Short Board Bow Draw Length

[tradhunter88]

I picked up a couple clear straight grained maple boards the other day. One had some run out at one end so I decided to cut it down to 58” and use it to practice my tillering with before I work on the better board. I built a couple board bows back when I was in college but they were crude and I didn’t have all the right tools I’ve got all the right tools now and built a tillering tree with a pulley recently so I’m ready to get after it. I have a couple questions on the short board. I made it a parallel width of 1.5” and then tapered to 1/2 nocks starting at 10” from the tips. I have left the 4” handle section full 3/4” thickness like the Jawge board now build along. I was planning to tiller it out to approx. 20-22” since it’s so short and want it to be a little overbuilt since I’m sure my tiller won’t be perfect. Does that sound reasonable? Also, is a 5” brace height ok for a bow that length? I currently have it braced at 4” and the farthest I have pulled it is 15” where it is 30 lbs. was hoping for approx 40 lbs. at 20”.

[Mad Max]

I would say 6" brace is the lowest you will get it without it slapping your arm/wrist on every shot

[Flem]

I'm curious who, with a 20" draw is going to pull a 40# bow?

[Pat B]

Flem, short drawing short bows is common with some Native American bows. Very few "original" bows were drawn to 28" because they were shorter than what we think of our common bows.

[Flem]

I must have missed where the OP said he was making a sinew backed horse bow.

[Mad Max]

I'm curious who, with a 20" draw is going to pull a 40# bow?

In a small blind or on the ground would be a good bow to have
I’ve been thinking about building one

[Pat B]

Not necessarily a sinew backed horse bow. Many Native built quite short selfbows that were drawn 18" to 22" or so. Most were in the western portions of this country, mainly because they did ride horses but also because they were limited to smaller trees and shrubs that were appropriate for selfbow building. East of the Mississippi, the Eastern Woodlands had plenty of bigger trees and shrubs and they primarily walked and didn't necessarily use horses so their bows were from 60" to over 70" long.

[Flem]

I'm curious who, with a 20" draw is going to pull a 40# bow?

In a small blind or on the ground would be a good bow to have
I’ve been thinking about building one

You planning on building a 20" draw, 40# bow?

[Mad Max]

42/48" long, maybe 50#

[tradhunter88]

Built a new string and have it braced at 6” now and am getting closer to 35# at 15”. May go for a little higher draw weight since the power stroke will be so short. What do you think of the tiller?

[Flem]

Looks pretty good from here, maybe a little more bend near the handle area on both limbs.
You going to be shooting that while astride a large critter, or is it for a weight lifting pre-teen?

[KenH]

The tribes of the Pacific Northwest used very short -- 36" to 48" -- and wide -- 3"-4" -- "paddle" bows for hunting in deep brush.  Paddle bows were not always sinew-backed but were designed to pull deer-hunting draw weights (40+#) at 16"-20"

[Flem]

Aah crap! Didn't think about shooting while bushwhacking.
Probably need special, enhanced paradox arrows for deep brush