I get it — almost every new bowhunter who enters the ranks will shoot a compound bow that’s relatively short, somewhere between 28 and 33 inches axle to axle. Compounds of this length must be shot with a mechanical release because the string angle at full draw is too severe to use a finger tab.

Depending on draw length, a finger shooter could get by a 40-inch compound, and maybe even a 38-incher. About 20 years ago I did so with a Mathews Q2 XL (38 inches) and then a Mathews Icon (37 inches); my draw length is 27.5 inches.

I also shot two fabulous compounds designed specifically for finger shooters — a Reflex Caribou (45.75 inches) and a Hoyt LX Pro (47 inches); both bows were discontinued long ago. I gave away the Reflex Caribou to a relative who was getting into bowhunting, but I still own the Hoyt.

Legendary bowhunter — and finger shooter — Chuck Adams with his 1989 brown bear with a hide that officially squared 10 feet, 8-1/2 inches. He was using a Hoyt Archery ProVantage finger bow, Easton 2317 Gamegetter arrow, and Zwickey Black Diamond broadhead. Shot distance was only 12 yards.

In addition to a longer length, a finger bow shoots best if the let-off is about 65 percent because more than that (like the 80-85 percent let-off so common today) makes it difficult to release the string well with fingers. As I recall, the Reflex Caribou and Hoyt LX Pro both had 65 percent let-off, in addition to old-school “energy wheels.”

If you look at compound bow offerings today, you can find a few 40-inch compounds, but these are high-dollar models designed for competition archery. A finger-shooter doesn’t need a bow with a MSRP of nearly $2,000, plus these compounds have fairly aggressive cams (compared to old-school energy wheels) and too much let-off to be comfortable for a finger release. These target bows are designed to be ultra-forgiving, provided you shoot them with a release.

I truly believe a manufacturer could sell a decent number of finger bows each year if they offered an affordable one with these simple specs: length of 45-47 inches, 65 percent let-off, energy wheels, and a reflex-style riser. 

Traditional bow sales continue to be solid, and there’s no reason to think that some of the men and women who love the feel of a bowstring in their fingers wouldn’t enjoy shooting a long-axled compound, too.

Here’s the “chicken or the egg” question as it relates to compound shooters: Do 100 percent of new compound bowhunters shoot with a release because they WANT to, or do they HAVE to because 100 percent of today’s compounds require a release?

I’m hoping that with the recent news of Chuck Adams partnering with Bear Archery, the company will consider building a long-axled finger bow that he can use and promote. He was the first bowhunter to complete the Super Slam — killing one of every North American big game species recognized by Pope and Young — and he did it with finger bows (Hoyt and Reflex primarily). Adams took his first official P&Y record book animal, a Canada moose, in 1976 with a Bear Alaskan compound. It makes sense to me that Bear Archery would work with Adams on such a project; I hope it does to the decision-makers at Bear, too.

Chuck Adams killed his first Pope and Young record book animal, this Canada moose, in 1976 with a long-axled Bear Alaskan compound sent to him by Fred Bear.

In my opinion, it’s time for an archery manufacturer to give compound users another choice. My wish for 2023 is for some company to step up and build a good-shooting finger bow priced at $549-ish. I think they’d be shocked with the sales numbers.

In addition to shooting a Hoyt ProVantage finger bow for decades, Chuck Adams also used a Reflex Caribou finger bow (Reflex was a former division of Hoyt). He shot both of these elk with his Reflex Caribou. The bull on the left is the former Pope and Young world record, which he killed in 2000; the one on the right was killed in 2003 and is his second best bull.

Sidebar: Why Shoot Fingers?

Perhaps you're asking: Why would anyone want to shoot fingers? Is there an advantage?

Speed (total time to draw and shoot) is the only advantage to shooting fingers, but this doesn't come into play in the field on a regular basis. But it does happen from time to time.

As Chuck Adams told me recently (he’s had to shoot a release during the last few years because his bow sponsor required that he shoot a modern short-axle compound), “I just like the feel of fingers on the string.” Adams is more accurate (at least on targets) with a release, but he still prefers fingers.

In terms of degree of difficulty (accuracy on targets, and killing animals), it’s hardest to shoot a traditional bow without sights. Of course, it’s easiest to shoot a modern compound with 80-85 percent let-off with a release. 

I think a decent number of older bowhunters want the challenge of a traditional bow without sights, but they don’t have the arm/shoulder strength anymore to shoot one, or they don’t have the practice time needed to be accurate with a recurve or longbow. Those men and women could shoot a finger compound without sights. Then for those who want bowsights but still like the feel of string on fingers (like Chuck Adams), they could do so.

As I explained above, I just don’t understand why a finger bow isn't an option. Consider, how many standard cab pickups are sold compared to extended cabs or crew cabs? Almost none. But you can still buy one.

Chuck Adams photos from Chuck Adams Archery Facebook.