Shortest bow for a big guy

[ModernViking11]

so I'm about 6'4" and I'm currently shooting a 70" bow, took it out to the woods the other day to go shooting stumps, where I  live there is a lot of thick under brush. I am looking to buy a short bow to avoid getting snagged up on brush. what's the shortest I can go? I prefer longbows, I tried recurves and I find I shoot longbows far better
thanks for any input

[ModernViking11]

forgot to mention I draw 31"

[GrayRhino]

Get in touch with sponsor Gregg Coffey at Javaman Bows.  He makes some great forward handle longbows that can easily handle your draw length in a 60" model, maybe even shorter.

[mnxs54]

There are some 62" bows you'd have a hard time with. I have a 58" recurve you could shoot just fine. It all depends on who made the bow and how good they are. Talk to other guys who have long draws and certain names will keep coming up. Good luck with your search.

[bretto]

I've got a 56" Kobekona River longbow made by Jason Kendall that I draw to 30". His new Kanati model is available in a 58 and 60" model.

Give him a call.

[Surewood Steve]

Just remember the shorter the bow the more string pinch on your fingers.  I like 62" for most of my bows.  With that draw length it will be hard shooting wood shafts.  Our longest is 32" as are a lot of manufactures.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

Dan Toelke makes a 62" Whip that will suite you just fine.
He also makes one of the best bows I have ever shot.

[FarmerMarley]

Check out the agressive R/D longbow appreciation thread. There are many bows mentioned there that are short longbows but accept long draws:
Ex: big jim thunderchild etc.

Do a search, this is a very popular topic. I think there was just a thread bout this a couple days ago.

[FarmerMarley]

Here is one thread to check out:
 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=125427

Here is another:
 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=125412

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=125099

[pamike]

i would call hill country bows and take a test drive of the bobcat longbow.  I did and now i own one!  i draw 30" and roman built it for my long draw.  bow is very smooth to that draw length and shoots very well.  the amaziing thing is the bow is only 56" long....check them out.

[ModernViking11]

right on thanks guys, I'll be looking at getting one as soon as funds allow. If I could knock almost a foot of the total length that would be sweet.

[Orion]

I doubt a foot will make much difference in moving through the brush.  That's six inches on each end.  Brush tends to hang up on a bow in two places, at the quiver attachments if you have them, and at the junction of the string with the limb tips.  Shorter bow isn't going to change getting brush hung up on the quiver and may increase it with severe r/d designs because the angle between the limb tips and string is more acute, and that's where brush catches.  For this reason, long bows of any type are less likely to hang up than recurves.

 I actually find longer bows easier than shorter bows to move through thick brush.  I usually carry my bow horizontally with the tips pointed down until I'm ready to shoot. Easier to quietly and silently part the brush with them while still hunting.  Good luck in your quest.

[Birdbow]

You might want to talk to Big Jim of Big Jim's bows (a sponsor here). He's a very big guy with a long draw too. I think he shoots one of his 56" ThunderChild longbows.