Short vs long recurves

[Ryan Rothhaar]

For recurves I shot 64 inch for years, the last decade or so I'm hunting with 66 inch bows.  For a hybrid type longbow I like 68.  I'm 5'6" and draw 29.5.  I've never had an issue in a tree stand (that's why they invented pruning saws), or spot and stalk type hunting, a couple times I have had problems with home made ground blinds at friend's places.... so I'm careful when hunting from someone else's ground blind to check clearance.

I think the whole "short bow for hunting" thing is something that guys hear so much they just start repeating it.  In over 30 years of serious hunting with recurves and long bows I've never worried about, or had real issues with, longer bows, and have enjoyed the benefits. Dad is approaching 60yrs behind recurve bows and I cannot remember ever seeing him shoot one under 64 inches, also never heard a story from him about losing out on an animal due to a longer bow.

R

[59Alaskan]

I shoot 56-64".  I prefer 62-64".  64" recurves can just be super sweet and smooth.  At one time I had a 66" recurve and I really liked that also.  I took it hunting a few times, tree stand and ground.  Never had an opportunity at game though

[Tom]

62-64" recurves with a 29.5" draw. Short guy with monkey arms.

[Stykbowslim]

I've been shooting recurves for 47 years. Mostly 62" to 66" bows. Since the mid-eighties, I've stuck with the 62" recurves. I'm 5'8" and I draw 29.5, and I've never had a problem with bow length in my hunting setups, whether out of a tree stand, ground blind, or spot and stalk hunting.

A few years ago, I did have some bow clearance issues when my son invited me to hunt his treestand setups. At 5'6" and shooting a compound, my son didn't think about the bow clearance issues that "dear old dad" would have. However, some handy work with a pruner and a pruning saw solved those issues.

[Crooked Stic]

Of course your draw length will determine how short you could go and be comfortable. I feel the longer bows will be more forgiving. Although A well designned short bow can work also.

[stagetek]

60-64" for me. Prefer the 64"ers. I shoot better with a longer bow.

[katman]

62 for a blind or 64 for me is sweet on my DAS risers, 29.5" draw.

That 21" DAS metal riser, heck of a riser, is not only adding length but mass so I feel that helps accuracy. Good choice on medium limbs for your draw.

[D. Key]

For me with a 27" draw length, I used to shoot 58" almost exclusively with an occasional 60". A couple of years ago I ordered a 56" Chinook from Dan Toelke and it is by far the best shooting recurve I have ever had.  Great for pop-up blinds and tree stand hunting.

[indianalongbowshooter]

It all depends on the bow Ive had a 52 in. Fedora 3 pc. Gaboon Ebony riser w/all bamboo limbs recurve that felt/shot like a 62 in. bow, same for a few other short bows it all depends on bow design.. some short bows feel like they are going to break at full draw and are a lot harder to be accurate with..
I prefer a 56 in. bow to hunt with and for general shooting such as 3-D a 62 in. recurve or longbow..

[Buckeye1977]

I like the shorter bows myself cause the spots I usually hunt are very thick and tight or are in ground blinds but I only draw about 26.5".

[BlacktailBowhunter]

I shot Norm Johnson's 62" Sitka and asked him if the 58" or 56" would shoot as smooth and he said I wouldn't notice any difference, so I'm excited to get it. I draw about 26.5" and contemplated the 56" but I can't get past thinking that I'll be more accurate with the 58". Bowwild or Roy has a 56" and 58" Sitka and says he doesn't notice a difference.

I guess a lot has to do with bow design and whether you're hunting or target shooting.

[YORNOC]

I had to beg and plead for years to get Dave Windauer to build me a 66" Silvertip recurve.
He finally caved, love it.

[cacciatore]

I don't have problems using short bows that at my hunting distances I find better weapons.

[tomsm44]

The few I typically hunt with range from 56-60".  One thing that I think is overlooked is mass weight.  A longer bow will also typically weigh a little more, which also goes a long way to aid accuracy.  

Part way into this season, I swapped from a 56" 42# Hoots Custom recurve to a 60" 55# 1966 Kodiak.  The reason was that I was more accurate with the Kodiak than the Hoots, despite a 13# increase in draw weight.  

But I honestly think the mass weight was more of a factor than the length.  The Hoots is extremely light and seems to move all over the place when drawn.  I have 58" bows with more mass weight that I shoot just as well as the Kodiak. I bet attaching a quiver to the Hoots would help out a lot.

[cacciatore]

Don't forget the riser lenght factor. A 64" 19" riser bow has the same string angle as a 60" 15" riser bow.

[mangonboat]

52"-66". Mass distribution makes a big difference. The easiest bow I've come across to shoot accurately was a 64" Frankenbow made from a 70's Bear compound riser and Sage limbs, where the mass was concentrated at the top and bottom of the riser, at the limb bases, rather than mid-riser, a design that gained popularity in the mid-60's recurves and still popular today.

[Friend]

Fond of 62"s at my 28" draw.

Since my hunting is from the ground only, a 56"r fits all of my setups. Am not capable of shooting competently with many shorter bows.

When you hold out 100+ hunts and finally gifted that special opportunity, one may be more focused on elevated confidence in placing the arrow on the mark.

[YosemiteSam]

62".  Tried a 58" but it took more concentration to hit my mark effectively.  May have just been a weight issue since my 62" bows are heavy take-down.

I've been itching to try something super short with a thumb ring, however.  Seems like it may be a little better for maneuvering in the bush.  Only one way to find out, I suppose...

[stevem]

62" and a 27" draw

[Terry Green]

It could be the bow....not the length ...some bows just fit guys styles better...and 2 inches either way really shouldn't matter.

I like 60 inch recurves and longbows...shoot them good as anything else I've owned that's longer...60 just fits me.