Final Missouri hunting report, and question on poor arrow flight...

[billy]

Hey guys,

try as I might, I could never get an arrow into the vitals of a deer, or any other animal for that matter.  I never saw a single rabbit, and although I shot at several squirrels, I missed them all.  I missed a shot at a yearling doe (shot right over he back), and the evening before I had a big doe jump the string and wind up with a stone tipped arrow thru her neck.  I never did find her, a drop of blood, or my arrow.  All in all it was a very frustrating trip. 

 While I was there I would practice, but I was having some really poor arrow flight.  Some of my cane arrows I believe were spined too stiff.  But it didn't seem to matter how much I practiced because I couldn't hit a damn thing at close range....my rivercane arrows were flying all over the place.  I was actually much better at longer range. 

Here's my question:  My bow is 61 inches long.  And I draw 30 inches.  Is my bow too short for that draw length?  I spoke with David knight, and he told me that my draw length requires at LEAST a 64 inch bow.  Drawing my 61 inch bow 30 inches causes it to behave like a short bow, increasing the difficulty in getting consistent arrow flight.  Also, At full draw the bow is awfully stiff, and it doesn't seem to matter how much I practice, I always am shaking when I'm at full draw.  Knight told me that a longer bow and the longer limbs will help.  And the lower string angle will make a 52 lb bow feel lighter than the bow I currently use because the limbs won't be pulled to such a severe bend. 

Any opinions on this??

 

[Pat B]

Unless sinew backed 61" is too short(or right on the line) for a 30" draw. A bit longer like David said and maybe kick the tips a bit to decrease string angle. Longer bows are more stable also. 
  Kinda sounds to me like your release was off. Possibly due to short drawing. You were in extra cold climate so you had more cloths on and you were shivering, not only from the cold but also the adrenalin.

[Justin Snyder]

61" is not necessarily too short for a 30" draw, but in a straight profile it can be an issue. 66" would be a good starting point, but design can overcome length issues. If you are having a stacking problem I would definitely go longer or deflexed and recurved. A better string angle would mean it would be more efficient also.

The bow should be accurate, but a longer bow would defiantly be more forgiving of archer mistakes.

[sonny]

When shooting my shortest bow I've found that I really have to concentrate on pushing forward (during the release) with my bow arm and when I don't accuracy suffers.
The slightest shake of my bow arm sends arrows all over the target.

hope this helps.......
   
 

[hawkbow]

 That sucks bad bro, sounds like you should rethink your setup... try some diffferent arrows or a different bow for the arrows you have.. I once switched to different shafting before season.. arrows shot everywhere,  practiced until I thought it was ok.. missed two elk at less than twenty yards that year, went back to cedar shafts and killed a elk, bear, turkey and two deer the next year.. all shots were spot on. good luck bro hope you get it figured out...Hawk

[mullet]

 It sounds to me you might not have found the stiff side of the cane arrow if they were flying wacky. Or with the shorter bow you were having a problem with a consistant nock point. But I know you know all about this stuff. I'm shooting one of James Parkers'bows right now that is 43"N to N and it is shooting real good with cane arrows. Another reason might be small, light grained stone points that is throwing the spline of your arrows off. Making them just "fly off", like a shaft without a point.

[zeNBowyer]

No  one  can  be criticized  for  missing  squirrels, after  all,
the  whole  purpose  of  squirrel  hunting with  bows  is to totally
befuddle  your  mind and lose  all  your favorite  arrows:)
You  actually hit  your target,  that's a  success;

could  you tell your draw  weight,  is this a  wood bow  or  fg bow,
were  your arrows  performing  well  before  your  hunt?

I  think cane  arrows  are  an  art form unto themselves, it takes a lot
of craftmanship to make a superbly performing balanced  set  of  arrows

[rockhound34]

  I squirrel  hunt,an I rarely miss. I practice on a 20 oz plastic bottle.Aim small miss small!!!. As far as deer here in missouri ,there is none.I grew up in southern ill. where theres deer everywhere.But here missouri the deer are wierd.

[Michael C.]

No deer in Missouri? Where the heck are you?

[n2huntn]

Lots of deer in Mo.. Taken a couple with my sticks this year. I live near public land with great hunting and plenty of room for hunters if you ever come toward Springfield.
Jeff

[Little John]

Tough luck Billy. If it were easy we could all do it every time. I think you are making it hard on your self by shooting such a short bow, I know I don't shoot them as well and if you don't belive me just ask Howard Hill or read his book. I think small variations in draw length show up much more in shorter bows as in differing draw weight, arrow velocietys, trajectory, and spine requirments, also a lot less stable in the hand.  Good luck and I am suer you will get it all worked out.      Kenneth

[PeteC]

Billy,this is just my opinion,so take it as such.I've hunted with bows and arrows a long time, and for me, it's not a matter of how short I can build a hunting bow ,and hunt with it ,but rather,how long a bow can I get away with using.I've only got a 26" draw,but my hunting bows range from 60" to 70",and I use them not only on the ground but in treestands as well .What I lose in maneuverability,I make up in accuracy.If I had a 30" draw,I'd shoot nothing under 66" and up to 72". Again this in JMO,and good huntin' to you. God Bless

[El Destructo]

All of my Bows are at least 63 inches long .....all the way to 72 inches...and the Majority are all 68....I have a 28-29 inch Draw...and I refuse to give up Accuracy for Maneuverability....I can cut Branches out of the way...but I can't live with Myself if I wound and lose an Animal because of a Badly Placed Shot....JMO

[NOMADIC PIRATE]

Totally agree what it has being said above, last year I was on a missin to hunt with 58" bows ( 26" draw) I outright missed over 1/2 dz pigs, I lost over 1/2 dz pigs, in the previous 6 years I never actually missed, and lost just a couplle, I whent back to longbows, and first shot was a kill, ....coincidence ?...maybe, but I never belived much in coincidences 




...one more thing,...it's not a very good idea to go hunting anyway knowing that your arrows are going all over the place,...very hard to get good results that way 

[El Destructo]

If I can not consistently hit a 6 inch paper plate at a certain range at different stances of shooting...I won't shoot...and if my Arrows are not Hitting where I aim...there has to be a Problem...and I will solve it before I will hit the Woods...has to be Equipment...or Human....and until it is worked out I will Hunt with something I am certain of...no room in the Field for uncertainty....JMO