I know what a dumb question?? I am definantely going to try and get a recurve next spring, but after hunting from my treestand with my 32'' ATA compound I am just wondering what is the shortest recurve on the market?

I know that on compounds, a longer axle to axle will generally shoot beter then a short ATA does the same go for recurves??

I have no idea what the shortest is. With my ape armed draw length, I can't shoot a short bow, at all. I had a nice little bow I shot really well with, 58", but the limbs couldn't take the strain of a 32" draw length. It broke, and I was devastated.

I can tell you that short recurves have some real disadvantages. Less speed. More finger pinch. More problems with stack. All combine for poor accuracy beyond 20 yards. They're handy when hunting in thick brush, but the manueverability comes at a price.

I think a fair rule of thumb on bow length is no shorter than twice your draw length. That'll get you past most of the problems.

My recurve is 54". I bought it before I knew any better. I have managed to learn to shoot it well at 20 yds. I haven't tried too much past that. I think my next will be 58-60. This 54" bow does handle well in a stand and as Arthur mentioned, thick brush.

Bear makes a 48" supermag recurve.

But I have to agree with Arthur and even go beyond what he mentioned. For me, nothing less then 62" for a recurve and nothing less then a 66" for a Longbow. My draw is 29" FWIW. I actually love the length of my 70" Schulz longbow, and 68" Brackenbury recurve. They are the smoothest drawing bows that I have.

ATA? No axles on trad bows.

There asome that make 52" recurves; Chekmate, Cascade,Bear (they also make a 48"), Fedora, and Soveriegn archery to name a few.Black widow, Bob Lee andRon LaClair make a 54". Speaking as someone with a 29" draw length,I don't particualarly find it comfortable to shoot the really short bows. Finger pinch generally becomes and issue and a few really hit the wall/stackednoticable around the28" mark. Forreally close range/tightquarters shooting,I believe theywould do fairly well.I've found that 58" is really as short as I like to go and really I like'em62-66". Shooting out of a tree stand with a longer bow really isn't much more difficult, as long as youproperly prune the limbs around your stand.

Haha Smart A@@!!! Thanks guys! Figured it wouldnt hurt to ask! I will have to jus look into it somemore when I buy one!!

I figured you'd like that. No harm intended.