Advantages and disadvantages of a 20" draw

[StickMark]

my love affair with 20" -22" draw length weapon systems ended when the big buck stopped at 25 or so yards, which was too far; I could have grabbed the doe with my bare hands, lol. I bring up the doe to state the fact that in areas with more deer and legal does, a shorter range weapon might make more sense.

Brad states the good and bad and ugly.

[TimBo]

That's a good point - also if we were hunting for survival in a pre-game law era.  Of course, longer bows shoot great at short range, but they also require a bit more motion to draw.

[StickMark]

In states with multiple kills allowed, bucks and does, a tight blind with a shorter draw might be the proverbial ticket.

I have a knack for bringing the wrong bow to the fight, so I am settling on more length, 55 and up. I still can not see 69-70" working from a kneeling stance.

As an detour, I made a little 50 incher, 18" or so draw, 55#. Ok, so what...
I practiced holding arrows in the bow hand and shooting close, 10 yard close, like southwest Indians might do attacking a muzzle loading bunch of fellows, rapid reloading. That type of weapon had merit.

[bownarra]

Also a huge factor is that before all the white folks turned up with guns, deer etc would have been a whole load easier to get close to. Your short bow ain't so lacking when its no problem to get within 10 yards.

[WhistlingBadger]

I still can not see 69-70" working from a kneeling stance.

You might want to give it a try, if you haven't.  I used to shoot my 72" ELB from a kneeling position all the time, no problem.

Also a huge factor is that before all the white folks turned up with guns, deer etc would have been a whole load easier to get close to. Your short bow ain't so lacking when its no problem to get within 10 yards.

That is a very good point.  I doubt the critters were nearly as jumpy when there were a lot fewer people and there weren't guns going off all over.