Ideal bow Langth

[Fox]

What is the ideal bow langth for hickory with a 26”draw? To minimize set but so that it is not unwieldy in any he forest?


(I know this potentialy leave room for very broad or short answers such as 2 times draw length and whatnot)

[RyanY]

60-62”ntn with an 8” stiff handle and fades seems good to me.

[bradsmith2010]

its more up to you,, if you hunting out of a blind,, 52 54,, if you not any thing you want,, its just personal preference,,
make several and see what is best for you,, and give the others away,,

[Fox]

Hmm well my issue is I much prefer short bows.... but I can’t get a bow to hold it’s profile or not chrysal....

[bradsmith2010]

yes you can,, just go slower next time,, dont leave it drawn on the tree past brace,, doesnt matter if it hold a profile if it shoots good, my hunting bow follows the string, but its accurate and plenty powerful, wont win a beauty contest,, but gets good arrow flight and has good cast and is accurate,,, if you sinew back some osage, problem solved,, will hold profile and wont fret on belly,, ok, you dont have to tiller it out to half draw before sinew,, just floor tiller it and then sinew,, just start over,, and you will get a good short hunting bow, I would say,, 60 inches is a good middle of road,,as your skill level gets better ,, you can make anything you want,, just keep making,,if I feel like I am pushing the design limit on length, I just go wider, I can always side tiller if needed,,

[Fox]

Okay brad.... I’m thinking I’ll just make something very simple and maybe a bit overbuilt, something like 66” just to get me something to hunt with this fall. I’ll try to come up with a Osage stave and start scrounging some more sinew and put the bow I’m looking for together this fall

[bradsmith2010]

66 is what I hunt elk and deer with sometimes,, shorter out of blind,I find 66 accurate and a good hunting bow,,

[Yooper Bowyer]

66" has worked quite well for me, especially with D-bows, when I do the tillering right.  Of course I never hunted from a blind or tree. 

[RyanY]

Hmm well my issue is I much prefer short bows.... but I can’t get a bow to hold it’s profile or not chrysal....

If the tiller is good and it’s taking set and or fretting then it’s probably not wide enough. Also make sure the belly is flat.

[Hawkdancer]

Depends a bit on your height, too.  Start long, you can always pike the limbs.
Hawkdancer

[Pappy]

I like 60-64 N-N on most Hickory,or any of my hunting bows for that matter, at least 1 5/8 to 1 3/4 wide at fads, on most white woods, usually 4 inch handle and 1 1/2 fads that gives me plenty of working limb.With Osage I go a little narrower on the limb .
 Pappy

[Eric Krewson]

The old adage is twice your draw length +10" which would be a 62" bow in your case.

[gutpile]

I got a 54" boo backed osage with handle that is a screamer and holds almost all the perry reflex ... draw 26 here..love that lil bow too....gut

[Fox]

I like 60-64 N-N on most Hickory,or any of my hunting bows for that matter, at least 1 5/8 to 1 3/4 wide at fads, on most white woods, usually 4 inch handle and 1 1/2 fads that gives me plenty of working limb.With Osage I go a little narrower on the limb .
 Pappy

are these just flatbows? or is there anything else going on with them? thanks for the info 

[George Tsoukalas]

For a self bow I like 64-66", 4" Handle, 1.5-2" fades, 1.75" fades, over 50#
Decrease width for a lighter bow.
Jawge