Short Draw Length
 

I find myself in a dilema. Have wanted to get into bow hunting for a long time. I finally have the time, money and place to make this happen. As a newbie I am trying to gather as much from places such as this and other bow hunters I know. The number one thing everybody tells me is shoot some different bows before you buy one. I can follow this logic as buying from a local bow shop gives me better fit and support than an internet of big store purchase.

Here's my problem. I am short and stocky. My true measured draw length is 25". In my area there are 4 bow shops, 3 are part time only. The one closest to my house has only 1 bow in stock that will fit me if he can locate the proper module. The other has 3, but the starting price on them is about what I expected to pay after I had the bow totally set up. I did get a chance last night to shoot a Mathews Switchback and it was sweet. I don't know what draw weight it was set to but (and this is embarising) it belonged to one of the techs kids and was the only bow in the house set to 25".

It seems to me most shops carry bows in the 27-30" range as this is the most common sizes. But how can I shoot several to choose when there are so few choices. I can't ask the dealer to order several models just so I can try and find one. As a newbie with no precovcieved notions of the diferences am I better off just going to the internet or the big chians and then let my local shop tune me up?

RE: Short Draw Length
 

Belushi, I know lots of hunters who have bought a bare bow from the internet, and then have taken it to a pro shop to get tuned/sighted in. There are lots of choices out there to choose from so don't give up just yet. Actually take a look at Martin bows. I do believe they sell a few bows with a 25" d/l.

Phirst

RE: Short Draw Length
 

I have a 26" draw length and used to have 25.5" draw modules on my Bowtech Guardian. It is a real shooter. Another great short draw bow is a Bowtech Equalizer.

RE: Short Draw Length
 

Ditto for me too...I have a 25.5 inch draw and use a 26 inch with a short string loop and a a thumb handle release.

RE: Short Draw Length
 

Thanks fellas. I'm hanging with it. I've finally got a hold of all the dealers within 75mi. of me, even Gander Mtn. and same problem. No one carries more than 1-3 bows that will even work and then only if they have the proper cam on hand. But the last gentleman I spoke to this evening may be my answer. We talked at length and he sounds like he knows his stuff. I'm going to try and get by his shop tomorrow evening. He has promised to help get me fit and at least try to do some shooting wether I buy from him or not. The only thing that worries me is that he might talk me into reaching deeper in my pocket. Sounds like all he carries are the top end models. Right now though I'm off to the Mtn. to shoot a Diamond "The Rock".

RE: Short Draw Length
 

I second the equalizer by Bowtech. I was made specifically for people with short draw lengths.

RE: Short Draw Length
 

The Rock is also a good choice.

RE: Short Draw Length
 

FIRE BY ELITE...GOOD LUCK FINDING A DEALER;)

http://www.elitearchery.com/

THE BOWTECHS MENTIONED EARLIER ARE ALSO A GOOD CHOICE

RE: Short Draw Length
 

the equalizer would be a great choice, it is a fast bow for such short draw lengths. but i think the price is up there a little compared to the rock.

RE: Short Draw Length
 

Well, first of all, there are limited numbers of bows that come in your draw length as you've said. Secondly, a real bow shop will have the modules available to set you up for test firing. I know my bow shop does. You live in Texas. There are bow shops in Texas that can help you. Yup, you might have to travel a few extra miles, but it's worth the trip. You seem to have a lot of info I wouldn't expect from a newbie. I take it you've done your research or you're pulling our leg. Either way, a good bow shop can help you out. My bow shop is in Maryland... I live in NY.

RE: Short Draw Length
 

Thanks davidmil, I have been doing my homework but the more I learn the more questions I have. Well I made it to Gander Mtn. and the tech set me up a Rock in 25". It was way to short. So much for the drama. He reset it to 26" and that worked better. Shot a few and felt OK, but since the 25" curse had been lifted I had him set up a Justice in 26. Felt much nicer. Found myself eyeing the Marquis. Didn't dare ask him to set it up. Forget about some high presure Pro Shop sales guy trying to get me to dig deeper, I'm doing it to myself. I did like the fact that in watching the tech set up these two bows, that the Diamonds are easily adjustable. I am going to try and see the other man tomorrow. Although he is a Mathews and Bowtech Rep, he sounded as if he was ready to take the time to work with me in finding something that fit me. And he seemed to act as if he would have a better seection to choose from. It really is hard for me to fathom the kind of money I am even considering spending on a hmmmm "major necessity of my life". What if I don't even like it? owwwwww. I have been a rifle hunter most of my life. Last year I went in and bought a new deer rifle. When I walked in the door at the gun shop I knew exactly which two rifles I was going to look at. I compromised one that was on sale in a synthetic stock. I knew both rifles would shoot the same for me but the money I saved from the sale price and the reduction in stock quality, I was able to upgrade my optics to the next better level. It took me thirty minutes to decide, within an hour I was sighted in.

This quest is proving to be frustrating , confusing, fun? interesting! but most of all a learning experience. I appriciate all the imput. It nice to find a bunch of people so willing to help a poor guy out.

RE: Short Draw Length
 

Bowtech and Mathews has been covered, but try the Hoyt Katera, you can get a lot out of that bow even w/ a short draw length. It's draw starts at 24. I'm shooting 346 gr. 302 fps w/ 27.5" draw!

RE: Short Draw Length
 

If you can shoot 26" I would also say take a look at the X-Force bows by PSE. I have a 26" draw as well and only shoot 60# bows, and let me tell ya these bows have what the doctor ordered for us short armed guys.

RE: Short Draw Length
 

Bowhunting is based on patience, Well patience has paid off. Finally met the last gentleman yesterday. When I spoke to Paul on the phone I got he feeling that this was a man who really wanted to help someone learn about bowhunting. I spent a couple of hours there today and I was impressed. First off he showed me that I could shoot bows with d/l all the way to 28". This certainly gives me more options. He didn't have it at the shop but he has a Tom Kat available that fits in my budget. He will have it at the shop today so as soon as I can get back I'll see if it fits me. Really had not been looking at this model, due to the length issue, but it seems to be Bowtechs offering for newbies like me. A top of the line bow ready to shoot for a reasonable price. Any of you got knowledge or opinions on the TK?

RE: Short Draw Length
 

Thats good that you found what you could be looking for.... but it sounds weird.... you started at 26" and the guy at the shop showed you how to shoot all the way to a 28" draw thats a 2" difference, and when your talking draw length... thats Huge. I'm currently about to switch from 27.5 to 28" and I feel like im getting a new bow. Being new you want to get set up right, if not it wont be nearly as enjoyable as it could be, you want to get set up right the first time so that you become comfortable with what is right, not what "feels" right. Otherwise when you do become addicticted it's going to be that much harder on you to become accustomed to where you should be.... dont let the bowshop guy MAKE you feel confortable so that he can make a sell, Make for certaing it Fits you, if you contact some of the more knowledgable guys on the board such as Matt/PA or Greg/ MO or Rob/PaBowyer they could certainly tell you what you should be looking for in a perfect fitting bow.

I could be wrong but it sounds like he's trying to "make" the TomKat fit you. Good Luck in your search.

RE: Short Draw Length
 

I understand exactly how huge it is to change that much length Buckmaster. I think the original man measured me wrong. When I went to Gander Mtn. and shot the 2 Diamonds the tech set the first one up at 25" and I couldn't even draw it properly because it was too short. He changed it to 26" and that felt better when he changed it to 27" it felt so much better. The other guy started me at 26 and then we shot it at 27 and that felt best, so I'm probly closer to a true 27. The other inch I gained was from using a different release not a change in form. He was just trying to show me that there are different ways to tweak your shooting to optimize a bows performance. I would not buy anything that felt uncomfortable.

RE: Short Draw Length
 

Some of the confusion may be linked to different axle to axle lengths coupled with different string angles resulting from the limb configurations. I choose my anchor point based on the string touching the end of my nose. Not so long ago, when I shot Renegade bows, I shot 27 or 27.5. More recently with BT's, I shot 28 comfortably. Now, with Whisper Creek, I shoot 28.5 with my super short Stealth and 28 again with the Innovator. That Stealth is very short (I got it for turkeys out of a blind), and so the string angle is severe. That means to get the string to my nose, I need to anchor (slightly) farther back on my cheek.