Not sure why though I am surprised to see the high ratio of traditional feed back here. More power to you! So if I were to give Traditional a try again what length bow would a 30 " draw 6' 2" stature guy be looking for?
Drawing 31" myself I fully understand you need to be thoughtful in choosing bow length. I never hunt from a tree stand or a ground blind (hunt on the ground for moose in Alaska each year), so minimizing length is unimportant to me. All we make are 3-piece takedown bows and with each and every customer we begin with a discussion about how you intend to use the bow. For long draws you can go with a short riser and long limbs or a longer riser and shorter limbs. Recurves allow the overall strung length (tip-to-tip) of the bow to be less than if you mount longbow limbs on the riser. Lots of things to consider, but a takedown bow with various limb options gives you the largest range of choices.
Dan makes a heck of bow. I currently have two of them. I have had several others from him as well. I will use my Excalibur Bulldog 330 and my Toelke bows.
You bet he does Chris, one of the reasons for my calls to him, iirc the brace height is 7-3/4"s, I ask him if I was going to damage the bow braced at that height and drawing to 31's, he laughed and said no sir, let er rip, you wont hurt that bow, made me feel a lot better, I had a doe in a very tight pine thicket last year at six yards, wind in my face, she never knew I was there, I didn't shoot her, didn't need the meat, but, that encounter with that long bow was more satisfying than shooting one with a rifle, 'CLOSE' is cool.
You bet he does Chris, one of the reasons for my calls to him, iirc the brace height is 7-3/4"s, I ask him if I was going to damage the bow braced at that height and drawing to 31's, he laughed and said no sir, let er rip, you wont hurt that bow, made me feel a lot better, I had a doe in a very tight pine thicket last year at six yards, wind in my face, she never knew I was there, I didn't shoot her, didn't need the meat, but, that encounter with that long bow was more satisfying than shooting one with a rifle, 'CLOSE' is cool.
I currently have one of his 68” Super D longbows that is bamboo on the back and belly with a Texas Ebony riser that’s 5028 and a 62” Whip with Zebra wood limbs and Bocote riser that is 5627 3/4. I like my Super D a lot but I shoot the Whip better. Surprised to have found out that I can shoot either from inside my Ox5 blind! I had one of his 52” recurves which I kick myself for not having anymore. I was a sniper with that bow. I had it brace at close to 8” and I draw a little over 29”.
Dang Chris, sounds like you've got some damn nice Toelke long bows, I'm a little interested and envious here, i'll have to go to his website and check out the models you listed.
I haven’t owned one of his Pika longbows yet. That is the only model I think I haven’t owned. I really like his older model 3 piece recurves he used to make. If you can find one of those you would really like it. I deserve a big kick in the butt for getting rid of the one I had. It was beautiful. It had light limbs in the 40-43 lbs range. If I remember right it had juniper and yew limbs with a cocobolo riser. If you talk to Dan tell him Chris Kiefner said hi.
I haven’t owned one of his Pika longbows yet. That is the only model I think I haven’t owned. I really like his older model 3 piece recurves he used to make. If you can find one of those you would really like it. I deserve a big kick in the butt for getting rid of the one I had. It was beautiful. It had light limbs in the 40-43 lbs range. If I remember right it had juniper and yew limbs with a cocobolo riser. If you talk to Dan tell him Chris Kiefner said hi.
LOL, hate to let something go then want/need t back, the reason I didn't look at more long bows was simple, the second I shot my Toelke Whip I knew then and there I was holding more talent than I could ever master, damn nice bows, and yessir, when I talk to him again i'll tell him you said Hello!
I'm hoping to build a new longbow and have it ready by fall, but would also like to hunt with my Dad's vintage Howatt Hunter. I have an Elite Synergy that gets used from time to time but I really prefer shooting and hunting with my longbows.