As a hunter, the most important feature of brace height is the distance the string remains from your heaviest hunting jacket, when shot. If the string hits your clothing, you will probably miss. I prefer brace heights in the 8" and over range, because I often hunt in some very cold weather with heavy clothing on. A bow, like most Diamonds, will give you both high brace heights and good arrow speed.

Body type and your grip will also influence what will work for you. People with shorter arms can get a way with lower brace heights. I also know a guy with such larger forearms, that he has to shoot about 8 1/2" brace height to avoid hitting his jacket, and his form is good and his draw length is not too long. In other words, some people will require higher brace heights while hunting. It' s better to err on the high side. All you lose is a few fps on some bows.