RE: how long can you pull back.....
I can agree with robinhood36 because I too have had to hold for quite a long time when a bull elk is coming in head on. Most of the time I try to use the buddy system to avoid this but sometimes the buddy system isn't possible and you are at it alone trying to call in an animal, and sometimes it doesn't turn out how you planned. I have spooked a couple animals off because I had to let down my bow. [:'(]