I find that I can’t shoot the shooter bows as good as the longer ones. 62 inch bows or longer for hunting. I hunt for the ground and I plan ahead for the longer length. My Super Grizzly was easier to hunt with, but I shoot the longer bows so much better.

 

Since I posted the above statement I have acquired two new bows. A 60 inch and a 58 inch..After spending a considerable amount of time with the 60 inch I can shoot it as accurate as a 62 inch bow. The 58 inch bow is still a work in progress.

 

I shot off the shelf for a while but wanted less interference to my arrow and went with a NAP Centerrest flipper. It’s bombproof, nothing can really happen to it. My groups immediately shrank and more consistent. Also I sure helped quieting the shot. Using a flipper also allowed me to shoot vanes which are not effected by rain or snow. I will have to see what canting the bow does.

 

My target form draw was 28&1/4". One day, with my many conversations with John Schulz, he told me that my draw was too long, 27". I shortened it to 26&1/4" right handed and 26" left handed. He was right, I stopped missing easy game shots. However, I am a much better shot with 66" ASLs than i was with short recurves. However, 48" recurves are really cool to hunt with, if you can shoot them better than I can.

 

With my 27” draw length I find 58-62” bows perfect for hunting.

 

I shoot a 52" Toelke Kestrel and it require a little more effort than I had to expend when i hunted with longer (62") recurves but I've been shooting it for so long that I will stay with it. The longest I might go at this point in life is to a 58" or 60" bow.

 

I saw one of those kestral bows in a Field & stream. Beautiful bows them. Y'all have a good 'un.

 

Welp, I am over 6 feet, my hunting long bow is under. I can take it anywhere I go. Setting up for a shot I check that my limb tips are clear, but you should do that with a short recurve as well. No problemas. - lbg

 

@redfin and @Tracker1
Do you guys see more accuracy with the Centerest vs a rug rest?

I'm pretty happy with the accuracy this bow is producing with the rug rest, at the moment. I don't have a problem shooting 3" target dots at 20 yards with my current setup. If it shot better, I'd be more impressed than I already am with the way it is currently shooting.

 

@redfin and @Tracker1
Do you guys see more accuracy with the Centerest vs a rug rest?

I'm pretty happy with the accuracy this bow is producing with the rug rest, at the moment. I don't have a problem shooting 3" target dots at 20 yards with my current setup. If it shot better, I'd be more impressed than I already am with the way it is currently shooting.

If you are grouping inside of a three inch circle at 20 yards with no sights that’s about as good as it gets in my opinion.
What I get with the Centerrest flipper is consistency, plus I can shoot vanes. Contact between the arrow is minimized.
But if your getting 3” groups I wouldn’t touch anything.

 

IMO if your tune and form are good, shooting off the shelf is almost as good - if not indistinguishingly so at hunting distances - as shooting off an elevated rest. Vanes are no problem off the shelf if the tune is great. I do this for my 'wet' arrows. It is also a nice challenge to get a good shelf setup and to shoot it well.

NAP Flipper Rest does look great. I'd like to try it on my Black Bear 21" warf, maybe for field. For ground hunting however I shoot off the shelf because I love the simplicity of it and rests get caught up in foliage, incl large grasses and vines. My bows are in contact with foliage near continuously. One more thing to go wrong.

 

I hunt from a treestand I need the most forgiving set up as possible, I will be shooting from odd angles.
I notice with a flipper because of the minimal arrow contact the arrow is less effected by the grip also.

 

I agree with Tracker1. My groups were decent but not 3”. The Nap Flipper seemed to snug things up nicely and eliminate flyers. I never shot the vanes but I was gonna check them out this winter after Tracker1 mentioned them to me some time ago. I actually have him to thank for the Flipper. I tried it and wrote it off so quickly in the beginning. He and I chat alot and he recommended it so highly I decided to go back to it and not take it off my bow for at least a few weeks this time. After getting used to it for a few days it all made sense. This was all awhile back. I really don’t ever see it breaking or giving you any trouble but i do carry one extra in my pack.

 

I choose longer bows because I find them more forgiving, which translates to better accuracy for me. My Satori setup is 64”, as is my Fedora Xtreme. My Das will likely come in at 66”.

 

I have short draw about 26".short bows just work better for me...a longer draw my work better with longer bow..

 

I have a 29" draw, and shoot with a 60" AMO recurve.

 

Yep draw length gotta work with bow length

 

Shot what your comfortable with and get good at getting into tight places that afford you the room to shoot your desired length.

 

62 for hunting, not too short or long, very shootable.

 

twenty eight inch draw and 52 inch bow (Kodiak Magnum) never had any trouble for hunting with it but shooting the same model bow for fifty seven years is bound to help to. 60 inch in a Bear takedown also works great for me and I shoot it better than I do a longer bow of the same model.

 

The 60 inch Bow might be the best overall length for hunting. Bear Kodiak etc. A 19 inch Riser with short ILF limbs. I shoot 21 inch Black Bear Warfs and shorts which is a 62.

 

I like shorter bows, much handier to use. I find them plenty accurate and stable for typical whitetail hunting. For me the physical mass weight is more important than length when it comes to shootability. Although I use longer bows from time to time I prefer bows under 60” for serious hunting.

 

I hunt with a 30" axle to axle compound, but my ILF recurve that I hunt with is 60". I feel very comfortable with this length and have hunted with 62" recurves, prior to owning an ILF recurve. My current setup is a 19" Satori riser with short Uukha Gobi limbs and I'm loving it.

 

I hunt with a 30" axle to axle compound, but my ILF recurve that I hunt with is 60". I feel very comfortable with this length and have hunted with 62" recurves, prior to owning an ILF recurve.

I thought I should add this "note"....

I shot a small game Judo, at a leaf, for practice this evening. I noticed right away that my string was touching the hand rail on my Summit Viper and I had to lean forward quite a bit to avoid it. I use a stringwalking method and a near vertical bow position, when shooting on the ground. However, if I cant my bow quite a bit, I can avoid any contact and this does not seem to affect my accuracy.

 

I think it’s mostly about the stand and the setup than the bow length to a degree. 64” to 60” let’s say won’t blow your mind in the maneuverability department. At least that is what I find. It probably will give you a small edge here and there. I still find myself leaning out quite a bit. I spent more time in the stand this season as I have someone hunting with me this year and my 60” bow feels a touch more nimble in the tree. Which is not a bad thing. When I started this whole stickbow thing, I quickly
Realized I’m gonna have to pass on a few opportunities whether it be distance or angle. Had it happen last week twice to me.

 

I just came in from shooting my recurve, at extreme cant angles and it's the same for me as it is shooting nearly vertical. While kneeling on the ground or standing up and holding my bow's top limb at 2 o'clock or more, everything remains the same for my string walking positions. I have about an inch and a quarter of gap from my arrow nock down to my hold for 10 yards and it is not effected by canting the bow. 💯 A confidence builder for when the shot presents itself.

 

Are you shooting off the shelf?

 

I cant with my flipper rest on the Satori as much as I can cant my EXE Scream setup that is off the shelf. Never noticed any issues. Over the winter I will probably move to a flipper on that too. I do like that little Nap flipper alot. I want to try the vanes like you suggested too.

 

Over the winter I will probably move to a flipper on that too. I do like that little Nap flipper alot.

Which NAP "flipper" are you referring to?
Centerest Flipper or the Flipper Rest ll?

 

60-62 perfect. No problem shooting on knees vertically or sitting in a stand or blind.

 

side note I LIKE THE NAP FLIPPER II lots.
I would like the Centerrest FLIPPEr more if the head on it was thinner to get closer to riser. I KNOW you can take it apart and thin it, but hey.

 

Steve makes a good point. I'm a touch more outboard than I would have liked. A little extra point weight takes care of that issue for me which is actually a welcome thing. I'm not changing a thing at this point. I liked that flipper so much bought several spares. I'm sticking with it.

 

I purchased a Super Shew 2, 58" bow in September and I find it takes more concentration on my part than my (2) 62" Byron Ferguson Elite Limited R/D longbows. However, the Shrew is handier in the woods. I guess I will just have to concentrate more when hunting.

 

A rest is a rest, the only difference is the height above your hand. I don’t find any difference.
I have hunted with 60” recurves and 58” longbows mostly, going to a short 52” recurve or a long 64” longbow didn’t really change much.