I currently shoot a 66" R/D long bow; My main intrest is bow hunting. I would like to know how (if at all) the length of a long bow effects all aspects of shooting ie accuracy, forgivenness etc. I am happy with my 66" bow but I would like to know if anyone thinks a shorter one would be better for hunting purposes? My long bow draw is 26" so I know I could go shorter without finger pinch.

I shoot 27" draw and haven't had any problem shooting down to 56" bows.  Most of my bows are 60" though.  I like the shorter bows for hunting in treestands or from ground blinds.  I also like them for bowfishing so I don't have to worry as much about limb clearance.

i am slowly finding out that longer bows are more forgiving....the extra limb lenths helps to balance the bow and helps with stability.... another thing to consider is riser length...the longer riser can shorten the working limb and make for a quicker bow...the longer riser also provides more mass and helps with vibration and handshock....shorter bows definitely help in hunting situations.... i think that a 60" bow is a very nice compromise....

I have found that 58" is my length of choice.  Any shorter and I usually can't maintain the consistency and accuracy I desire.  Any longer and it becomes more difficult to manuever in the brush, blind or tree.  60" is O.K. for me too.  I have had shorter bows that don't pinch or stack but that is only part of the shooting equation.  On the other end of the spectrum it's hard to beat the longer bows for stability.  Everything has it's pros and cons.  You have to find what you can live with and where you can compromise.  I suspect you could go to 60" and be happy and with your draw 58" would still be fine.  You can go even shorter but I'd advise you to try it before you buy it.

Trad dogma says for my draw length (28.5) I should be shooting no less than a 60" bow.  What I found out through trial & error is for me, a 60" is the MAX I'm comfortable with and shoot well.  I'm most comfortable and at my best with a 58" bow.

With a 26" draw you can pretty much go as short as you like w/o finger pinch problems.  At 28.5" I have no problem down to 56", but did get pinch from a 52" K-Mag I used to have.  I like my 58" Lee TD Hunter best for an all around hunting bow...

There is a whole mentality of "short bow = hunting bow".      

Unless you are shoehorned into a blind(tent) then your bow should do fine. I've shot 66" bows from my treestands without a problem.

Use whatever you shoot best. It will work.  

I hunt with 66" and 68" not a problem....

I,m shooting 60"- 62" and would consider 64" to be the max for me. 58" is the shortest LB I've owned and I shot it really well, but I think the longer bows are more forgiving.
                                  KY  

At your draw length, shorther bows are an option to consider only because they are easier to manuever in hunting situations. Also, questionable length is as good an excuse as any for another bow.

I draw 28" and I would not want to shoot a straight handled bow less than 62", shorter 56-60" bows are just as accurate as longer bows if designed right. I like 58" forward handle bows myself for hunting and 3D.

If yer talking longbows specifically, the Hill or mild r/d styles require longer lengths because there's little or no riser deflex.  Aggressive r/d longbows are closer to recurves and one can go shorter.  

At my 29" draw, a 60" aggressive hybrid is as low as I can go without sacrificing "stability & shootability", and it takes a 62" mild r/d to equate the same drawing/holding/shooting characteristics.  

The really short hyper r/d longbows (Shrews, for example) are in a class by themselves and can be the missing link answer if yer want a really short, but effective longbow at a longer than 28" draw length.

I think you could handle a 58" without loosing anything. So if you stick to a 58-60 at your draw you should do just fine. JMHO though.

Chort

I would go with the 58-60" also. I think you will get better performance with the shorter bow too. A 26" draw on a 66" LB, there is a lot of limb that is doing nothing so why carry it around. If you like the forward handle R/D bows like the Shrews and some others you can go down to 52-54".

I draw a hair short of 30" and shot the 54" Shrew and it was quite amazing. I have a 60" Shrew and 2 66" Robertsons and love them all. The Shrew gives up nothing to the longer bows.

I see your in Ohio, I would for sure go to Comptons in June, you will be able to shoot just about anything you can think of.

Eric

i have a 'longer' draw...29".

i find i prefer from 62" up.

i shoot "3-under"

Ugh! Well, I'd have to say go with any bow that you shoot well & "know" that you can make that first shot with.

Huntin' ain't shootin', one shot, one time.

Best I can do for ya.

I have a 54in bow that I feel totally comfortable with for hunting at close distances up to 15-20 yds.

-Charlie

I shoot a Robertson Pierce POInt that is 62'' with a 26+ draw works for me and my son shoots it well with a 27+ draw.  Some designs he can shoot well that are much shorter, all depends on the individual bow.

I draw just on 27"...and prefer a 68" bow in the Hill style and no shorter that 62" in the r/d design. just find them more accurate, quieter and more fun to shoot!!!

let us know how you go

cheers

ben