Big Feller Bow

[alcot]

I have an Ironwood stave roughed out to 68" long x 2" wide x 1/2" thick. A pretty big guy wants me to make him a deer hunting bow out of it. I imagine he could pull 50# like butter and he claims his draw length is 34". I've never attempted a bow that heavy with such a long draw length. Is such a bow possible from this stave? If so what width would be smart to aim for? I had to heat bend it several times (steam and heat gun) to get the kinks out of it.
Thanks

[GlisGlis]

maybe it could be better to check his real draw lenght first 

[alcot]

Yeah, he must draw back behind his head or somethin

[PEARL DRUMS]

It would never holds up without the handle working. If you want a stiff grip you would need no less than 72-74" ntn and 2" wide. Yes, you could get away shorter but the bow wont hold its shape for years and it will be taxed. 

[Pat B]

What they said.

[bradsmith2010]

what they said X2 
maybre his draw is 34 with a compound,, so you need to check,,
maybe he can draw a bow to 34,, but that does not mean how he shoots,,,
have him draw whatever bow he is pulling to 34 and send you a pic for verification,
the only thing that comes to mind if you have to use that stave,, is make it as wide as you can, ,bend in handle,, and splice some extensions on it to make it longer,, like the 74 inches Pearl suggested,,
also please post the pic of him drawing to 34,, I am really curios to see that,,

[alcot]

I know he is a compound shooter (he ain't around here for a photo) I'm gonna pass on this one.
thanks to all

[PEARL DRUMS]

Finding arrows would be impossible. He must special order them 35" long. Poor guy is probably paying through the nose. Same with his wheelys, they don't make a 34" draw bow. He probably special ordered that as well. Talk about an expensive hobby.

[bjrogg]

Sometimes I'm glad I'm not a big fella
Bjrogg

[Eric Krewson]

I took an order for a woman buying her husband a bow, he said he drew 33". Not many 33" draws out there. I had him hold a yard stick to his chest and extend his fingertips to see what his reach was, 29", this is a pretty good measurement for draw length. I found out later he had been holding a bare arrow, no bow and drawing it across his hand to the corner of his mouth to determine his draw length.

[ksnow]

My cousin asked me to make him a hunting weight bow, he's pushing 6'10" with gorilla arms. I have no idea what he would draw, but I told him I don't find too many 9 foot staves.

Kyle

[George Tsoukalas]

My friend and I made him an osage bow. He has a legitimate 31" or 33" draw...forget. We made it 73" tip to tip...or so...forget. Jawge

[Marc St Louis]

When it comes to extremely long draw and a relatively short stave then the only answer is sinew

[Stringman]

Not arguin with ya Marc, but would a 68" x 2"stave benefit from 2-3 courses of sinew?!? I would think diminishing returns...

[PEARL DRUMS]

A 68" bow pulled 34" is no different than 56" bow pulled 28".