QuoteOriginally posted by ishoot4thrills:
Uh.....Browning? I have a 56" Wasp that smokes an arrow and shoots great.

I draw 29-3/4" and my short bow is a 56" Browning Wasp.  Any shorter and, for me, the finger pinch is unpleasant.  Quite a bow (good looking, fast and quiet...able) and if you are patient can still be had for $85 or so.  Probably the best deal in recurves at present.

I have had excellent experience with Fedora 52 and 56 bows.  They are smooth and very forgiving.  My draw length is only 26 inches though.

I've heard good things about the Bob Lee Dark Archer--short, fast, smooth is what I've heard. Haven't shot one but those who have can chime in.

I have a 54" trophy hunter stealth Jack made it shoots very well ,, my 68 k mag does not near as good a shooter,

I make a 43" Recurve that you might want to consider as an option....They are amazing little bows!

  http://www.tenbrookarchery.com/recurves.html  

 

 

 

 

 

Bob Morrison

I haven't shot a Kestrel, but if my Chinook is any indication, I'd have to say go with a Toelke bow. Mine is quick, quiet, smooth and the craftsmanship is first rate.

I build my Yeti at 52"-54" & 56" . The unique part about this design is that it shoots at a lower brace height than most shorty's do and they maintain a good string angle too.

Here are a pair of 52" TD Yeti's

 

what about the border ghille dhu. that one yononindo posted about looked amazing and no doubt shoots as good as it looks.

Check out the post on PW by pete p titled "Micro Static and a 250# whitetail" about Recon46 and 47 by bowyer JD Lund of Whisperstick Bows.

I have tested both sizes and can easily handle draw length of 29 1/2" !  Neat bows!

Wild Horse Creek Mariah recurve. I have a 54" and it shoots and looks amazing. Mike makes a heck of a bow.

I've owned three good short bows.  Wasp, Kmag (still have it, killed my first bow deer with it), and RER Arroyo.  The Wasp was probably the coolest and was my first "real" bow.  Kmag has the best grip, and the new-to-me Arroyo is a smooth, quiet screamer that I'm still working on tuning.

I like short bows - I'm 5'8.  But I draw a solid 28"; with the Kmag I need to stagger my string fingers a little to avoid string pinch.  I just relax my ring finger a little and put the weight on my middle finger (thanks Joebuck); makes for a smoother release.

Mike Dunnaway at Wild Horse Creek bows makes an awesome short recurve called the Mariah, it's 54". He's one of the best bowyers to work with, too. I'm ordering one in early 2014 for turkeys.

Realizing this is shameless self promotion since I have one for sale I'm going with Two Tracks Ambush!    

Awesome little bow.

QuoteOriginally posted by Don Batten:
Lee Hoots would be my first choice.

x2  I have shot several and the HOOTS is my choice. They are fast,quiet,and well made.

54" Shakespeare Super Necedah.  I've been shooting mine for 40 years.

You like your Tall Tines, why not call Brian and see what you could get down to?  Depending on what riser length you have you might be able to get down to 58".  I just had him make me a shorter set this summer and I couldn't be happier with the new shorter limbs.

Michael, I was gonna mention how good those Tenbrook bows looked for a recurve, as well as the Timberghost w/ static tip limbs. My latest fascination & next on my wish list is a short longbow & I've been looking REALLY hard at the Timberghost. He's located in Springdale, AR so I've been thinking that that's not a very far drive & if he ever gets any in-stock bows, I'd take a little road trip & check it out. I think Springdale might even be closer to Claremore than it is for me. Just a thought...   :D

My Shrew Li'l Favorite recurve is the best of the breed, IMHO.