I didn't reply sooner because Bob pretty well covered it, although in my opinion the best bow length will vary depending on the design.

There are gobs of great bows on the market that pretty much cover the spectrum in prices. You can get a great old bow used for $100 or less, or you can spend well over $1,000 on one. The big trick is finding "the" bow for you, and nobody can decide that but you.

For elk and pigs, it can be done with lower poundages, but I'd try to stick to 50# or more for those critters.

Besides getting a good bow in the right poundage, things I look for are: how the grip fits me, how smooth the draw is, how quiet the bow is, customer service and warranty, etc.

What part of the country are you in? Most likely there will be a tournament or event within reasonable driving range where you can go and check out different bows and make an informed decision.

Chad