new to trad archery

[yungbuck]

Hi to all!

First off let say I love this site and I am so happy I found it. I didn't realize how many trad guys there are out there. I became hooked on bow hunting 5 years ago and now I decided it was time to finnally carry out my dream of killing one deer with a lonbow (now I'm thinking its a little more addicting so it might turn out to be more than just one).

I just got a fred bear montana and it has me worried..

My draw length is between 30 to 31 inches and the montana is 45@28 so is my draw length to much for this bow. I read on the "new to archery" link about bow length compared to draw length... so do I need a longer bow or is this normal? (The bow of course is 64")

I will be thankful for ANY advice!

[David Yukon]

Welcome to the gang! Is 31" your draw with compound? If it is, it will be shorter with the long bow, I draw 31 on my recurve using Hight wrist ad 30 on my longbow using low wrist... Anyway, at 64", you may or may not experience finger pinch, but I would think that it is the only possible problem you might run into with your draw and the length of the bow.

Let see what others have to say!

[bowslinger]

Welcome. And it likely will be more than one! Start saving!

Many recurves and reflex/deflex longbows are 60 inches or less at 28 inches.  Your bow won't necessarily be a problem.  If you know of anybody close by that shoots trad, you may be able to try longer bows to see if finger pinch is less noticeable.  If not, your golden. There should be lots of trad guys in your neck o' the woods.  Shooting other's bows lets you try different styles and dimensions to see what you might like best without investing alot of money.

Everybody's a little different in body geometry, but I would guess you will be okay.  I shoot a 60" Pronghorn with a 29-inch draw and don't have problems with finger pinch.  Different style bow though.

[stujay]

Welcome to the forum. The 64" montana should work with your draw length, you may find longer bow to be preferable, but...try it and let us know how it goes.

[Hud]

The old way of determining your draw length, particularly with a straight grip, dish, or locator on a longbow is to 1) use a wooden yard stick, put it at the top of your chest (centered), below collar bone and reach out with both arms, do not strain, and have someone mark where your finger tips are with a pencil, and don't look. 2) repeat this two more times, and then average the three lengths, to get your correct draw length. This will get you closer to the best draw length for your size.

If you develop proper form, heeling the bow, relaxed arm, low bowarm shoulder, you probably will have better success. The biggest problem  is thinking a longer draw is better; with a longbow it isn't. The correct draw length for a 68" traditional longbow is 28".  You subtract or add 2" to the bow length, for each inch under or over 28".

This general rule has been used for 100 years,it worked for Art Young, Dr. Saxton Pope, Howard Hill and it will work for you.

[yungbuck]

Thanks for all the advice! No one in my area shoots trad so I'm kinda on my own and trying to learn.  My draw length on a compound is 29" and that's with my release. Thanks again for everything. Is there any where on trad gang that talks about shooting form or anything like that?

[LONGSTYKES]

Joshua, Welcome aboard. Don't worry when you are hooked, like the rest of us. You will have many bows. Enjoy

[buckeye_hunter]

Welcome! There might be a few more Virginians on here than you think!

[30coupe]

If your draw with the compound is 29" you will probably be at or under 28" with the Montana. It doesn't have the Hill style, straight riser. It has a locator grip, but you will still want to use a low wrist grip for best results. That will shorten your draw a bit. As has been said, don't try to force a longer draw. Work on your form. Reading the Howard Hill bow bug thread would be a good starting point, but it will take you several days.

The Montana is a good solid longbow and 45# is plenty for whitetails and small game. It is a good starting weight and a good hunting weight. Most of my hunting is done with my 46# Kanati and I have no trouble getting complete pass-throughs on our big bodied Iowa whitetails.

Here is a link to some exellent videos that will help get you started with shooting your longbow, especially if you don't have any trad guys in your area.

 http://www.facebook.com/video/?id=741405195

[Rob DiStefano]

though some truly do, must folks who think they have a 30" or longer draw length for stick bows really don't, not even close.  howard hill was a pretty big man, with a wide arm wingspan, and his draw length was right at about 28".  too many folks, particularly newbies, exaggerate the bow arm extension and pull way too far with the bow hand.  that's counterproductive for trad archery, where there needs to be a natural flow to the form at full draw.  it all needs to feel "easy" and never strained in any manner.  if at all possible, seek knowledgeable trad archery assistance via clubs, events and vendors.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Welcome to tha Gang Yungbuk!

 I started out with a bear montana and killed my first trad deer with it. Great bow to start out with.

 Here's a link to the TG shooters forum.

 Go down to the bottom of the page where it says shoot on over to and there and there are several great forums.

  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=6&submit=Go

[Shakes.602]

Welcome to TradGang!! I took an old arrow and marked it off in Inches. Thats how I Measure my Drawlengths. Really Takes 2 peeples though!  

[Fletcher]

Welcome to the Gang, Yungbuck!  Your Montana is a very good bow and will handle hunting just fine.  The arrow is more important than the bow, so focus much of your efforts there.  Shakes marked arrow works great for checking your draw and by clipping a clothespin on the shaft you can check your draw yourself.  Check in on the Shooters Forum and you will find tons of info on good form, esp Terry Green's "clock".  As Rob mentioned, let your body and good form decide your draw length.

Most of all, have fun and enjoy the journey!

[fmscan]

Fletcher, Good advice. I LOVED the clothespin idea. Alway nice to learn things.

[Sirius Black]

Welcome!  

[yungbuck]

Thank you everyone!! Great advice finally got to shoot today after work and I got a lot to learn but so far so good!