" bow or to hunt with my 63" carsage.i typically hunt out of tree stands with compounds, but this will be my first year with a recurve in a treestand so im unsure of what lenth i want to go with.are there any downsides to a shorter bow? what are the advantages?
Bow length and especially short bow length can be a problem depending on your draw length. If you have a short draw then a short curve can be great. But if you have a long draw like mine 30 1/2" then anything shorter then 62 creates a bunch of issues.
Mike
my draw is 28"-28.25" if that helps.
All 3 of my bows are 68" longbows. I mostly hunt from the ground, but have had them in treestands. The only thing I wouldn't use my longbows for is an average sized blind. I mainly build brush blinds, so I haven't had any issues. Like anything, after a while anything begins to feel natural.
While much has to do with bow design as to smoothness and shootability at various lengths, in general, a longer bow is going to be more stable. Also, the shorter the bow, the greater the finger pinch, which can make a clean release harder to attain.
At 28" of draw, however, you should be fine with 58" or 60". Like Wingnut, I have a longer draw and have preferred 62" to 64" bows. My most recent acquisition is a 68" longbow and it is smooth as silk!
I like 'em short. You can find short bows today that shoot really well with long draw lengths. That's really not an excuse anymore.
56" to 60"
My go to treestand bow is 62".
I don't climb trees anymore, but have in the past with bows ranging from 58" to 69". If you regularly shoot the bow, regardless of length, you will automatically adapt to using it.
Same goes for ground blinds and the thick stuff. For me, it's a non issue.
OTOH, why not build the riser and follow through with your idea? What's to lose?
I hate them short!
62" or 64" for me!
Bisch
I hate them long !
58"-62" for me mostly
Drew
I have a 58" recurve and a 68" longbow, and they both are equally smooth for me to shoot. My DL is 28".
I like a 56" but my draw is 26" so I never shot a bow with finger pinch or stack
Length isn't an issue for me. If I spend time with a bow, I know/feel right where the tips are regardless of the shot situation. I've used them from 58" to 74" t.t.t.
I like 58" to 60" and I draw right at 28"
My recurves are 64" and my longbow is 70". I have hunted with both out of treestands.
There are many fine short bows out there, never could warm up to one.
I like my recurves 60-62 inches and my longbows 64-66 inches.
JMHO.
I draw 28.5" and a 56" recurve had been my "go to" in the past. This year I will be using a 58" bear passed down to me.
I like the maneuverability of a short bow. Finger pinch has never been a problem for me, and really wanna try a 52 or 54".
I've hunted with bows from 52"-64" and have really settled on 58-60" as the best happy medium. Anything longer and I have trouble with limb contact and shorter and I get lessened accuracy
Keep in mind I'm 5'9" and 29" draw...if I were shorter a short now would benefit since being shorter means the bow is more likely to contact the stand
Seems to me Fred Bear stated the 60" length bow was perfect for him....and felt strongly that it should be for most everyone..?? Hope I'm not misquoting him. ???? However, I strongly agree that whatever you practice most with will adapt to your hunting situations quickly! I'm also a strong 60" desciple. Shoot what you shoot best...even from a treestand. jmo....
Ooops.....doubled up...
Double post
68" longbows here. No issues from ground or tree stand.
62 to 66" r/d LB's, mostly hunt out of tri-pods & every now and than a popup. I usually cant my bows some.
Had no problems in a tree with my 64" Omega. I was a bit worried the length would create issues before last deer season but that worry was for nothing i had no issues at all.
Recurves from 48"-60". Self bows around 62"-64"
My 2 cents isn't worth 2 cents.
60" seems perfect to me.
62" and up
I have several at 58", many at 60" and one favorite at 62". All recurves. Plus one 56" I may take out - but with my just shy of 30" draw it's hard on the fingers for a lot of pre-season practice.
Last three years I have use 58" recurves.
58-62'' with a 28'' draw. Only had an issues once. Tried to shoot sitting down while in the stand. Limb came in contact with a branch. Not sure who jumped more- me or the deer.
At my height I look up to everyone and everything. But not my bow! I like em 56"-58".
But like others wrote, I don't think it matters much except in most pop-up blinds.
64"
I have no real experience with short bows. All my hunting longbows are 68" long. I hunt mostly from elevated stands. Adapting to these longer bows is not difficult. I have several shorter bows, but I don't hunt with them.
I use a 62" recurve with a 30" draw
Like you can read in the Black Widow catalog not all the bows are equals a 60" bow with a 15" riser is not the same of a 60" bow with a 19" having different working limbs lenght and less acute angle
Short bows can be difficult to shoot. You will probably find shooting bows from 58-62" will work just fine for you.
62" or 64" recurves work best for me with my draw length.
I like stuff long.......60 and up!! My longest is 70"
I'm 5'10" and draw 27-5/8" and I'm all in for my 54" Black Widow KB. Extremely maneuverable and zero issues with interference Treestand or Blind. Smooth and accurate. I have a 60" Black Widow that is smooth as silk & a tack driver when I do my part... 60" gives me fits on higher treestand or short range shots with limb or string interference. I have to do gyrations in the stand to deal with it. I love that bow, but I found a way to not have to deal with it. My 54" KB... Everybody is different in physique & form so this is a personal deal you'll need to balance out for yourself. Target Archery and hunting are not the same. You need to be accurate when it counts, each & every time....
After all this time I have come to the conclusion that a good hunting bow needs to go all the way from one end of the string to the other. The rest is frosting.
ChuckC