How long can you hold your draw?

[twinkieman]

Elknut's thread on what is your bow poundage set at got me to thinking about this. How long can you hold your draw(timed) and put your arrow on target?

[ishy]

Only till that bull is broadside/quartering away.

[Lefty]

Twice Ive held about 30 seconds, another time maybe 50 seconds before I shot , Once well over a minute before I tried to let down. Those three times my bow was set at 43#

Im trying to build up right now, I tend to hold 5-10 seconds at 60
My goal was 30 at 65 #. But now Im going for 70#

[elk.addict]

I can hold a long time (several minutes anyway), and I wonder if it's because I anchor my thumb to the back of my neck. I'm sure that this is not the best shooting form, but it does help hold steadier. I tried one of those thumb release for a while, and I anchored behind my jaw and it was MUCH harder for me to hold for any kind of duration.

[Swede]

Like Addict, I can hold a long time. I attribute it to orneriness.

[LongShot]

Hum, good question. I've never thought about it. I remember a couple of hunts where my hold was at least 30 seconds, but that's just a WAG (wild ass guess). Now I'm curious and will test next practice session.

[pointysticks]

if i had to guess, i would say my new Elite bow is doing better than 80% let off.

if i put the lower cam to my knee, i can hold full draw for a long time. aiming and at full draw? hmmm..dunno. i'm gonna time myself. you guys better come help me find my arrow!! haha.

[ctdad]

This reminds me of the cold shots we did last year. I see a new thread forming

[BRazz]

I recall seeing some youtube video last year where a guy demonstrates how to hold at full draw for an extended amount of time. He tucked the elbow from his draw arm down against his body and lowered his bow a litte. It never really worked well for me during practice, and I thought it required too much movement for on the hunt. I can't find that video this morning, unfortunately...

Any suggestions/advice on how to keep full draw longer?

[BrentLaBere]

Longest I have held while hunting would be about 20 to 30 seconds.
But I wouldn't jeopardize bad form, or practice holding your bow back in a way that would create more movement. It seems like it would defeat the purpose all together.
Hold your bow back the way you would if that elk is slowly making its way out from behind the brush.
I practice holding my bow back up to a minute and a half and then slowly let down. 20-30 sec break and then repeat up to 4 times. Do this once a week to build your muscles and increase time as you go on. You will find holding your bow back for a long time becomes much easier.
I need to jump in on the cold shot threads. Just noticed those are up and running again. great idea bringing those back

[ishy]

One little trick that doesn't take much movement is reaching behind your neck with your thumb and putting some of the weight onto your neck. You just have to be sure to go back to your achor point before shooting.
Also during the summer we practice holding until a buddy says to shoot.

[pointysticks]

Can't be sure, but I think it is my bow arm that fatigues first