Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: longbow fanatic 1 on March 04, 2011, 08:13:00 PM
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Have any of you treestand hunted with a 68"er? How tough is if in a portable "Hang on" style stand? Shots toward the back of the stand would be challenging, I would guess.
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I have hunted with 70" quite often, out of my climbing stands, as well as my ladders and i really dont have much trouble, i just make sure not to have any limbs close above, i can stand and shoot out of the sides very easily , i think if you practice with a friend on the ground to retrieve arrows for you will find that its not bad at all...SteveT
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Thanks, Steve. I appreciate your thoughts and advice!
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i have issues at times with a 62" longbow up a tree, let alone with a 70" hill. :D
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Good point, Rob! :banghead: :biglaugh:
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I hunt with 64" to 70" recurves. Hunted all over US and Canada, shoot out of every species of tree you can think of. Its all how you set yourself up. You'll do fine, just take shots pre season to make sure all is well. I like a lot of cover and still do fine with the longer bows.
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I shoot 62" bows. One year in MT I climbed up in a tree. Hadn't been there long when a 7x7 bull came in. It went to water where I hadn't thought they would. Gave me a 20 yard slightly quartering away shot.
Upon release, my bow hand jumped, I shot over the bull by a good 10 feet and it jumped in the pond and started swimming circles, and then left via the far shore.
Had just whacked a small limb w/tip of the top bow limb.
Only saving thing was that although the bull was 7x7, I don't think he would have scored more than 260.
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I use a 68" Hill bow out of my tree stands. With the ladder stand, no problem, but with the climber, I have to be able to stand up before I shoot, if the shot is to the side. If I try and shoot sitting down, the string will come back into the side rail when I draw. If the shot is out in front, I can shoot sitting. It's about the same with my shorter bows to though. With my hang on stand, I can shoot sitting or standing.
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I use either a tripod or ladder stands. I don't feel comfortable with the "hang on". Makes me think I have to hang on to be safe. Neither the ladder nor the tripod have offered me any problems with the 66" to 68" Hills that I hunt with.
Danny
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I've shot a few deer from a hang-on stand with a 66" Stykbow while sitting in a big white pine.I just have to cant almost horizontal at times.I make sure everything around me is clear before shooting.
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68-70" Hills no problem shooting from either ladder or climbing stands as long as I'm standing. Always check &/or remove limb obstacles.
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Of course the longer the bow the less room you have in any treestand. But the same is true on the ground as well. You eventually get use to the longer length and accomodate it without thinking about it.
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Thanks for all the tips and advice everyone. I really appreciate it!
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I hunt with a 64" recurve and a 66" longbow. I don't have any real concerns. Besides the tree limb clearance, how tall you are, and the length of your arms (and how you much can bend) could be factors in your use of a longer bow.
David
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I remember when I first shot with a 64in.longbow on a tree stand,it felt weird but after practicing sessions I figured it out and became comfortable doing it.
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Hunting with longer bows just means you have to be a little picky about the tree or be prepared to do some trimming to get everything out of the way. If I think I will even get close to a limb if gets cut.
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Switched last season from a 52" Kodiac Magnum to a 62" Hill Cheetah. Took some getting use to but works fine from my ladder stand.
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I would think one major consideration (when using any length longbow or recurve for that matter) would be how many obstructions your particular stand has built into it. (i.e. some of the climbers and hang-ons that have the bar across the front could probably make things quite cumbersome) You might want a completely open stand with seat only...
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I would agree with Rob, I have issues with my 64" out of a tree stand. I would not consider 70" a treestand bow (for me). I shoot relatively upright and at very close shots with steep angles, I hit my lower leg with the string sometimes. Remember, shifting your feet when a deer zigs instead zags is not always an option. Also shooting behind the stand is tougher. I like 58" recurves for stand hunting and save my longbow for ground hunting elk. My 2 cents.
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I appreciate all the insight as I will be hunting with a 64" longbow this season for the first time. A buddy of mine hunts with a 66" longbow from a treestand and has no trouble filling his tags each year.
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I'm having problems just getting use to shooting trad with recurve and longbow from treestands since changing from wheels.....it is totally different thats for sure..
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I hunt out of lock-ons and I never had a single problem with it.
Some of these climbing stands that have the bar around them seem like they would be hard to shoot out of.
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I am new at this and haven't taken game yet, but I practice from stands with 62-66" bows with no issues (as long as I don't have an arm rest on the stand). I even took practice shots sitting with a 66" bow in a stand and was very effective. I figure you never know what situation you'll find yourself in.
I do feel more confident with my accuracy using a longer bow and that is most important to me in a hunting situation.
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I definitely have problems with a 64" in a climber with wrap around bars. I'm 6'3" and can't get clearance if not set up right.
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Problems, no, challenges, maybe!
The length of my bow, never was a consideration!
The set-up is more the issue! If you ain't where the action is, it don't make a Hill of difference, what length bow your shootin!
I have, many animals, with 66" & 68" bows. And many friends with alot of success, too!
I believe, shooting a short, mechanical device, has created, this Fear!
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With a hanging tree stands have used 66" and 72" HH longbows taking game while sitting (Trees have been hard maples mostly with conifer cover) without any problems. However climbing stands do not have the openness thusly not viable for less movement. After all the years of tree stand hunting the game still never poses for the shot. Your stand placement is critical (Funnel).
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I hunt out of my Lone Wolf hang on with no problem using a 66" Longbow!
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It's tough when they get really close.
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Frank Bullitt, I like how you think! Sometimes we just overthink a situation and see a problem where one ain't!
Many years ago, I decided a 56" recurve was my salvation, not because of tree stands, but because I had been busted by critters too many times out here in the wide open west....and somehow I thought a bow you could shoot from the lowest profile was the ticket. Bought a good one by a fine bowyer friend. I actually spent quite a lot of practice sessions that summer jogging the local outdoor range and then dropping into a sitting position to shoot, while still a bit breathless. Got pretty darned good at it too...I thought.
But, when the season came along- you know what happened-I had a standing shot(me standing, I mean) at very dim first light, at a fantastic mulie, hit him and lost him!!!!!! Looked for days, of course. Shortly after, a friend loaned me a 60" recurve to try for a while.....well, lo and behold, I was more consistent with it! Have reinforced this lesson many times since. It's easier to be consistent with a longer bow than a short one. Not the bow's performance, but mine.
There's a whole lot to this,and it's more in our head than our equipment.
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Frank Bullitt nailed it up there.
"I believe shooting a short mechanical device has created this fear"
When I gave up the wheels, I realized I also had to give up my way of hunting and adapt. This meant changing the way I scout and hang my stands. I carry a good set of clippers when ever I go to the woods. When I hang stands I have a cordless sawzall with trimming blades in the truck and anything that I think will cause problems hits the ground.
I have 2 climbers. My favorite is the Summit Viper with the bar wrapped around. I cannot shoot from every single angle out of it. I have learned to accept that. BUT! If a deer comes in on a bad angle there is a chance it will move to where I can shoot it. Most likely it will.
When you hang a stand take a half dozed judos with you and shoot them from the bad angles so you know what you can get away with.
This year I shot a doe with a 64" recurve and a buck with a 62" longbow. No problems with either because I put the necessary preparation in.
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It all depends on your shooting style and the types of trees you climb. If you hunt from little gnarly trees, and particularly if you cant your bow, a bow of moderate length is REALLY nice to have!
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Great advice everyone!!! Thanks so much.