Just wondering what the longest draw length is anyone shoots out there. I've been building some prototypes for a "guy" and want to push the envelope to the utmost and then some. I have a local guy that pulls 32". Are there any ape armed guys out there that pulls more? If so, at what poundage? thanks fellas, WF

32.5" 51 lbs, 48 lbs., 46 lbs, a 40 pounder, and 47 lbs.

"I've been building some prototypes for a "guy" and want to push the envelope to the utmost and then some."

What's the point in that? I pull 28 1/4" to the corner of my mouth split finger am sure if I wanted to anchor at the back of my jaw bone it would be close to 34" or so.

I just don't get it?

Nothing wrong with a long draw, but trying to draw more that you can without adjusting the anchor point as they do in Japanese archery, or longbow, is just asking for all kinds of problems. I started out at 31, I keep getting shorter, I am down to 29. I never think of going longer, I may still go shorter.

I used to shoot 73-76lbs@32" for probably 35+ years and because of long recorvery period am now down to 61@32" .Thats been my draw since I turned 17 or so some 42 years ago. I was always long armed tho, had 28" draw at 13. Oh thats with recurve, palming straight handled longbows its 31". My longbows 63lb

I shoot with a slightly bent elbow and still draw 30.5. If I extend the arm out straight I am 31.5. Makes for some very fast bows having a long draw length.

MikeW, the point is, under the circumstances involved and what may happen, I don't want to just build bows for a 28" draw and the have someone pick one up, draw it to 32" and have it blow up in their face. I should have mentioned, these are not glass or laminate bows. I build selfbows mostly and some bamboo backed bows so I'm trying to find a nice compromise with safety and performance on a wood bow, no glass.

I am 6'3" 235lbs. my draw is 30 1/2" to 31" depending on my form, shoot split finger, pointer finger anchors corner of mouth. That is with recurves at 45 to 55lbs pull, I am pretty sure with higher weights my draw compresses somewhat and my head leans into the shot more shortening my draw length.

Hope this helps.

I took these two guys elk hunting one year that for sure were a couple of Ape's they both played D for the Seahawks.One was shooting a pounder special order from Hoyt...Mike has a draw of 34"-35" his bow was marked 34-36 inch draw and @ 90# his arrows were also special order from easton 36" long and spined off the chart Mike told me(small baseball bats).He ate up all the food too bd

I hear that Tayshaun Prince has a 7'-2'' wingspan. So would his drawlength be close to 43 inches drawn to the corner of his mouth?

I hear that Tayshaun Prince has a 7'-2'' wingspan. So would his drawlength be close to 43 inches drawn to the corner of his mouth?

Doesn't your physical make up dictate the draw length where you can "lock" into a proper stance and draw position? If I try to hold at less than what I consider my full draw my back and upper arm/shoulder feel like they are coming apart.

Instead of just large build, you can have a longer draw by anchoring by your jaw as some have said this increases arrow speed, and doesn't decrease accuracy if using instinctive style. However bows are very rarely designed for such a large draw.

Whitefeather, a decently made bow shouldn't blow up at any draw. A few of the old manufacturers, back in the 60's, used to draw their bows until the strings came off the ends to show their strength. If they can do that with 60's glues and laminations, don't know why it wouldn't pertain to today's stuff.

Incidentally, Darrell Imhoff, was a pro basketball player who was also a bowhunter. Darrell used on of Ben Pearsons 60 or 62 inch bows. Chances are Darrell's draw was more than 30 inches. A well made bow should take a 32" draw or it's not well made.

I am teaching a young Man to shoot who short draws 32", if and when we find a bow that can handle 33-34 inch draw we will try that.

George..He said SELFBOWS...not laminated! It better be LONG! Like 72" or more!

George, no lams and glass on these. We may do some with bamboo backs though.

Well all-righty then. LOL. That's a horse of a different color. Or a bow of a different material. Yep SB....about 6 feet or more.

Whitefeather, you can buld bows to take those long draw lengths. You just have to make them correspondingly longer, or wider. I understand your thinking about essentially "over building", nothing wrong with that.You can easily build a selfbow that has very little string follow at 30 or more inches. Just tiller for that draw length from the get go. Then, if you shoot it at 28" there will be no problem. Decide what you want your finished draw weight at the draw length you are targeting. Then, build the bow and tiller it to the heavier draw weight at the longer draw length.

Well, I have not to long draw (30") I use 60# @ 30" recurve or longbow.

Design parameters other than length enter the equation with wooden bows too. When you're pushing limits, just as important as overall length is working limb length, width, side profile(amount and orientation of deflex, reflex, or recurve), front profile in conjunction with how the bow is tillered, inherent strengths and weaknesses of the wood used, etc.

But I'm a little confused about what you're trying to do here. First you made it sound like you wanted to push the limits of the wood... and then some. And then in a subsequent post it sounded more like you DIDNT want to do that, but rather, were looking for safety margin.

If you're looking for safety/longevity, double the amount of added draw length and add it to the bow's overall length. In other words, if you would normally build a 'safe bow' 64" long for a 28" draw, but need a bow for 32"... that's a difference of 4". 4x2=8. Now add that 8" to your overall bow length... 64+8=72. You can make the bow 72" long without changing anything else and you'll stress this bow no more than the shorter one.

That's the easy way... the safe way.

Even so, if draw weight, or anything else changes, you may have to make other adjustments.

Whitefeather, it sounds like you can't have it both ways. Perhaps making your bows for a normal draw and if a customer wants an exceptionally long draw, custom make his bow to his specs.

I'm 6'3", split finger to corner of mouth. 30 1/2" with longbows and recurves.

Imhoff, had a 34 inch draw. Last I saw of him in Archery, he was using Ben Pearson bows. Think he was on their advisory staff. Easton was supposed to have made his arrow shafts.

I have had a couple of customers with over 31 inch draws. One was 34 inches. talking with other bowyers I know of one who built a bow for a man with a 35 inch draw. What they use for arrows I have no idea.

God bless you all, Steve

I appreciate all the feedback and info. Jeff, I'm sorry I kind of contradicted myself and didn't explain what my goal is clearly. Part of the reason is, I'm not entirely positive about my customers intent and goals, he's not a bow guy really. My personal goal is to push the performance and design as much as safely possible. Your right about the draw x two plus 8"-10". That's what I normally do. However, I have built some Osage, unbacked at just draw x two and they are still holding up. They have some string follow but that is offset some by some slight static recurve. The amount of working wood in the lims is very little as the handle is non bending also. These were made out of some premium Osage staves. I think that is the direction I'm headed. Either that or a bamboo backed deal that will take less time and be less worry. Thanks again for the feedback guys.

Probably 90% of Bow Shooters think they have to pull back as far as they can wherein they think they have those long draws.

I draw 31 1/2" inches. Measured many times. There can be compression issues and a resulting shorter draw even though you anchor the same with any bow. A lot goes into draw length. I find it interesting that a man can pick up a lighter bow and add an inch to his draw length. I shoot a 59# at 31" custom silvertip.

My draw use to be 35' until I took my ear off, now its 30.5"...PR

Well put cj. Even with the compression issue you should be able to expand you torso, and overcome that. When you get to the point that you lose a full 1" of draw length or more, you're probably shooting too much weight.

Depends where you draw to .... 32 inch is standard for warbow shooters here in the UK.

31.5 to 32", middle finger corner of mouth, split finger...60#

I would love to have a 30" plus draw, think of the arrow speed, and penetration you would get out of just 40# ! Finding arrow shafts could be a problem though.

I pull 32.5 to corner the corner of my mouth. I have a 64" Thunderstick, a 64" Whip, and a 62" Centaur . Currently shooting the Centaur Double Carbon. I was hesitant to try a 62" bow.. but Jim convinced me it would not stack and he was right. Long story short, finding bows has not been a problem, but finding a consistent source of wood arrows as proved to be virtually impossible. If anyone has knows of any sources I'd love to hear about them.

Holezone...the 3lb per inch range or so would only apply out to 28" with most any bow. There are some that actually increase more than 5lbs per inch after 28.

An 85lb. at 28" bow would HAVE to increase in the neighborhood of 4.25lbs. per inch from an 8" brace height to 28" to make weight.

I helped a friend, who has a 33 or 34 (forget exactly) inch draw, make an osage bow. That's to the back of the bow. Jawge

Jawge, that is the longest draw I've ever heard of. Man....

If I had a bow made for me it would draw 50# at 31.5", Stick bow) . I often never pull stick bows that far. I pull 30.5" most often if the bow doesn't began to stack bad. A 62" recurve I have ( Sage ), I only pull it 28ish, the Journey I pull it 29-30ish, my new long bow is pulled to 30-31" . Now when I shot compound bows they all had 32" draws, I believe that was due to the release configuration . Its easy to shoot a slightly shorter bow , not easy if you over draw whats natural for u. And I used to be 6' 2" tall, spinal compaction has changed my height not my draw though.

One of Dee Wildes buddy's was a pro football player that had a 35 1/2" draw. I built 2 bows for him. Don't know what he did for arrows.

Dang....he would have to start with 48" dowels!!!!

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