The older I get, the longer my bows get

[PrimitivePete]

I'm not exactly ancient yet but the days of yanking on a short stiff bow are over. Lately I've been using recurves 64" and over and I can't believe I waited so long. the draw is smoother at my 28" draw and I don't feel like I'm trying to hold in a quivering state. Yes I also dropped weight a bit as well. So now my mantra has shifted from smaller and faster to longer and smoother.

[JAH518]

I know the feeling. I have notice me doing the same thing over the past few years. I always had excuses for needing a short bow for hunting but have learned with a little practice I can shoot 64" + bows in just about all of the same situations I thought I needed a sort bow. 

[The Whittler]

I can relate and as my age goes up my bow poundage goes down :-) .

[Wudstix]

My Kota Badlands longbow at 62" makes it easier to get the 71# at my draw, back.
 

[Maclean]

I'm kind of going in the opposite direction. My longbows have always been 64" and up. I've recently discovered the utility of short longbows with the recent addition of a 56" Elkheart to my collection.
I hunt from the ground, often from natural ground blinds in the Rocky Mountain west. The compactness and maneuverability of a short bow is a game changer for me. I currently have a 54" Pika takedown on order, can't wait to shoot that little firecracker.

[Wudstix]

All my bows except one are one-piece bows.  Bear Grizzly is the shorty at 58".  60" seems to be my go-to length.  56-58" would be an option for any future bows.
 

[M60gunner]

Longer bows get my vote as well. I got a set of 45#@28” no.3 limbs for my Bear B riser. Really feels good on this old body. We don’t have the underbrush here like back East so maneuvering through the woods isn’t that hard with a longer bow.

[Steelhead]

Smooooth feels good!

with my Bear T.Ds my longer # 3 limbs feel smoother than the shorter #2s and 1s in the same poundage.I shoot those allot.I like the smoothness and overall shootability.

Thier is a place for the shorter bows though and some feel smoother than others.

[JR Chambers]

It is funny because usually I read where if you have 28 inch draw or less you should order a 58-60 inch bow. Having said that I draw 27 1/2 inches and shoot a 62 inch bow.

[Kirkll]

Longer length bows vs shorter lengths is using a rather broad stroke brush…,

 Different limb designs determine the smoothness of draw regardless of length, and there are a LOT of different limb designs out there in long bow, hybrid long bow, and recurve designs.

I have 60” hybrid long bows and recurve bows that draw smooth as silk out to 33 inches with no finger pinch at all…. The overall  length of the bow has very little to do with the smoothness of draw…. It’s WHERE your limbs are bending that matters….


But if you are talking about D shaped long bow designs, you are correct. The longer the bow, the better the string angle is at full draw.     Kirk

[Maclean]

X2 what Kirk said. The 56" Elkheart is the smoothest drawing bow I've ever shot. It's all about limb design.

[MnFn]

Most of my current bows were bought used and because of the builder. The length of bow was of lesser importance. I have a 58” that I will use in a blind, but I also have a 64” and a 68” that I love to shoot. The 68” is a Liberty English and is a sweet shooter.

The bow that brought me back to traditional archery was a 48” Bear Super magnum.  I bought it new before the wheelie bow craze. I tried a compound for a few years shooting in a league. The last night of league shooting we brought out our old bows.  I shot the old bear two times and they were both in the kill zone a couple of inches apart.  I realized how much I enjoyed the recurve and never looked back.

I don’t remember feeling finger pinch or anything negative about that bow.

[PrimitivePete]

Kirk you are correct I'm more focused right now on the perceived draw of the bow and the stability after the shot. I have never experienced finger pinch on my bows, so it's never been a deterrent. And I will agree to your statement about how different limbs can be a large contributor to what I am experiencing. I primarily shoot ILF bows and the recent limbs I use have an incredible feel while I draw the bow, unlike anything I have tried ILF or not. Add to the bow the weight of the metal riser and the bow is dead in the hand. I don''t think I have ever had the pleasure of shooting a rig like this where the limbs draw almost evenly and after the shot the bow just wants to sit still. Could all be my imagination, but my back and shoulders are enjoying the treat. 

[degabe]

My long bows are 68" or more , I don't care for the shorter bows everybody seems to like these days.