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I fortunately and unfortunately haven’t had a lot of time to shoot lately and I’ve been in a lull for a while where I wasn’t excited about shooting like the last few years. I’ve been trying to get out of this funk!
I’ve been playing around with different bows and I’m getting my 66” Cumberland tuned in and I think it might be my hunting bow this fall (Marty that bow is to awesome to sit around)…I think some additional fine tuning and I’ll be there! I’m close!!! It was hitting way left when I first shoot it with my current arrows but I added weight via the tip and with 300-grain tips on my carbons and they’re flying like darts. Granted it makes for a heavy arrow but they are heavy hitters and should penetrate very well. I might try to find a different shaft (non-skinny MFX Carbons) down the road but I’m making due with what I have.
With all that garbage above said…is it hard to hunt from a treestand with a 66” longbow. I hunting for 2 years with my 62” Savannah so I don’t think I’ll have too much adjustment time…I just have to make sure my limbs are out of the way with the foliage. I’m sure I can find enough trees that will work where I have good background cover but I’ll have room to move.
So those that have hunted with a 66” or longer bows please chime in with some insight on what to be aware of! I have a Double Bull “Recurve” addition and I’m going to have to shoot it inside to find out if I can do it, should be able to. I’ve started hunting corn fields with my blind…opens up a lot of area were there isn’t a tree and gives great cover!
Also any good 300-grain heads out there…thinking a VPA solid or a couple different Abowyers. The Javelina with a 100 grain steel adaptor or a Brown Bear with 125-grain steel would be nice!
Just some thoughts…late at night after building strings and shooting at 2:30 AM, need to get some sleep!
Thanks,
Josh
-------------------- Custom Flemish Strings by Oliverstacy! Kanati 60" 57@29" AP Cumberland 66" 58@29" WhisperStik KajikaStik 56" Recurve with Canebrakes...57@28" WhisperStik KajikaStik aka "Wormy" RC & LB,both 55@29" Martin Savannah 50@28" Kota Kill-um 55@28" Posts: 2169 | From: Livonia, Michigan | Registered: Jul 2007
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Good question - I'm wondering the same thing! I'm shopping around for a longbow right now and don't know how big of a factor bow length should be. Would a 62" longbow be more maneuverable than a 66" or does it not make a huge difference?
-------------------- "Master your instrument, master the music, and then forget all that and just play." -Charlie Parker Posts: 197 | From: Southern California | Registered: Aug 2008
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Good question. I think I could get away with shooting from a Tree Saddle because there is no stand to shoot around. I have tried a 64" Howard Hill in a regular Double Bull but it was close. Hopefully someone will chime in about a 66" for both scenarios.
Posts: 438 | From: fayetteville, wv | Registered: Mar 2008
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I shoot a 66 out of a treestand with no problem. I cant shoot out of a ground blind. too hard to move around.
Posts: 1483 | From: Sykesville, Maryland | Registered: Jul 2008
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If you are in the market for a ground blind just get the tallest you can find. As for treestands I have killed quite a few deer and an occasional tree rat shooting 64 and 66 inch bows. Take a couple judos with you and take a couple shots as soon as you get up for practice. Dont worry about that either. Last year I killed a good size doe while she sniffed out one of my judos.
-------------------- Ohio Society of Traditional Archers www.tradarchers.org Christian Bowhunters of America Professional Bowhunters Society National Rifle Association Gun Owners of America Posts: 3383 | From: Centerburg, Ohio | Registered: Mar 2003
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I hunt regularly with 66" and 68" longbows and have no problem. The nearest thing to a problem you'll have is on real close in shots and then you will need to cant the bow over a good bit or the string will hit your body. True, shorter is better in a tree but if you love a longer bow you can definitely make it work. Most times any more I hunt on the ground in make shift blinds, but when I bear hunt I always hunt from stands the outfitter has set up....Dave
Posts: 2844 | From: Charleston, WV | Registered: Mar 2003
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I hunt with 66" longbows all the time. I almost always hunt from a treestand and don't have much of an issue with it. I cant my bows when shooting and have not had any close shot issues. The one think I always try to do is set my stand up so that the deer approch from the left side. I have killed many deer on my right, but there is alot of movement involved to get turned around. You can even shoot somewhat behind your stand if you are willing to turn around and stand on the edge.
The first thing I do when entering a stand is pray for safety and a clean kill if the opportunity is presented. Then I draw my bow and turn to different positions to make sure that my limbs don't hit anything. This also allows you to find out where your best and easiest shots could be made. It is a confidence builder when you know where you are able to take a shot and when you should just sit tight and wait for the deer to move to another spot by your stand.
I have had very few instances where my bow has hindered taking a shot... Now there have been a ton of times where the deer did not cooperate and would not walk into an area where a good clean shot could be taken or would not give me a proper angle to shoot at, but bow length was not a factor.
-------------------- But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. Psalms 3:3 Posts: 1917 | From: Crow Mnt., Arkansas | Registered: Nov 2009
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Most tree or ladder stands do not pose a problem with 66" longbows. Any overhead limbs should be cleared back when you put up the stand. Just be sure to take your bow with you and try out the stand and location when you put it up. I've also shot out of a Double Bull blind with no problem. Even had my 6 year old grandson with me at the time.
-------------------- The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first. - Thomas Jefferson Posts: 2155 | From: Texas | Registered: Nov 2003
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I'm 5 ft 6 in tall on a good day and I've been using 64 inch recurves out of trees for 20 years, no problem. I'll be hunting with a 66 inch Jack Howard Jet this fall and I have no concerns whatsoever.
That said...the make of treestand could make a difference - I hunt out of chain on type open stands...if you use a climber with one of those rails around it I could see an issue - of course I don't see how a guy could shoot ANY kind of bow out of one of those. Some ladder stands can be problematic too if they have the side rails.
As far as interference with tree limbs/brush whatever, that's why they sell pruning saws.
I've never had a problem out of my double bull recurve with 64 inch bows either - but you have to watch the tips.
Ryan
Posts: 989 | From: Indiana | Registered: Feb 2004
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The difference between a 62" longbow and a 66" one is only 2" on each end. I have never had a problem with a 66" out of a treestand.
Posts: 259 | From: Marysville Mi. | Registered: Jan 2007
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I just built some GT 55/75's with 100 grain inserts (first time with carbon and trad equip.). Added a 100 grain adapter to a 125 Ace Standard for 325 up front. Finished arrow comes in at 630 grains out of my 60# Mattawoman l/b. Quiet as a mouse fart and it rocks the snot out of my deer target. I found that with my 28.5" arrow and the 100 grain adapter, I can shoot from 145 to 225 tips and still get great arrow flight.
-------------------- "The overhead view is of me in a maze...you see what I'm hunting a few steps away." Phish Posts: 1466 | From: Milford Delaware | Registered: May 2009
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You have less problems than you think, but you don't want to run into a problem at the wrong time. You need to practice in the treestand (though not necessarily from a great height) just to become familiar with all the awkward angles and have a good INSTINCTIVE understanding of when your limbs might have a chance to smack something. Practice close shots shooting very canted even fully horizontal or more. You may not shoot your best that way but you can shoot plenty well enough. The longbow shot instinctively is very versatile and can work for nearly anything with practice. Besides the bow, you have to have an instinctive feel for your tree, the branches, the platform, and all of your surroundings.
Posts: 303 | From: Western PA | Registered: Mar 2007
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I've used 66" 68", and even a 70" longbow out of tree stands for years with no problem hitting the limb tips, as long as you clear branches out of the way that might hit them. I've used my 66" longbow the last few years the most. The only pop up type blind that I can shoot out of without having to watch my limbs is a Ameristep Bighouse, it's a full 7 feet tall. I usally just build a brush blind for ground hunting though. I like being out in the open better then in a blind.
-------------------- May Your Feet Always Make Happy Tracks. Posts: 379 | From: Harrison, Mich. | Registered: Jan 2005
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