As some of you know I have been shooting a lot of "traditional" equipment lately, recurves and longbows in the 60-64" length range.
I plan to use these bows exclusively here for PA's season but absolutely plan to hunt IL with a compound. (I'm romantic.......not stupid.)

Anyway in the course of long practice sessions with a 62" recurve from an elevated stand a little lightbulb flickered on. If I can shoot from a stand straight down with a 62" recurve what on earth do I need a 33" compound for?
I'm tall to begin with, the shallower string angles fit me better and I, as a rule, shoot longer axle to axle bows better. (Thats just a fact that I've come to over a few years of serious competition shooting.)
So here I have this nice little stable of bows ranging from 31" on up to my 3d bow at 41".
Lightbulb gets a little brighter.

Ok, let's see.......I shoot the 41" bow the best, the 62" bow isn't a problem in my stand so why am I shooting a short bow for hunting again?
Why shouldn't I be shooting the bow I shoot the BEST at a live animal?
Compared to that recurve that thing is downright compact?

So I decked her out with every bit of rubber I could find LOL (The bow is actually pretty quiet but not Guardian quiet obviously so I went a little overboard on principle), threw all my hunting stuff on it including my favorite Muzzy Zero Effect rest that works PERFECTLY on this bow, and feel like I've relearned something.
I'm more accurate with it, the brace height is substantially higher, its actually quieter than my shorty Allegiance and blazing fast for it's specs.
(29.5" AMO 70# shooting a 450gr arrow 280fps)

I took it out back last night, quickly sighted it in and watched how effortless it was to just pound the bejeepers out of my 3D targets.

I feel like I have reinvented the wheel or something and in reality it's not that long ago that this length bow was pretty much a standard hunting length. I remember the first 36" bow I got back in 1997 and looking at it with amazement and thinking that it looked like a toy.

So without further long winded nonsense, I want to introduce my 2007 hunting compound. (or at least until I freak out and change my mind next week )

2007 Bowtech Constitution, 41" ATA, 8 1/8" brace height.

Are you sure you won't start going through speration anxiety from your Allegiance?

I know I would. [&:]

Makes sense to shoot what you shoot best though. Go figure, huh?

Congrats, Matt.

I want a 3D rig, next year. I also want a Guardian. They might have to be one and the same rig.....for $$ sakes (OK...I can't lie to Lisa).

If you were me.....would you look hard at only getting a constitution, then? Consider it?

Jeff,
It's so hard to make a call for someone else on something like that. There are too many factors that come into play right down to physical stature to find the bow that just 'Speaks to you'.
Obviously I'm an a position that is the exception rather than the rule with respect to bows and it allows me to tinker quite a bit.

In reality I don't shoot any bow I own poorly, I just shoot this one BETTER. If it's a straight 3D bow where pinpoint accuracy is #1 then for me this is THE choiceAs a hunting bow I am making a bit of a compromise in manueverability and noise.........
I also know plenty of guys who shoot the short ATA bows awesome for 3D competition.
I'm 6'3" and a long bow just compliments my frame.
Just how much 3D do you plan to shoot? I have dedicated 3D bows because quite frankly when I shoot 3D I shoot to win, not show up and have fun. Those couple extra points that the most inherently accurate bow I can shoot will give me could make the difference in that.
Honestly if I didn't compete in 3D I probably wouldn't even own a bow of this length or consider it because of THE TREND.

I'm just playing right now, sort of a retro experiment if you like to see if there really is much merit to the short bow mindset, but it does make sense to me on the most fundemental level to simply hunt with the bow I shoot the best.

OH and by the way, a buddy and Team Bowtech shooter (Greg Gonder)just won the IBO National Triple Crown title in MBR class (That's big boy pin class) with a Guardian.

Matt:

Thanks for the in-depth answer. I really only shoot locally....but I'd like to get out more (more shoots)....just for the comaraderie. I probably still wouldn't shoot anywhere outside of NC, though. I only shot 5 this past year.

I really want a 60# bow that I can shoot indoors with....and turkey hunt with. I really want a guardian, right now.....but I don't see a day in my near future when I won't be hunting whitetails with my Allegiance. It's one sweet shooter. Course.....who am I tellin

I been saying that for years, never could understand giving up the forgiveness of a longer axle to axle bow for a few FPS. Very few bow companies now produce a bow longer than 38". And without writeing a full page on the advantages and disadvantages of the 2 Ill let it go at that, because I dont want no one PMing me with death threats becaus I siad somthing about a 31" bow they just paid 900.00 for!
Good luck!

I couldn't agree with you more. This post actually has me thinking as well.

I shot my 38" ProElite for the first time when I got it in my basement. . .it seemed like I was slamming the X's on paper, when I stepped up to the plate with my Trykon, I wasn't nearly as accurate.

Sure, accurate enough to be confident in my ability to kill deer. . .but I can easily see why you choose to switch.

You really didn't give up much performance. . .and you gained in accuracy.

I'm sure the guys over on the "traditional" forum like this as well.

What? Big frame? Big Stature? Come on Matt, we all know thats a joke, you little punk you


Honestly though, that looks like a deer slaying machine and I can't wait to have the Old Glory out to taste the blood of another PA buck this year. Its a little longer than most bows on the market today, but I wouldn't trade that extra stability for the world.



Now, here is the real question, does this mean you have an un-used BowTech that you are willing to send to a scrawny buddy across the state? hahahaha

When you can sneak around in the woods with a 72" longbow, ANY compound feels compact and handy. My 46" ProTec is my primary this year, but I will be carrying the 36" TRX backup in a shoulder holster under my jacket.

I for one absolutly hated it when the trend shifted to shorter A to A bows. You've got me wanting another bow now, thanks. I'm done buying bows. I hope.