Does anyone enjoy a true "long"bow anymore?

AKmud · March 03, 2011, 11:55:00 AM

I was working on my trade bow which is around 72" at this point and I got to thinking...does anyone enjoy this long of a bow any more? Seems like most folks are trying to test the limits on how short they can go and still make draw length.

I really like how smooth a longer bow draws but I do understand the limitations in a tree stand or blind.

So what is the consensus? Should I stick with this length or cut it down 8-10"? I'm at the point where I need to make that decision before I finish the tillering.

PEARL DRUMS · March 03, 2011, 12:11:00 PM

I love shooting them in the yard and cant stand trying to hunt with them. I guess your decision should be based on where its going and what will be done with it?

Dave Bowers · March 03, 2011, 12:35:00 PM

My very first bow was 72" I haven't made a long bow since. Mostly because this one prop twisted pretty good...left me with some bad juju.

Pat B · March 03, 2011, 12:42:00 PM

I've always liked shooting long bows. They are way more forgiving and shoot more accurately for me. I have hunted from a tree stand with a 68" flatbow with no difficulties. You have to do a little prep work to be sure the bow clears branches and stuff but after that it is like any other bow in a tree stand.

I've been building 60" bows lately but my next year hunting bow will be a straight limbed 66" longbow.

SEMO_HUNTER · March 03, 2011, 01:11:00 PM

My first was a full 68" and it was nice to shoot, but way too cumbersome for me. My max length is 66" now and I prefer something more around the 62-64" length, which is forth coming. I have a flat bow bend in the handle that's only 57" and had no problems getting 40# @28" out of it, shoots great.

GREG IN MALAD · March 03, 2011, 02:34:00 PM

Most of my woodbows are 66-74". I dont hunt from a treestand and dont find a longer bow cumbersome, but I sure like the way they draw and shoot.

Shaun · March 03, 2011, 03:26:00 PM

My go to self bow is 69" ntn and has harvested some fine whitetails from tree stands. Love the way long longbows shoot.

Inuumarue · March 03, 2011, 03:38:00 PM

Personally I love the feel of a good longbow, all of mine to date have never gone below 68, though I hope to experiment a bit for my trade bow. Its a bit tight in the underbrush but I love the open field and old growth shooting.

Adam

Living_waters · March 03, 2011, 08:26:00 PM

Just sent a 71ntn out for a st Jude auction today, sweet pulling bow. I have made the majority of mine 66 to 72 and have no trouble hunting out of a stand or stool with one. Short bows are nice but I love the forgiveness of the longer bows.

Gene Gillis · March 03, 2011, 08:49:00 PM

I guess if the longbow is going out to someone like me, that hasn't ever shot one, it wouldn't make any difference. I always wanted to try one out. If it is forgiving thats what an amature would need ,I guess. Couldn't it be shortened later if it was too long? but probably if it is a trade bow no one would do it as they would most likely want it original. Just my 2 cents

fujimo · March 03, 2011, 08:51:00 PM

i love the long bows- i figure that i am 6'2" and i get through the bush just fine- so a skinny bow should not be a problem- and more forgiving to shoot too!!
g'luck

John Lipinski · March 03, 2011, 09:11:00 PM

The one I made for the swap is 69" NTN, 70" overall length. I like 'em, but I haven't shot anything shorter yet--I'm limited in therms of not having any bows other than the wheelie and the ones I made.

eflanders · March 03, 2011, 10:03:00 PM

For me I have found that 62-66" is now my preferred length. It seems that this is a nice comfortable length for all situations for me.

Dick in Seattle · March 04, 2011, 12:20:00 AM

I'm blessed or cursed with a very short draw, 25", SO I consider it a matter of relativity. I prefer a 66" bow but also enjoy 68" for the bit of extra smoothness. The 66's are my go to bows and with my draw I consider them definitely longbows. I went shorter for the bow I took on my hunt year before last, not because of the handiness of the length but because with a short draw and low draw weight limit, I could get some extra speed from it and because I would be flying with it. It's a nice bow and did a fine job, but definitely not as nice to shoot as the longer ones.

AKmud · March 04, 2011, 01:03:00 AM

Ok, thanks guys. Now I don't feel too bad leaving it the full 72" ntn. I just got the overlays roughed out tonight and it is working out pretty well.

alaninoz · March 04, 2011, 04:39:00 AM

Both my longbows are 70" glass-backed bows and I'm really happy with them. But then I've got a 33" draw, so you could say that for me they are short bows.

Red Tailed Hawk · March 04, 2011, 06:04:00 PM

Just completed a red oak bow at 75", Real smooth drawing and just a pleasure to shoot.

jsweka · March 04, 2011, 06:14:00 PM

I've gotten so use to shooting a 68" longbow that anything shorter makes me feel like I'm shooting a kids bow.

D · March 04, 2011, 09:40:00 PM

Ya know i've not been doing this too long and when I first got into trad archery I didn't like the "long" long bows, didn't even like longbows much in general. But then they started creeping in on me. I liked them more and more and more. Never paid much attention to how long they were til recently. At a recent shoot I shot with a guy that brought out a Howard Hill (not for sure the length) and the more I watched it shoot the more I liked it. I'm definately gonna build myself one.