Back in 92 I purchased a 60# bear kodiak, Hunted and shot the snot out of that bow. Little by little it got harder to pull. And I had to drop poundage...a bunch. I always thought some day I will work back into that bow. Lol that is not happening in this lifetime.

Strung that 60# today just for giggles and spent an hour trying to draw it even half way nope not happening! So now I guess I own a rack princess. Old man time is real and he is a nasty fellow.

It catches up fast! In the ninety's I was shooting 65-72# bows. Now much over 50 is a push. Old injuries don't help.

You said it.I need to get rid of everything marked over 40 pounds.I draw 29 1/2 so that should work for a couple more years anyway.Ken

You got that right. Fortunately, as we age we learn ways to work around it.

Golden years, yeah right!

at 65 I have been going down in bow weight , but up in body weight

so guess I'm staying even

Started out with 50 lb bows when I was a pup. Never saw a reason to go higher. However, much more than that now days might result in a besmirchment of the Depends.

25 years ago I would have been 48. Sure wish I would have known then what I know now. I would have done many things differently,... Sure would have done a lot more hunting in out of the way places. Think too I would have realized the true value of any trip is in the experience of the journey and not the trophy,...memories always shine and can last a lifetime, trophies grow old and seem to always need dusting.

Started in 86,shot 48-50# Longbows, although I could shoot heavier there was no advantage in tourney. About 5 years ago I started having tendon issues in my fingers (locking closed) it got too uncomfortable to shoot Longbows and switched to heavy mass Recurves and 42# draw weight. I miss Longbow but thankful that I still able to shoot a bow. I suppose in 10 years or so I may have to switch to Compound with release aid but I'm having fun with the Recurve and will keep with it as long as possible.

When I started bowhunting in the late 60s I had a 45lb pull recurve. The guys I hunted with had 40 or 45lb pull bows. A few years into it I bought a 55 lb pull recurve and my hunting buddies thought I was nuts to buy such a heavy bow.

When I returned to shooting a stickbow after some years with a compound I bought a 45 lb pull longbow. Remembering what everyone used to shoot when I started and considerably older I decided to go with a lighter draw weight. In a total reversal of my previous experience, my friends all shot 60 or up and couldn't understand why I wanted to shoot such a light bow.

Last year I bought another longbow that is 50@28. My draw length is 30" so it is around 55lbs. I purchased this bow because in my state in order to hunt elk or moose you need a minimum of 50@28. I shoot it really well and it really zips an arrow but I am very careful about warming up and stretching before I shoot it. For me, there is a big difference between pulling 45 and pulling 55.

My next longbow is going to be 40lbs at my draw length.

'rack princess' lol good one

I'm going to start learning how to shoot using my feet and hands, then I can pull those big pounders.....LOL!

When a friend mentioned it was good having his grown ones home for Christmas, but he said he couldn't believe that time had passed so fast referring to them now having their own families. I said we can't do the things we used to do, want to do, or think we can anymore. But it's good to be around to keep trying.

In '92 I bought a rare Pittsley Predator 58" one piece 70#. It's the best shooting bow I've owned and I still love to look at it. I'd try to shoot it if I could get it strung.

Golden years? More like rusty years lol.

You said a mouthful My Friend!

Wait until the NEXT 25!!!

Bowmania

If I'm still shooting in 25 years my arrows may have suction cups on the end of them.

Old man I was just like you were - Neil Young 25# more then and 25# less now.

Shoot my lighter weight bows more now than I used to, , but I still like the way the heavier ones zip an arrow, so have never backed off shooting them.

Now that's funny stikbow208??

Got a 75#@28" LH Damon Howatt Hunter hanging (just hanging) on the wall; anybody want to split it with me?

I weigh the same as in HS. However shooting my 60# blacktail messed up my elbows and shoulder.

My brain keeps convincing me I can do things I in fact can no longer do . My friend says, my brains writing checks my body can not cash .

Well @ 72 I am still pulling my 42 and 43 lb recurve to 29”. But I figure it’s not long before I’m back to pulling the 28 pound long bow were That started with at 10 years old. Couple years ago I passed on a mint Bear Tamerlane, thought 30 lbs was to light. Been kicking myself ever since. This growing old can suck, but the alternative is. Well let’s not go there. RonL

Yes, I hate it. The release is so much more critical. Now I have to try and shoot with good form. :)

Traded off my 1963 32lb Tamerlane many years ago because I thought it was too light. However, it would still just hang around as I don't have much use for that bow anymore, except to look at. But it was sure pretty, bought new with Christmas working money when in high school and paid for, so it wouldn't have cost anything to just sit there on the rack I suppose. Do have two bows that are similar draw weight now on the rack with the others, and they get used a lot.

Any one want to trade two 25's for a 50. Bows that is.;^) >>-->Ken

Andy I love it, goingup in age and personal poundage but down in bow poundage. Thank God for takedowns and extra limbs

A Beloved FRIEND ( RIP) said that "Getting Old Ain't For Wimps!"

Just curious Stephen, what was uncomfortable about the longbow and what difference did switching to recurve make?

The good thing about dropping bow weight is you have bows to sell to fund new lighter ones. All my bows are 42# - 47#. I used to shoot 65# in the early 90's.

Archery is not supposed to hurt.

Count me in. I turned 63 yesterday. My bow poundage and my age met at the cross-roads of 56. Since that time, I have added 7 years while coincidently decreasing my bow poundage down to 52 pounds.

"Just curious Stephen, what was uncomfortable about the longbow and what difference did switching to recurve make?"

The handshock and gripping the Longbow causes pain and the tendons on my fingers tend to lock closed more frequently. The ILF has more mass a Jäger grip for comfort and I use a finger sling.

I still shoot Longbow but only in Summer and no more than 2-3 days, Recure is less poundage but shoots flatter and I can shoot 200 arrows a day with no issue. Besides the challenge to learn Stringwalking has been really fun and interesting.

Will be 71 in a few months and still shooting my 54# longbows. Been so enamoured with my longbows I haven't shot my 60# recurve in a couple of years. Will have to get it out before to long and give it a try.

Gotcha. Joint and tendon pain is something I'm intimately familiar with.

I jumped into traditional bows with both feet in 1989 with a 60lb Brackenbury Recurve. Two shoulder surgeries and just about every bow made I'm still at it. Like you can't seem to draw anything marked 50 or over. Not sure what happened.......I can draw 47 but 45 seems to be the sweet spot this year.

I feel fortunate...will be 65 this year and can still shoot 45- 65# no problem.

I had an active job for 31 years (mail carrier) then went behind the desk in 2008.

I still kept active, always exercised and kept my strength up...I keep a 70# bow strung and draw it, hold, and let down 20 times a day. Three rounds of seven ( lucky number.)

I do a lot of shooting with 50- 60# bows (and lighter too) and hunt with the same.

I was lucky to have a "stocky" build so that helps. I was also lucky to not have any accidents but I was always careful.

Knowing You Once Did...When those abilities Cease...Will Bring You Peace...While Sitting on the Porch Watching the Sunset...4finger

Awesome quote 4finger. Mind if I put that one on the refrigerator?

Amen 4finger, touched my heart

It's Your Fridge Richard haha...Most of the stuff I've told my Sons over the Years have been met with Rolling Eyes! Happy New Year!...4finger

The Baseball when younger and shooting bows between 65 and 75#'s for years, along with a bad fall pretty much ruined my Rotator cuff. At age 82 I still shoot 41# pretty well without pain. I was reading a post by my friend, David Alvord, and he likes to put a heavy stabilizer on his bows for accuracy. I think if I hung two pounds on my bow I wouldn't be able to lift it. It does get worse in many ways as you get older, but I feel gratitude every day that I can do what I so enjoy and hope it can continue for some time in the future. I'm already planning my deer hunt for next year. The aging process slows up if you continue making plans for things "down the road" Happy new year to you all. Joel

Mahantango I figured if I'm smart with my draw weight and equipment then I can keep shooting for years.

I told my wife the other day, that I'm in awe of what I used to be able to do. Time is indeed a cruel misstress!

I've got two Hill's hanging in the basement along with my old Black Widow MAII...63, 68, & 76lbs.

Can't shoot em anymore...hell, can't push-pull string the longbows!

But...I can shoot my 53lb bows all day, so I'm good to go.

The trashed shoulders put the aforementioned heavyweights on the rack. The trashed knees ended my Wyoming high country hunting.

I'm still welding 50 hour weeks at 65, but retiring this spring. Between a lifetime of hard, physical labor and playing contact sports I've beat myself up pretty good.

But if I could turn back the clock...I wouldn't change a thing. Dammit, I LIVED, not just existed. No regrets, no pity-party outa this old kid!

I keep my 70# strung and pull a few times a day, but I shoot mosty 55,,, my shoulders dont hurt,, so I am lucky at 64,, I still have in mind to kill a buffalo and want the 70# for that,, maybe I am dreaming,, but keeps me working out,, I am 64

I still dream of pulling heavy bows, making the perfect shot, while wearing my Angel Flight disco suit...but thats probably not gonna happen. Especially if my wife gets advance notice!

Right now I'm shooting 35# and I'm happy about it. I would like to be shooting 45# maybe I could but I haven't tried yet. But I think I'd be a happy camper at 38#. The best part of archery is knowing what you can do not hoping for what you thought you can do. That's why they don't call it deer hoping !

The best part of life is realizing what you can do. And not feeling bad about looking back.

At this age, it's no time to get the crawfish attitude ! Looking back at the past moving into future.

It's Deer Hunting !!!

Carl

Coming up on 70 in a few days. The last 5 or 6 years I haven't really done any shooting unless I go to a match a couple of times a year. I took up shooting trad in my mid 40's and started off at around 60#, I dropped down to the low 50's by the time I was 50 but could still handle 70# or so. I tried to shoot my 60# a few weeks ago and no way I could get it all the way back. I want to compete in the 70# flight class in September and not sure if I can work up to it or not. I plan to build as heavy a bow as I can get 5 or 6 arrows out of and compete with that.

25 years ago I was shooting 60#. Nowadays I'm still shooting the 60's

Im down to a 32# longbow now, but my Damn Diaper pin catches on the string!!

Still looking beyond the horizon, past the sunset. Not gonna give up yet. Never gonna cave, until I go die in one. Still shootin' 62# at 62 yrs (tomorrow). I think its my attitude that keeps me going. I just can't seem to let up, that would mean I'm cavin'.

I'm amazed at what 10 years can do as so much can happen so quickly. These are the "Golden Years"...that time when the doctors & hospitals make all the gold!

don't feel bad I used to shoot 3d with 75# in my twenties.. now just shy of 60, I shoot 45-50# and have to work out to maintain it

One of my late father's favorite lines was, "These Golden Years ain't all they cracked up to be". So true Pop.

Twenty years now

Where'd they go?

Twenty years

I don't know

I Sit and I wonder sometimes

Where they've gone

And sometimes late at night

When I'm bathed in the firelight

The moon comes callin' a ghostly white

And I recall

Great Song...4finger

There are some very good wordsmiths on this site I have found the replies very enjoyable, A few folks implied looking back and having a pity party for myself, Not true I was simply making a simple observation of my declining poundage.

I am well aware that I do not need 60# to take game, And like many on here spent a lifetime of hard physical work, But unfortunately for me I was born scrawny lol. I actually consider myself lucky to be able to tell when I have exceeded my limitations. I sure as heck do not want to posting about shoulder surgery because I had pushed my luck too darn much.

When I hear that snap crackle and pop trying to shoot a bow that is to heavy for me I figure my body is saying knock it off old man! Anyway carry on folks and good shooting to all.

Hey 4finger, I bet some of these boys have never had potato logs before. :-)

And Seger is what, in his 70s now? Felt the lightning.......waited on the thunder.....

Like a Rock...Standing Arrow Straight...Charging from the Gate...Carryin' the Weight...Like a Rock...

And about those Potato Logs Joey...They're a TRADITION! lol...4finger

Still Fertile Topsoil...Still Wandering...Haha...4finger

4Finger, a lot of my advice has been met with rolling eyes, but at some point, it sinks in.

This thread made me pull out some old photo albums. It brought back memories I haven't thought of in years. I've had some wonderful times hunting, fishing, trapping and just being outdoors over the years and my share of bad times too, but I'd do it all over again if I could. Thanks for the memories.

I'm 54 and I can still kick ass. I just have to rest between cheeks.

4finger,

Amazing that there are actually a few deer that live out in the desert I love hunting them in that type of country, archery season usually finds me out on the San Rafel swell.

Great Kenneth...Secrets Out hahaha...Amazing Country Indeed...4finger

Had a senior moment oops!

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here