bamboo backed hickory (shotness) question

[Justin Falon]

Building a bow for a turkey blind.  Currently it has a nice natural reflex in it.  How short can I make it?  Plan to back it with bamboo for extra strength.  Thanks.

justin

[Pat B]

Is it a stave? You can have all the strength you want with a hickory self bow. Why back it if it is a stave? A board would be different. You could probably go 60" to 62" with a boo backed hickory and especially if it bends to or through the handle.

[Justin Falon]

It is a stave.  Currently it is 72" long and it is a rigid handle.  I could make it 62" and see what happens!

[Pat B]

What are your other dimensions and for what draw weight?
   In dry climates hickory will make as good of a self bow as any wood. Moisture is a killer for hickory though.

[Justin Falon]

Limbs are about 1.75" wide and I am hoping for about 60-62" long.  I will check the rest of the dim.

jf

[Roy Steele]

The shortest I've made a hickory bow unbacked and from a stave is 58"s.But I made a few at 60"s and 62"s.This should'nt be a problem with limbs 1 3/4"s wide.
  With a bow this short I've never shot from a blind but have shot a lot from the ground or from a low stool.

[Justin Falon]

thank you Roy Steele!!!!