how long do you think I should be able to hold my hunting rig at full draw ?

I say that's a good question. At least one minute in my opinion.

Depends on let-off. The old Pro-Line I've been shooting for over 15 years isn't like these new bows. It'll make ya shake after a bit. I still think I can hold it a minute fairly easily.

If you're struggling, just hold it back as long as possible a coule times a day. That'll help. That particular muscle is not a commonly used one, so you need to exercise it.

Better yet, how long can you hold your bow out in front of you even when it's not drawn? I bet you will be surprised at how short of time it is before you can't hold it steady any more. Holding six pounds stretched out in front of you for any length of time is very difficult and would take a fair amount of conditioning. Then adding draw weight to it just makes it worse. Now do sprints up and down your yard to get your heart beating like it would be with a deer right in front of you and see how much easier it gets then. A minute will seem like forever.

Just try holding your hands out palms up for a minute and see what happens.

Paul

For a dam long time or at least until you've strained so much that aditional shooting is almost impossible.

I know that is criptic but last year I screwed up. I had deer all evening long come by and there was a ten point I debated on shooting for about ten minutes. He was about 135-140. He was nice but I knew I wouldn't get him mounted. I decided it was still early in the evening and I could shoot him and still have a chance at one of the huge deer that we were seeing everytime out if he came by. Well to make a long story longer, I drew on him as he went behind a tree. One of the other deer around must have caught my movement or sensed something because they all frooze for about 5 mins. I held as long as I could before I had to let it back down. He came around and gave me another shot and I got one off. It hit a twig about 4' in front of him and nose dived to the ground. He ran off but oh well. 20 mins later a huge 8 point came up and I was too worn out to draw back. I watched him walk 10 yrds broadside.

Moral of the story is to have patience and wait for the one you want don't get greedy and don't hold your bow for too long at full draw.

Good luck

I just tested..and I had my Outback (80% letoff) held back for 1:10..but it was tough. I need to get in shape!

This is an excellent question. I guess one should be able to hold as long as it takes to make a good shot. Now with that being said, the key is knowing when to draw. It makes no sense to draw if you don't think the deer is going to give you a shot within a reasonable time frame. Knowing when to draw, I think, is more important than knowing how long one can hold at full draw.

Remember holding to draw at a target and holding at a deer are two different things. I think the adrenaline will help you hold longer, but I also think you need to be able to hold steady. Make sure that the arrow you release is going in the boiler room. I had a doe a couple years ago I held back on for a long time. It was probably only a minute or two, but it seemed like an hour. I had to stay focused on the shot and holding steady. I put the arrow in the boiler room and she collapsed after about 40 yards. I hope I never have to stay drawn that long again, but practice holding for periods of time just in case. Good luck this fall!

Dumb question, what an oxyMORON! good Mathews, bad Bowtech, and bad ASAT are some other oxymorons.

The longer the better. No one here can hold their bow longer than a deer can stare you down or hang up behind a tree.