minimum legal draw length

[vandeman17]

There isn't a minimum legal draw length is there? I know that the minimum draw weight to hunt in Washington is 40 lbs but what about length. This is all I could find and I am not exactly sure what it is telling me... 

It is unlawful for any person to hunt big game animals with a bow that does not produce a minimum of 40 pounds of pull measured at twenty-eight inches or less draw length. It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with any arrow measuring less than 20 inches in length or weighing less than 6 grains per pound of draw weight with a minimum arrow weight of 300 grains.

[carpsniperg2]

No there is not restrictions on draw length. The rules are that at 28" or less draw length the bow must read and be pulling 40 pounds. SO of its draw length is 22" it has to read 40lbs at 22" or draw length of 26" must read 40lbs etc.

[vandeman17]

No there is not restrictions on draw length. The rules are that at 28" or less draw length the bow must read and be pulling 40 pounds. SO of its draw length is 22" it has to read 40lbs at 22" or draw length of 26" must read 40lbs etc.

Ok that was what I was hoping but couldn't tell for sure. Sometimes I wish I had a dang lawyer to explain some of the wording to me. 

[D-Rock425]

I don't believe there is a minimum draw length.

[carpsniperg2]

I wanted to make sure my wifes bow and my little bro's bows were legal to hunt with so I had to ask the same questions a few years back.

[D-Rock425]

So what's the right answer carp.

[BULLBLASTER]

Pointless question but is a recurve with draw weight of 40 lb at 29 inch draw length illegal? Because if measured at 28 would be less?

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Not sure about the interpretation carp said above... it simply states 40#@28.... if I missed where it says anything else?  SO a 40# @ 29 would not be legal.. even with a 30" DL... which would be a 43 or 44# at that DL...

[BULLBLASTER]

Seems weird because a bow drawn to 29 and 40# stores more energy than a 28 and 40# bow. But the 29 40# wouldn't be legal? Not that it matters because I don't shoot trad anyways.

[carpsniperg2]

Not sure about the interpretation carp said above... it simply states 40#@28.... if I missed where it says anything else?  SO a 40# @ 29 would not be legal.. even with a 30" DL... which would be a 43 or 44# at that DL...

"Not sure about the interpretation carp said above... it simply states 40#@28...."

NO it does not simply state 40#@28" it says:

It is unlawful for any person to hunt big game animals with a bow that does not produce a minimum of 40 pounds of pull measured at twenty-eight inches or less draw length.

You forgot the OR LESS.

[carpsniperg2]

This is how a warden explained it to me. Lets take my wife's and bro's bows in this case. He said if I stop and check you I will ask to see her bow. When she hands it to me it does not matter what the draw length is. Because its going to be less then 28"  "hers is 25" he said when I put it on my scale and draw it back as long as it says 40lbs or more when I draw it back then she is o.k., same goes for my bro "he shoots 27" " he said when he hands me the bow all I care about is that its over 40lbs. As long as my scale reads 40lbs or + there is no problem. This was told to me by a wildlife officer. Un like most people me and my hunting partners have been check in the field and I do call and ask questions. The last thing I want is to be on the wrong side of anything.

[D-Rock425]

I'm all confused. Lets just say I'm a 29 inch draw and shooting 40# bow would I be illegal?   

[carpsniperg2]

  I have tried and tried and tried

Simple calls to the friendly folks at wdfw will answer any and all questions Lucky for me I don't have to worry about it. I would like to see half the game wardens try to draw my bow in the field with a bow scale I would probably piss my pants For those of you that don't know my x force sits at around 83-84 most days Try drawing it with nothing but a little stick in your hand to hold onto, to check the draw weight Its all I can do and I shoot it all the time

[Old Dog]

I'm all confused. Lets just say I'm a 29 inch draw and shooting 40# bow would I be illegal?

Yes.

[Tradbowhunter]

In Washington state there is a minimum draw requirement. 40 lbs at 28 inch draw is the minimum draw weight, meaning:

A bow that draws 40 lbs at 28 inches or under with the shooter having a 29 inch or over draw is not legal.
A bow that draws 40 lbs at or under 28 inches is legal.

A 28 inch draw is pretty common, but obviously its up to the archer to check their draw weight if they have a longer reach. Its recommended to be shooting something with a 50-55 lb @ 28 inch or above draw weight if you plan on hunting big game. Don't take that suggestion as gospel, there are people in other states taking deer with lighter equipment, its just what is recommended.

[Rainier10]

No minimum draw length.  At some point in the draw of the bow before or up to 28" it must take 40lbs of pull to draw it.  As long as in that first 28" you hit 40lbs at some point you are legal.  If at 22" you hit 40lbs and then at 24" it breaks over to the 65% letoff and you are now at less than 30lbs you are still good because it hit 40lbs in the draw cycle.

There is a rule about arrow length and the arrow has to be 20", so if you have a super short draw your arrow has to be at least 20" long.

If you are shooting a 40lb bow and really short arrows you then also have to worry about arrow wait and be at least 300 grains arrow, nock, broadhead and fletches combined total weight. (The 6 grains per pound doesn't apply to a bow with only 40lbs of pull because it is then under the 300 grain minimum.)