need to bump down in bow wieght. thought about going down to 40lbs. just wondering how many of you are shooting 35lbs and if it works well for hunting deer and turkeys?

Thanks!

Make sure that you check the relevent hunting regulations in your state pertaining to minimum bow weight for legal hunting.

Most states have a 40# limit. That being said, 40# "should" be enough for 90% of the game in the US.

I have 3 bows. They are 42#, 41# and 37#. I've taken deer and small feral hogs with the 41# and 42# bows.

I'm going to take my 37# bow deer hunting this year. My arrow will weigh 526 grains and it will be tipped with a 2 blade glue on STOS 145 grain broadhead glued to a 36 grain screw-in Zwickey long broadhead adapter. This setup gives me a heavy arrow shooting 14.21 grains per pound. The arrow is also flat shooting out to 20 yards.

geesh, check your laws

no minumium in iowa

No minimum in Texas.

A 35-40# bow will get it done on deer and turkey, but it's obviously at the low-end. I'm shooting 40-45# and because of that, I shoot a high-performance bow and pay very close attention to arrow tuning. I use skinny arrows, high FOC, no ropes for strings, and I don't overdo it with the fletching either.

I wouldn't recommend a slow heavyweight arrow or a fast lightweight arrow. At that poundage, I think it helps to stay within the 9-11 GPP arrow weight range. I believe the balance between arrow speed and arrow weight becomes more important at the lower poundages. Too little or too much of either one can be detrimental to penetration capabilities.

Nightwing,

Just curious as to why you would want to hunt with a bow that low in weight?

While I'm sure you can do it,why take the risk? I would think the % of lost animals goes up the lower your draw weight?

Sapcut, have you ever bowhunted deer using a 35-40# stickbow?

The percentage of lost deer goes up the more times you miss your intended target area. It has very little to do with draw weight (within reason) and very much to do with accuracy.

Deer are not hard to kill. There are records of women killing deer a long time ago with 25# bows and short draws. Now improve the efficiency of the bow, make the string better, use carbon arrows, make the bow 35#, and a draw length longer than 24in. What do you think will happen when the arrow hits the deer? My grandpa killed deer with 30# bows all the time when he was young. A 35-40# bow will have no problem with deer. I don't know about turkeys though. I've heard that they're pretty tough.

Pinelander, No I haven't. And yes I know it is enough to kill a deer. I made that statement because I am against the idea of encouraging someone to use the least they can instead of work toward the most. I may be wrong but I think most would rather use the least because they are scared of a little muscle pain and gain. I think that it is better to expect an ethical hunter to put more into their weapon not see how much can be taken away.

Richie

Idahocurt,

I've never lost an animal while shooting light weight poundages. I put a razor sharp broadhead through both lungs of every big game animal I've ever bowhunted. All of my shots have been under 20 yards. Most have been from 12-17 yards. Almost all of them have been past throughs except on feral hogs and those have almost been past throughs. My first deer I took with a bow was with an old Wing target bow, with white limbs, at 38 pounds. I've been bowhunting for 45 years. One doesn't need 55# bows and up to bowhunt deer. In my day, 45# bows were the norm with an occasional 50# bow. I'm probably shooting more grains per pound than you are. Here are my bows lengths, poundages, draw length, arrow length, along with grain weights and grains per pound.

66", 42# @ 30" with a 32", 555 grain 2213 arrow gives me 13.21 gpp

68", 41# @ 30" with a 32", 526 grain 2212 arrow gives me 12.82 gpp

66", 37# @ 30" with a 32", 526 grain 2212 arrow gives me 14.21 gpp

A deer is not an african rhino. It's a thin skinned aminal. Lastly, I enjoy shooting light weight bows. I come to my anchor and hold for a few seconds and then release the arrow. I'm not a snap shooter. Snap shooters come to their anchor point and let the arrow fly.

When I go to range, some of the guys with their 50#,55# and 60# trad bows are shooting targets alongside me. After an hour, their arrows are starting to go all over the target while I'm still around the bullseye.

Would anyone here be willing to extend your arm forward exposing your chest and allow me to shoot you with a 35# bow at say, 15 yards, with a razor sharp broadhead? Most of us are a good bit bigger than the deer we kill.....No? Didn't think so :o)

Fair enough, Richie... based on your perception as to why people use lower poundage bows. But the fact remains (regardless of their reasons or your thoughts on ethicalness)... deer are easily killed with 40# stickbows.

I had some bow arm elbow problems a few years ago and so I hunted with a 40# recurve. I was glad I did, rather than just sitting out the bowhunting season because someone might have told me it wasn't enough poundage for deer. I do not encourage folks to use the least amount of poundage when hunting deer, but neither will I hide the fact that most any stickbow is capable of killing them.

- Dave

With your 30" draw length Night Wing, and your field experience with them.... I will withdraw my heavy boat-anchor arrow with low poundage bow opinion. :-)

For a contrasting view to yours (but with similar in results)... I'm shooting 43-45# @ 27" and my skinny 440 gr. carbons blow right through deer like gong through a wet paper bag. And they even break those popsicle sticks called ribs!

Pinelander, Totally agree.

I shoot with a 43# @ 29", and I don't need someone to tell me that I need more poundage and don't tell me not to hunt until I or anyone else can.

It really gets into my crawl, I can understand what the original question an original poster was trying to say. I have arthritis in my back and probably in my shoulders. I've had a shoulder problems for years. And 35 pounds will put a arrow right through a deer.

And shooting 35 to 40 pounds will probably put an arrow in the right spot more times often than those that shoot 50 are 60 pounds, and they haven't connected with their brain yet that they can't hit with 60#

Time and time again we hear people say on here

" accuracy, accuracy"

and that's what I find that I get when I'm in a lower poundage. I can hit the spot, and hit it more often. And that's what's gonna kill the deer not the poundage.

Now I agree with the poster up above that you should not shoot with a lower poundage, if you're capable of shooting with the heavier one. But if you're not and you've got physical restraints, or if you've got a good attitude and form with a 35# to 45#, why not that should be the question.

I shoot with 450 gr arrows. And I also have a a 40# pound bow, it makes me wanna schedule an elk hunt, and go and hunt with it, just to get into somebody else's crawl, and don't tell me about accuracy within 20 yards.

anybody that shoots a lower poundage bow knows their limitations, and probably follows them better than someone shooting with a 50 or 60 pound bow, because those shooting with heavier poundage bows have a tendency to take the chance with a longer shot, and the person with a lower poundage bow is probably a better hunter, you gain a different attitude when you're out there with a 35 pound bow, I know I have a different attitude when I take my 43 pound out, I want that deer within 10 to 15 yards, I will take a 20 yards shot, but that deer better be relaxed, and practically snoring before I do.

I have joined the ranks of the lower poundage bows simply because of limitations on my body, it's not gonna get any different, and the broadheads are really sharp, I can shave hair off the back of my hand.

My suggestion, before you tell a ban you can't shoot with that lower poundage, stand alongside of men shoot at targets, look in his face and see if determination, I know that determination does not kill deer, but determination with a accuracy and good form will do a lot.

It's taken me years to get to this point, because I was just like everybody else.

Over bowed, and every shot I wonder what I do wrong, I've never enjoyed archery more than one I'd have dropped to the 40 and 45# bows

I'll put a disclaimer on here, I'm not trying to insult anyone shooting higher poundage bows, but the man wants a real live answers not attitudes, or what people think they know,

I've seen plenty of threads with lower poundage bows that have dead animals in them, and I've never seen a complaint from one of the animals about a lower poundage.

You can fire away, but I'll get over it eventually, it's just a pet peeve, probably because I'd like to shoot higher poundage.

But accuracy works for me !

Carl

DeerSpotter: Well written. Some of these big strong young guys that can shoot heavy bows might not be able to when they get older like me.

I was young and strong once upon a time and thought nothing would ever get me down. At my age I am very happy to just be shooting with my 40# bow.

"...probably because I'd like to shoot higher poundage."

You're probably right.

yes, well established it'll kill any deer walking with a decent setup. any answer to the contrary is really just ill informed and silly.

Keep em close and your best chances are from a ground blind for a good blood trail. Only take the high percentage shoots too. Should do the job. Maryland has a 30# limit on vertical bows.

Deerspotter, I agree with your line of thinking a 100%.

Those 43 pound Super Diablos would blow an arrow through any Deer walking in Southern Missouri, I know.

I've even shot them with that bow weight and cut two ribs completely into on both sides using the old two bladed Mighty Goshawk.

I like my animals close; I can kill them on out there aways but I just enjoy those close encounters.

Those old 66 inch target bows in 37-38-40 pounds killed a lot of Deer in this area back in the 1960's and early 1970's before everyone thought they needed an Elephant killing, muscle tearing bow that ruined a man for life.

Can you do it? Sure you can! Should you do it? Ultimately, you make the decision. Wild animals are tough and have a strong will to live. Can you put an arrow with a sharp broadhead through both lungs of a fully mature Whitetail? Are you really sure? Answer these questions honestly to yourself and you will figure it out. A .22 will kill a deer, but that doesn't make it a deer rifle.

I have no doubt that at 20 yds I could put a steel blunt through both lungs of a deer with my 53# bow...PR

Howed we get from 35 to 43,45 and so forth, big difference? The lower the weight gets the more every pound means.

Kinda like, people shooting Mag. Rifles and flinching and missing their Game, Some people are better shots, with a .243 than a. 300 Magnum!

By the way, I ordered a #40lb. Longbow last week, I have been Shooting a #55 Longbow. I started Bowhunting in 1967, I'm getting older and weaker and. Just maybe a little smarter with old age!!! But, I doubt it!

[IMG]http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh205/bushbow/JessFirstDeer2009.jpg[/IMG] My wife shot this deer with an old Bear Panda the says 35@28 - she is pulling about 25Lbs with it. Dead in sight of the tree

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh205/bushbow/JessFirstDeer2009.jpg

Oops - that did not work so good but here it is - I hope?

" Can you put an arrow with a sharp broadhead through both lungs of a fully mature Whitetail? Are you really sure? "

Yes, with bows in the 37-43# range with a 27" draw. I could show my most recent kills with such setups, but I don't think it is really necessary. :-)

".... before everyone thought they needed an Elephant killing, muscle tearing bow that ruined a man for life. "

True on both accounts. :-)

I wonder about the frequent shoulder surgeries going on within the trad bowhunting community. Were they caused by heavy bows or something else, don't really know. Same thing with elbow problems and finger problems. Sure, there are guys who can shoot heavy bows and good for them. But generally speaking within the mainstream of stickbow archers, I think super heavy bows can cause problems.

There are plenty of people with shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, finger, etc. problems that have nothing to do with hunting. When they get those injuries they keep physical therapists in business with rehab exercises that are more strenous than pulling a bow.

I do wonder if there is a difference in the bow pullin world and the other world.

Under PA game commission regulations 35# is leagal to down big game.

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=609150&mode=2

(click on big game regs)

If it was insufficient I do not think it would be legal.

Lots of guys are killing deer with bows shooting 500 grain arrows around 145 fps. I have clocked them at their normal draws and releases. A 35# modern bow can easily shoot a 500 grain arrow at 160 fps with a decent release, No reason someone should deny themselves the right to hunt because they can't draw over 35#. Not everyone can work up higher for a variety of reasons. Steve

Years ago two guys had a button buck that weighed about 60 pounds (it was dead) and I bet them that I could shoot through it with a 15 pound bow and they were kind of awl struck when the two blade Bear headed arrow passed through the rib cage area and was sticking about 12 inches out the other side of the Deer do don't be stupid enough to let someone convince you that you won;t get hurt if they shoot you with a 15 pound bow.

In New Zealand,the law staes you must shoot at lest 45lb on public land,,so 35 is obviously illegal.

But in practicality,I would be quite happy to hunt deer with a 40lber,,,,but not Turkeys,,because I've shot dozens of those things and belive their a lot tougher than a deer.

For a couple of years the Australian record Rusa deer record was held by a young boy that shot the animal with a 30lb recurve,,and Rusa deer are a lot bigger and tougher than whitetail.

I also had a picture of another young man in South Africa with a compound shot Adult Kudu,shot with 35lbs.

Just don't try it on a Turkey,,the thing might take offence an have a go at you ;)

Back in the 1970's Colorado had a law which required you to hunt Elk with a 48 # or more draw weight bow. They required 40 # for Deer at that time.

Kind of put a person on the spot if they were hunting Deer with a 40# bow and a Big Bull walked up at ten steps and you had an Elk tag.

I guess it depends on whos using it.I could kill all the deer I wanted with a 35lb bow if it was legal to use.Heck I could fill my tags with a 25lb but it might take a little longer to get the shots I needed.There are a lot of things about hunting I am more concerned about than bow weight each year.Deer are just too easy to kill if you use broadheads on your arrows to warrent much thought about bow weight. jmo

skirls

Seems like on every one of these posts the weight gets less. Now we are at 35#. There is, I assume, a weight that is to light for hunting. I personally don't know what that is. I guess I believe that as weight goes down, so does effective killing distance. At some point effective killing distance will be 0. Bottom line to me is patience for a shot presentation that is in your effective range.

" Bottom line to me is patience for a shot presentation that is in your effective range. "

That is pretty much it in a nutshell. :)

In most places the State tells us what we have to use and the min for killing animals that live there.All you have to do is check the regs where you live to answer most of threse questons.A few lucky ones might live in places that limits are not set for them.I guess those States assume there residents have enough common sense to make there own choices. ;)

I can hear the theme song playing now...

"Men, Men, Men, Men.....

Men, Men, Manly men.....

Men, Men, Men, Men......

And so it goes...

Sorry folks, but the days of Howard promoting 70#+ bows are over... A well tuned, efficient 35# bow drawn to 28" should be just fine to take a whitetail.

Just remember that a 35# bow drawn to 30" is going to be about equal to a 50# bow drawn to 26", which is what a lot of guys hunt with all the time. Think about it... It's not the final draw weight, but the energy it generates...

John.

My Son Shot this Hog With a palmer @ about 35#. Went about 75yds and fell over! The stinger Broadhead did its job as well! Tony

I'll be a little more specific with my setup. Bowstring material also plays a part along with having a bow cut to center or past center and if past center, how much past center. All of my bows are cut 3/16" past center. I also set my nockset at 5/8" high off the shelf and I shoot off the shelf. I also shoot with a tab; split finger: two over, one under.

Blacktail TD Recurve: 66", 42# @ 30". Arrow: 32", 2213. PW: 180 Grains. AW: 555 Grains. GPP: (13.21). BS: Dyna97. BH: STOS 145 Grain

Blacktail TD Recurve: 66", 37# @ 30". Arrow: 32", 2212. PW: 180 Grains. AW: 526 Grains. GPP: (14.21). BS: Dyna97. BH: STOS 145 Grain

Belcher Longhorn LB: 68", 41# @ 30". Arrow: 32", 2212. PW: 180 Grains. AW: 526 Grains. GPP: (12.82). BS: Dacron. BH: STOS 145 Grain

I'm looking forward to taking my 37# Blacktail recurve on it's first javelina and deer hunt this upcoming Fall of 2010.

If some people wonder why I don't shoot carbon arrows, that's easy to answer. The proper spine for my setup would be a Beman 3555. But, I shoot a 32" BOP arrow. A Beman 3555 full length shaft is 30" long. One can't make a 32" arrow out of a 30" shaft. A 32", 5575 carbon arrow at my draw length is way too stiff.

Edit. I shoot with a tab: one over, two under. Wish this site had an edit function.

LOL - I think it is the other way round. takes a 65# bow to kill a fox squirrel and 35# bow to kill a deer.

rusty

My two regular hunting bows are both 64"-45#@28" and are around 53# at my draw length - more than enough for anything I hunt. I use 2117s & 2018s 615grn arrows with both of these bows.

But I'm shooting an old Hoyt Pro Medalist 69" 37# target bow with 2114s for a 3-D bow at the moment. It's 43# at my draw. I've been thinking about setting up one of my 64" bows with limbs around 40#s for a new hunting bow. As NightWing said, it's so much easier to hold your anchor for a few more seconds with the lighter poundage, and as has been said, there's no problem with penatration with anything we shoot in Texas (well maybe a 300#+ boar with a thick shield ;-)

Some always get upset about bow weights.If I told someone I wanted to hunt grizzly bears with my 46lb bow they get torn all to pieces about it.In truth it would be plenty of bow weight.

example..Monty Browning killed his record bear with a 90lb bow shooting a 1500gn arrow.He told me his speed was 110fps with that setup.My 48lb Quinn shoots my 1500gn fish arrow 110fps.My 46lb ilf limbs on a DAS or lots of other risers shoots the same arrow 118fps.More power than Monty was shooting with a 90lb bow.

Now you have people that think a light bow won't even kill a little deer or turkey.Does not make a lot of sense just judgeing things on what is marked on the bow does it? :)Maybe that is why I have to laugh at all these silly "is this enough threads?".If guys would do just a little research you would see bow weight or arrow weight alone means very little for killing most of the animals we hunt.Animals are not getting tougher,bowhunters are just starting to quit thinking outside the internet box. lol

For one thing, unless I missed a post he didn't say anything about a 30 inch draw. And he ask about 35 lbs, everyones telling him about 40,45,50 and more. Personally I'd hunt with 35 if I couldn't possibly pull any more than that. I'd try for 40 at least tho because even 40 lbs is so much faster with a decent weight arrow than 30 or 35. But shot selection would have to be the best possible. Theres virtually no margin for error with a 35lb bow.

35#s is legal in Colorado however discouraged due to wounded deer. My Great Uncle loved to hunt and late in life developed cadiracks in his eyes. He did not stop hunting but just made himself shoot INSIDE 20 yards with no compromise.

after watching turning into a big flaming fire which i didnt intend-

-I am not a novice to trad archery been doing it about 20 years now -I did a search to find out my states minimium bow poundage requirements before i posted my question. -I did several keyword searchs here could not come up with any links that would pertain to the subject -I consider the people on this website the experts when it come to trad archery so why not ask the question and get an answer instead of going ahead and wounding an animal with a 35lb bow-Its good to get these things "aired out" -I hope that spring gets here soon.

Jason

I have a freind in Texas that got his wife into bow hunting several years ago. She has been shooting a 35 pound bow at her draw length and has killed several deer and antelope. Some of those bucks made pope&young. She has no problems. Shoot what is legal in your state, tune for good arrow flight, and you will have no problems........

Weekend Redneck - The minimum in Texas was 40# for many years, but a few years back they dropped the minimum poundage restriction. I heard the main reason was the speed and power from even the very low poundage compands that the kids were shooting was more than enough to kill a whitetail.

Arrowflinger If you're talking about Nancy - Mike built her bow at 28#. Mike told me that she still got almost complete pass through at around 15yds on that first buck she shot - just the fletchings were still in the deer. She was shooting a Wensel Woodsman head.

Okay, here is another one from my perspective.

Based on what I know a 36# @ 26" recurve with a 400 gr. aluminum arrow and 2-blade broadhead does to a 225 lb. Illinois buck... you won't have a problem killing white-tailed deer with your 35# bow, even in Iowa where the deer are just as big as they are in IL. :-)

I had a buddy who put his son in a blind with a 25 pound bow just to entertain him. Gave him an arrow and broadhead. His son came and got him an hour later and said he shot a deer. The dad thought that wasn't good and asked where it went. The boy said nowhere, it just fell over and that is what happend. Shot him in the back and the deer fell over and died. The deer was close, like right outside the blind.

Also I've had alot of 55 and 60 pound hickory self bow's that weren't any faster than a 35 pound recurve.

don't hunt with a 35lbs bow - min I recommend is 45lbs

You can also kill deer regularly with a .22. But if you can shoot more, do it.

If I get to where I can't pull more than 35, then I'll hunt with a 35. It WILL cleanly take a deer at reasonable deer hunting distance. It's really a non-issue. Everyone says be extra particular with where you hit, and have sharp broadheads, but the same is true of any bow. I would hunt with a 35 with full confidence.

Not me Dave but I will let you shoot a button off my head. LOL

The windbags will tell you never, but if you can't shoot more than that it's your call. Thirty-five pounds will kill a whitetail easily but it is best you maximize the performance of the bow, just for the halibut 8^). Observe what your state's minimum weight is for bowhunting....that weight was not figured out with a coin flip.

I have seen many a hunter with fifty-five and sixty-five pound bows barely pulling them 25 inches while shooting. Come to ETAR at Denton Hill in July if you think I'm kidding. You will see struggles beyond imagination, and folks thinking they are getting performance when they would do better with ten pounds less....both in accuracy and performance. More than once, I have shot with guys shooting heavy bows who don't get near their face before releasing.....pulling four inches short of their arrow tips.

You can maximize the performance of a 35 pound bow to where it approaches that of a 45 pound recurve. Most of that enhancement comes from the archer; use a solid dynamic release and you will pick up five fps over a static release in most cases. Use a stick on rest to maximize arrow flight...it won't change your shooting style...even instinctive. Make sure your nocks are smooth fit on the string, and use the lowest brace height that the bow will bear and still be quiet and shootable.

If you do that, you will lose nothing to the guy shooting a 55 pound bow and only pulling 25 inches. It's all in the dynamics and all the naysayers have no clue about the power of such an instrument.

I agree George, You said what I've been thinking for a long time. There are alot of guys that would be better off shooting 5 to 10 lbs. less and getting 1-2 in. more draw. From what I've seen people tend to shorten there draw to counter the poundage. This leaves them with not having a solid set point. Comfort for me is being able to hold my bow for 10 to 15 sec. at full draw and not looking like a paint shaker. If that means 45# then it is waht it is.

Lots of guys short draw no matter what the weight bow they shoot. Target panic.

Simple question, simple answer, YES!

Well said George!!!

The original question was is #35 enough to hunt with. Yep, squirrels, rabbits, birds, coyotes, fish, deer (really pretty fragile) and hogs (if you are a good shot).

Not all 35 lb bows shoot the same. Perhaps it would be important to have a hi performance bow if you are going to shoot a light weight bow to hunt. It would make sense to me to have a bow that was utilizing stored energy to the mas , light string , well tuned arrow and a razor sharp broadhead. Personally I have no problem with people hunting with light bows that know what the limitations are and have good skills.

Arrows kill deer by cutting, and deer don't really have much "armor" to get through. 40 or 35 Lbs. is reasonable at close ranges.

I would say that 95% of the people that i see shooting 60lbs bows would be a lot better off shooting a 40lb bow.

These guys are way overbowed and we spend more time hunting there arrows than we do seeing what they scored on a 3-D target.

NIce thread.

Zip'

Very well said N.Y. Yankee !!

Ever notice how most "Lightbow" kills are with Recurves .... Dont get me wrong, Traditional is Traditional, for whatever that means these days, But for {me} there's nothing more Traditional than a Long Sleek L/B ... Have Fun All !!!

35# to 40# is the best I can do with my new shoulder joint installed last yr. And I'm lucky to be able to do that. Blessed. I've already killed big deer and big pigs with 35#.

Hey, let's be honest ---- if you miss your mark it don't matter WHAT poundage youre' shootin'. Archery is meant to be a tissue cutting game. Plain and simple. Sometimes you'll get away with cutting rib bones and grissle and hard tissue. Good for us. Accuracy is my biggest problem and my most important goal. Happy huntin' oso

Darn, I turned 59 in March. Have had surgery on both shoulders along with both knees and 3 hernias repaired over the years. With lots of work and excercise on my part, I'm still shooting 57-60# regularly and with ease....One of those shoulder surgeries was complicated and took 8 months to recover from. [ with a Helicoil in the shoulder to re-attach a deltoid muscle in my drawing shoulder.]

I feel it's "my duty" to be as efficient and accurate as possible when attempting to take any animals life. I do not feel it's very humane ot ethical to attempt to take a life with marginal equiptment.

That said if, and when the time does arise, that I have to step back, I think I would be looking at a compound [ dread the thought] I could still shoot a bow that is efficient that still allows sufficient time to place the arrow accurately.

As far as 25,30, or 35.....yes... as a Rifle Caliber...but no way do I feel that is ethical in huntig big game.

That said..Me and my 58# Kwyk Styk will be leaving May 18th for an Alaskan Black Bear Hunt with some halibut fishing thrown in.....

Guys I know it can be a bit painful and time consuming, but there is alot to be said for "Plain Old" exercise... get up away from the computer and try and strengthen your body a bit every day....I refuse to get Old.. I fight it every day. Unfortunately I have been a welder and smoker most of my adult life.. that dammage is done.. I have adapted by moving slower, and huntin' flatter terrain. But, in no way will I adapt in a manner that will not allow me to take an animals life cleanly and humanely.. When that time does arrive I'll gladly sit in the back yard with the grandkids and teach them to love archery and all it has to enjoy.

Gene, having being a welder and a smoker, you have "adapted" to the damage that has been done by moving slower and huntin' flatter terrain.

Not all hunters with shoulder injuries are as fortunate as you to be able to exercise back to full strength, and still able to shoot higher poundage bows. Having no choice, and still wanting to shoot trad equipment, they "adapt" by dropping down in bow poundage.

There is nothing inhumane or unethical about hunting deer size and smaller animals with a hunting weight arrow with a sharp broadhead, shot with a 35# bow, if you know what you're doing!

Have a nice day........3D

Thanks guys. I thought I would have to work my way up from my 45lb. Bear Montana to a 'hunting weight' of 55-65lbs. that the young man said at my local big box outfitter suggested. After reading all the wisdom so freely shared I realize that my bow is good to go, the rest is up to me!

Gorbin.

Here in my home State of Victoria,Australia the minimum legal poundage for a Recurve bow for hunting is "50lb" yes FIVE ZERO!

As far as i know all prehistoric animals died out a long time ago down here in Oz so i dint know what the legislators were drinking when they decided upon that one! I read your posts with awe and pray for the day when i can take a 40 lb bow out in the field. On another note our minimum legal requirement for shooting Sambar deer(maybe similar in size to Elk?) in a rifle calibre is a .270.Which means my favourite calibre the .257 Weatherby is not considered powerful enough to kill a Sambar deer???

If we are caught below any of the minimum requirements all our gear gets confiscated along with a court conviction loss of licence and a hefty fine.

Sixby brought up a most interesting point-

Not all same poundage bows will cast an arrow with the same speed or energy transfer.I have two 59# bows that shoot an arrow at totally different speeds and achieve different penetration results-as a rough example.

So perhaps material composition making up the limbs plays an important part in determining wether a particular poundage bow is sufficient to generate enough speed or energy transfer to the arrow.

I am not a Bowyer and am ignorant to design considerations-I would love to hear Bowyers opinions on this.

Redback

"I have seen many a hunter with fifty-five and sixty-five pound bows barely pulling them 25 inches while shooting" George now a days I see that alot, guys drawing half way back n let em fly, but around here at the shoots most everyone is shooting 40-45 lbs and still half drawing. Only one I know shooting even 60(which I consider light weight) is me n mine anchors at a solid 32 inches.

Gene --- Get the new "reverse titanium shoulder joint implant coupled with the problem of torn and retracted tendens and ligaments and no rotator cuff. It will redefine the term "plain ole' exercise" and also " threshold of pain". I'm good with 35 lbs. My problem has always been sharp accuracy. Happy huntin' oso

If you stick to small game! we owe it to the game to make the best shot possible ,with enough bow to back it up!

Gene, like you, I have had back surgery last year, I severed a bicep tendon in my drawing arm 2 years ago, 2 colon surgerys within the last 10 years, seems like I always have some kind of injury from a active lifestyle, but at 56 of medium build, but about 30lbs overweight.. I am shooting a 58lb hunting bow, dropped from a few years ago from 65lb, obviously we are all diffrent and lead diffrent lifestyles, But even when I had broken my bicep tendon I killed 2 deer with it broken shootin a 63lb bow, before i went to the doc because I knew my huntin season would be over. I guess if ya have the desire and totally not physically able to draw more than that hunt with it, but I think barring a really bad handicap I would switch sides or do something to allow more draw weight than 30lbs.. that is under our state min. by 10lbs. I assume for a reason, same analogy as above. killin deer with a .22 is illegal for a reason... bowhuntin is very important to me and I want to do it right. I feel 30 lbs is bad light but can kill whatever if ya hit it right.. so take that as ya will...

NC is 40# traditional and 35# compound

In Texas it is. There is no lower limit any more. Good arrow flight and sharp cut on impact heads will do the trick.

Dave Looks like we agree.....

My concern is this is not a "Perfect World". In a pefect world no-one whould get buck fever, ever hit too far back on a quartering away shot, etc. I do know that if an arrow enters too far back and is still angling forward, on a quartering away shot, I have a much improved chance of reaching the chest cavity and vital organs that are located there with a Reasonable wt bow. [ that being at least 40# which is the absolute minimum in most states. ]

I think the saying "use the heaviest bow you can shoot accurately" is the key and the best answer that can be given.

I realize there will come a time when I can't conform to these recommendations. When that happens, nobody says I need to give up and stop shooting and enjoying trad... thats what backyards, back 5 acres, archery and 3D ranges are for....by all meins keep shooting till the very end.

The point is, we owe the animals we hunt a quick and humane death... This can be assured somewhat better by shooting a heavier bow. One, that may have just give that extra bit of energy required to in some cases turn a margional shot into a good one. That extra energy may propel a "bad shot" far enough thru the bad stuff to finally reach the vital area and turn it into a more favorable shot and subsequenty quicker death.

I love trad archery, but I love the game I hunt too. I will not think twice about using a Rifle or Compound "TO HUNT WITH". I'm refering to when I can no longer have faith in the trad equiptment I'm shooting to make a quick kill every time [ even heaven forbid when that margional shot might occure. ]

Gene

I've always stuck to the idea that the most i could handle comfortably is what i should be hunting with and that has kept me buying and making bows in the 50-60 range. Well.. I recently got a beautiful Bear Alaskan:66" and a whopping 33#. Don't know what year but it's got enough wood in the riser to build a house. Finally shot it tonight and was truly amazed at how accurately it sent the arrows downrange and with surprising authority! I decided to try broadheads. foam penetration was comparable to any of my other bows. I shot two razor sharp zwickey braodheads into a sheet of 1/2" plywood almost as deep as any of my other bows.sorry, not very scientific (I'm not a numbers nerd) but i came to the conclusion that i wouldn't want to be a deer or turkey on the wrong end of that 33# bow...would you?

Most States have laws telling you what you can and can't use.Follow the law and don't worry about others opinions on what you should use.I would have no trouble at all killing the things I hunt with a bow lighter than what I use but stick to the states min on things.I know if I can shoot through deer with the min weight selfbow I could do it easily with much less weight on my glass bows.There is at least a 10lb performance difference in my bows.jmo

BTW..I don't own any animal a thing.I work hard to shoot well,tune my bows and get into position to kill those animals.Quick,clean kills with fast recoveries are for me and my hard work.Got nothing to do with an animal I intend to kill.My choices in equipment allow me to do that with no surprises.I really can't help it is others think they need more bow,arrow weight ect to do the same thing.That is just fine with me but don't go thinking for me or talking ethics ect.I know what works. ;) jmo

My 30# Hoyt Matrix will shoot the same arrow faster than my 47# Bear Grizzly. What would be the better choice for a hunting bow ?

I use to shoot a 60lb bow until I realized my snap shooting release was at about 25" went down in poundage and worked on my draw and anchor and I shoot better and with more power. I think some people order heavy bows at what they think is their draw length but if you will get some one watch or video yourself shooting, you may not be drawing your bow as far as you think. When I started shooting a recurve I was 19, shot very quick/ snap shooting. One day years later my dad saw me shooting in the yard and said why are your arrows so long? I got him to watch me and I was only pulling about 25 and a half inches. I just ordered me a Whippenstick longbow at 45lbs. I now really have a 28 inch draw. Just my 2 cents. I am also a lot older than 19 , 35 year old high school teacher and coach with 4 kids

Gene.. funny you should quote the "shoot the heaveiest you can comfortably" I have G Freds quote of that on the wall of my huntin room... 100% agree on your post, couldnt have said it better.. when and if I get to where I cant shoot 40lbs I will quit hunting anything over small game size and become a archer instead of a hunter...

it's really not so much the draw weight as it is proper placement of an sharp broadhead with an arrow suitable for the bow you are shooting. i have been killing deer, elk, and bear for 57 years and have never seen a bad shot turn into a good one because of bow draw weight. as long as you are legal just relax and enjoy the meat.

If you're a good shot, and a good hunter who knows when to take the shot, 35# is plenty enough!

Im sure its already been said but if 35 pound is your max, better stick to small game only

"Shoot the heaviest you can accurately" would be better advice I think.

I can comfortably pull a 60-70 pound bow back and snap a shot off. Probably even heavier. But I know from my own competition experience on 3D courses that a 40-45# bow greatly increases my accuracy so thats what I shoot and hunt with.

Is 35# enough for deer? My best guess would be yes if it was a high performance bow and the archer had a average or longer than average draw length. I would stick to 2 blade heads and skinny carbon arrows to make sure you get a complete pass through.

If I was being hunted.. And my choice of hunters was a guy that had been shooting 40# all his life vs a guy that had been shooting 80#. I would pick the 80# hunter because I would stand a much better chance of getting away.

Deer are small game where I hunt. :)

this buck was taken this Tuesday by a 115# woman with a 35 pound@28" longbow, drawn to about 26.5" (do the math) and bear razorhead lites on Easton 2018 arrows cut to 31"

doublelung , full penetration at 10 yards

same woman, same bow, same arrows, same distance, 100# feral hog, 4 years ago, same result :-)

It's not enough in my book. 45lbs is the bottom line IMO... But whatever is hunting legal in your state is the "final answer".

TomL

Due to bad injury to my bow arm due to work,I can not hold my bow arm steady. Seriosly considered putting a set of 38# limbs I have on my Bear takedown,BUT, I am not confident it will do the job under any but perfect cicumstances at close range. Therefore I am suffering along with 50# limbs for now.

TomL, books are tougher than animals ;-)

A question older than any of us alive today. Eastern Woodland Indians kept themselves alive with bows made without fiberglass, flinging flint-tipped sticks. They didn't have spine testers. They didn't weigh points. They did not have heavy bows.

it just tickles me how many folks will argue the "too light" point to someone who grew fat on game killed with the light tackle :-)

About a week ago I killed a buck with a 45#tradtech Titan,cedar shaft and 190gr grizzly,nothing spectacular but the penetration was,double lung shot that blew thru the center of the off side shoulder and penetraded up to the fleching,Ive had tendonitis bad in my bow arm elbow and 45 is about the best I can do,would a 37# bow have killed that deer?oh ya.

lol...ok :-)

I hunt with 44 to 50# bows but would not hesitate to hunt with 35 if I had to. I would likely get into some serious yardage limitations at 35# though.

"it's really not so much the draw weight as it is proper placement of an sharp broadhead with an arrow suitable for the bow you are shooting. i have been killing deer, elk, and bear for 57 years and have never seen a bad shot turn into a good one because of bow draw weight. as long as you are legal just relax and enjoy the meat."

Amen.

A young lady of 11, hunting with her father, just took a 10 pt buck that dressed at 172#!!!!! She took it with a bow that had 26#'s on the scale. It, the buck, went NOWHERE as shot placement was about perfect.

I DO NOT ADVOCATE BOWS LIGHTER THAN 40#'S AS THIS SEEMS TO MY PERSPECTIVE TO BE THE "NORMAL" lower LIMIT.

This really happened two weeks ago in Maine. The Maine law,I believe, states 35#'s minimum, and there is no way I, personally, would have allowed this to happen or have been a party to it on that hunt.

BUT....she is one hell of a shot. I know this, MY BEST FRIEND IS HER COACH AND I PERSONALLY PAID FOR HER ARCHERY LESSONS, because of her desire to hunt (she also took a tom turkey in May with a 20 Gage....when she was 10!) .

It was her fathers decision and I do NOT condone it. I HAVE TOLD HIM SO. But 26#'s droped a monster.

I am told that in parts of the country folks hunt deer with 22LR. Crazy to me, but it goes on and on and on. I do NOT agree with it......and would NEVER do it but........some do.

I should add the bow in question was a new 2010 Matthews Z7. Not Trad I realize. Jim.

bow poundage don't kill deer, hemorraghing does.

It's interesting to me that usually the guys who say that a 35# bow or 45# bow is not enough to hunt with have never done it. All their personal experience is with heavy draw weight bows, so they assume it won't work. I used to think that a heavy bow was what would kill, but after hunting with light weight bows and shooting big animals, now I'm convinced that penetration from a heavy arrow is impressive and is what I trust to kill a big game animal. After all, the bow makes a very poor projectile. An arrow works much better for that. About 3 weeks ago, I shot a cow elk with a 41# bow shooting a 630 gr. arrow. I got 20" of penetration!

Also, what does bow weight have to do with arrow speed? My 41# recurve shown above will shoot a 630 gr. arrow @ 143 fps. A typical modern D-style longbow (straight limb) will need approx. 50# to shoot the same arrow the same speed. It will take about 55# from a typical selfbow to get the same 630 gr. arrow to 143 fps. Who here will say that a 55# selfbow is not enough bow for deer or even elk? We should be discussing arrow weight and arrow speed-that's what really matters when talking about penetration, esp. arrow weight IMHO.

i have to agree with grndhunter...most of you guy's that are knocking 35# bows for hunting, haven't done it, although i to use heavier bows, i have shot a pile of deer and experience tells me you will get, plenty of penetration with a 35# bow provided you have sharp broadheads and tuned arrows, i have an aunt that in her younger days shot a couple deer with an old bear recurve 31#... killed em just as dead as our 50 and 55# bows, my grandfather before he died was drilling em with a 38# recurve and my father after laying block all his life and ruining his shoulders, back and elbows now uses a 35# bow although he's gaining a few pounds by having a 30" draw. i'll be there one day also at 45 years old and doing construction work since 14 im already feeling it. i doubt i'll alway's be able to shoot 60#. and to the guy that stated earlier that some guy's want to go lighter so they don't have to put effort into shooting a heavier bow. might be true for some but not all. Some of us actually work for a living, we don't sit in some freaking ,air conditioned, heated office, pushing a pencil.. heavy lifting and weather takes it's toll..or injury's or whatever. if it's legal and it's all you can comfortably shoot go for it you'll be fine.

After seeing these pics of women and kids killing with a 35#, I believe the point has been proven. However I am with Sapcut. Assuming you're a grown man who can pull a 35# bow, I would assume you could pull 45 and would recommend pursuing game with the most potency that you have the ability to give em.

grndhntr; I think has it right...the bow doesn't kill the game the arrow does!! Arrow weight & flight & broadhead are whats important.

And yes. Grndhntr nailed it. Arrow speed/weight is the key. So, how fast could 35# bow possibly shoot a hunting weight arrow? I really don't even know. Anybody?

Great thread. I'm down to 35#. I have killed a lot of deer with 42#. No problem with penetration if I didn't hit the shoulder bone.

Better start with an agreement with what is a hunting wght arrow. Good luck with that.

Well said, Sapcut !!!

I shoot

All at 29 "

36# Holm

43# whip

43# Holm

Why the fuss,

Is 35 lbs. enough? How about 25 lbs.? How about 20 lbs.? Heck, I wouldn't want to stand in front of my 8 year old grandson with a sharp broadhead and a 15 lb. bow. All I know is that all the greats and near greats shot bows pulling more the 50 lbs, sometimes a lot more. They didn't just pick up a heavy bow and start shooting it. They all worked their butts off building up the strenght to do so. The Thompson brothers, Pope and Young, Howard Hill, Ben Pearson, Fred Bear and countless others. I think we should hunt with bows that are as heavy as we can handle (with some sweat equity) not bows that are easy to pull. The bottom line is, shoot what you will , I swear I'll not hold it against you. *chuckles* Alaska jim

I have a Ben Pearson recurve that is 39# @ 28" and I have set me friend up shooting it. I was practicing point on with it and it was hitting higher than my 64# longbow at 30 yrds shooting the same Beman MFX 400 with 225 grains up front. That really changed my thinking. Got good penetration on the target too. He's going to take it boar hunting with me. Just need some camo on the white limbs.

And another well said, Dave Lay ....

Unless you are handicapped or a young kid I do not subscribe to such a low weight bow past small game. Will it kill a deer or an elk? Of course but then so will a .22 but theres a reason why you are not allowed to hunt deer an elk with a .22

I think 40# is minimum here in Arkansas. I would personaly hate to shoot less than 50# with my longbow.

My 34# homemade self bow killed deer for me when i was younger. It should probably still work.

Okay, that "stick to small game" comment that I missed last MAY was too much. I can't stand it anymore, so here they are....

first one was a recurve 36# @ 26", about 14 yards with 420 gr. arrow.

second one was a longbow 39# @ 26", about 20 yards with 515 gr. arrow.

Both animals were well over 200 lbs. live weight. Not what I refer to as "small game".

Where's the blood? ;^)

If a 50# selfbow shoots an arrow at 140 f.p.s., and a 35# high performance recurve shoots the same arrow at the same speed, what's the difference??..The arrow doesn't know what the bow poundage was that it was shot from, does it??..Having a short draw length, my personal minimums would be 40# with a good recurve, 45# with a straight limbed Longbow, and around 50# with a well made Selfbow/wooden bow..I've had my share of shoulder and neck troubles, I used to shoot bows in the upper 60# range...My current bows are much lighter,but a bit higher performance in arrow speed...One thing that keeps coming to my mind concerning this thread, is that most Trad shooters that I've shot with have a max. effective range of approx. 20 yards, give or take a few yards, and for whitetail deer and smaller critters, with a well placed shot from a good bow, I cant see much difference in killing ability from one bow to the next...Honestly, most of "US" cant shoot well enough at the longer yardages to even take the shot, so the penetration issue is a moot point to Me...Take care...Harpman

It isn't "some sort of last word on the subject" from me... just simply showing that they are quite capable of killing animals that aren't categorized as "small game".

Personally, I've not lost any animals shooting 35-45 lb. bows, YET. But I have lost animals shooting 45-60 lb. bows. None of them were the result of inadequate penetration, but rather inadequate shot placement.

I used 55-60 lb. bows for about 10 years, 45-55 lb. bows for another 10 years, and 35-45 lb. bows for the last 5 years. So I suppose my time is coming, just as it did when shooting the other bows. And when it does happen, I'm quite certain it won't be because of inadequate penetration... but rather inadequate shot placement.

SteveBNY - pretty disappointing not seeing all that blood, huh? :-)

Do whatever it takes to keep hunting, redneck, as long as you stay within the law. 40# will do it. In fact, that is the NH minimum for deer and turkey. Jawge

We always hear about how this bows more eficient than that bow n faster. Should the states list each min bow weight by bow name also? Guess its the old target archer/bowhunter argument thats been going on for longer than I been in bowhunting. Most can work up to 50 lbs if they're healthy. If not we all know 40-45 will work if you're shot placements perfect. But at least try to shoot a decent hunting weight before ya start "whats the least I can get by with".

three more posts and I am done:

#1

(a repeat) 30#@26.5"

clean kill

#2

(a repeat) 30#@26.5"

clean kill

#3

(new to this thread)

39#@25" clean kill

I am not advocating anything here, except that just because you are are a slightly built female, or a pre-teen, does not mean you can not hunt deer or hogs with stickbow, so long as you have dedication (get to know your equipment, and shoot it well) and discipline (take only optimum shots at reasonable ranges)

I would also state that I have NEVER had or personally known of a hunter wounding and losing a deer or hog with a <40# bow.....

can't say that for most folks shooting 60#

There are some bad hits that might be improved by more poundage, but perhaps with lower poundage they would have been good hits to start with! Personally, I am pretty good with my 50# bows...but I am deadly at 40-45.

If I haven't said it, I want to do so now. I get a ton of solid info from this forum. Having said that...Thanks to all.

I gotta tell ya. I know an older gent in SC who is deadly with an old 37# D bow he made himself. He certainly taught me more about gap shooting in 15 minutes than I ever knew about at all.

Any info is important to me, because I have two grandsons who want to do it all. So, after a long layoff from hunting, here I go again.

I grew up in the sixties in Alabama. Hunting was like breathing. I learned to be very careful and precise when it came to shooting and killing any animal. Respect for the hunt was always first. You can bet that two more people sre getting those same lessons now.

My boys are actually very good shots, and are very serious about making a good shot. They certainly shoot better than me.

I've stated here recently that because of an old injury, I gotta drop some draw weight. No choice. I thought that was a worry, beause I shoot 40-45# as it is.

So, I got a chance to go to Lancaster Archery recently. I thought that maybe ILF might be my answer. I also shot a 35# Samick Stingray.

It had to be the design of the bow. For 35#, that was a hard hitter. I am certainly a novice, don't get it twisted. I compare trad rigs from a 45# Samick Sage, which is a really hard hitter, and a 40# Ben Pearson Cougar that will never leave me...ever.

That Stingray was a handle forward bow, and very comfortable to shoot. There is certainly one in my future now. Frog Killer. Tree rats, beware. That's coming next.

Enough about me.

A few of the 3D events I've attended, I have been paired with other fellas who seemed to me to have too much bow. I think I heard the term Texas Heart shot more than once (in the butt).

When you can see a fella struggling to reach anchor time after time, it makes you wonder. Don't get me wrong. I shifted to 3 under and follow the hold...hold...go method a while back. It works wonders for me.

On the same token, I've talked to a few folks who were shooting draw weights between 32 and 43#. They were very serious about a coupla things. Make the shot. Take the time to tune your equipment, and be anal about it. PRACTICE!

We all know the law applies. There should be no question at all that following the law has to be the first thought. That is one the very few places that outdoorsman of any breed MUST put their best foot forward. Too much of a bad thing rests on not doing so. Know your restrictions.

Shoot within your range. It might be a lighter bow, who knows? I'm sure if I asked some of the professional bowyers here if a bow made with different woods makes a difference in power, that might generate some interesting reading.

Shoot what puts a smile on your face. Spend the time to get confident with your equipment. Have fun.

Works for me.

Again folks, thanks for your indulgence. Too good.

Night Wing, Your set-ups will kill any deer walking.All the time!! I hunt with 42 to 55 pounders at 28" The 55 I get better releases but hold at draw longer with the 42. For Me,When its really cold out a 42 is just the thing to keep from tearing muscles. Mostly I hunt with two 47's. Good luck and please post your kills. Hammer man

Today's 35# bow is yesterdays 45#; both adequate for whitetails. If you believe only a weapon that is guarenteed to kill a whitetail every time is ethical, I'd suggest a 30-06.

To tell the trueth I can shot my 65# longbow about 10-20 times in the back yard . But then I am tired and my shoulder hurts for the next week.. So I don't practice at all for a week............ But I also have a 52# longbow that I can maybe shoot 20-30 arrows thru before I get tired..Much more then that and my shoulder starts to hurt some.... But I prefer my 42# longbow... I can go out and shoot 100+ arrows and really enjoy watching my arrows fly. I'm sure that it will kill any whitetail walking with a 2016 and 2blade. I have lost 2 STOS to a live white oak tree behind my target while tuning my setup. They went in so deep I couldn't even get them out with a pair of pliers...And that was before I even got my arrows well tuned... HOW TOUGH DO YOU GUYS THINK A WHITETAIL DEER IS???? I know for certain a 40# bow will make 2 holes in me at 20 yrds. And I am sure I don't want to get hit with a 35#er either?? My thinking is " a good hit is a good hit no matter the weight.." Will 5 extra pounds really make that much of a differance on going thru a shoulder??? How about being able to draw my bow, holding it steady for 3-10 seconds while really really burning a hole at where I want to hit??? Allowing me to calm down and really focus.. Is the extra 5#'s really worth me losing that and becoming a snap shooter or only able to hold for maybe 2-3 seconds before I HAVE TO let her ripp???

Stringcutter thats when you either give up the heavy bows or start to build into them. Some bowhunters build into their hunting weight bows n shoot lighter bows for 3d. For the hunting season archers who don't shoot the rest of the year you probably have no choice but shoot a target bow.

"If you believe only a weapon that is guarenteed to kill a whitetail every time is ethical, I'd suggest a 30-06." so you don't believe we owe it to the animals we hunt to get a quick humane kill?

Some states dropped their bow weight restriction to lower weight because of compounds. Face it guys a kids compound outshoots our adult bows. Even the hunting weight ones.

Very good post Jim. Its not just the old timer guys who made their living parcially by hunting. Its the big time guys today also. You won't see them shooting under 50 lbs, at least not many of em.

Its a real shame y'all can't post all the pics of all the animals lost with low weight bows.

""If you believe only a weapon that is guarenteed to kill a whitetail every time is ethical, I'd suggest a 30-06." so you don't believe we owe it to the animals we hunt to get a quick humane kill?" ????? Point being the difference between the killing power of a 35# bow and a 50# bow is, in my opinion, insignificant compared to the difference between a 50# bow and a 30-06. We as bowhunters participate in a sport that requires exceptional skill (compared to rifle hunters) to produce a humane kill.

To suggest I don't believe in a quick humane kill from my statement is an insult.

And it's a real shame that pics of all the animals lost with higher weight bows can't be posted either. :-)

sorry yankee thats how I read your post.

Its a real shame y'all can't post all the pics of all the animals lost with low weight bows. And its a shame the same cant be shown of higher weight bows,because the people cant shoot em worth a crap and are in too much self denial ,to admit it. It flat Amazes me,that even with all the vast proof from many,through the years,there are still some who are in denial and will argue the facts with Dogma from a few Gurus,who came from an era,of sport shooting.These same gurus who took shots,you would rant as being unethical,yet you quote them,while talking of ethics and responsability.One of our famous archers,that is Hailed and looked upon,for his high draw weights,is quoted in print as stateing that a 40 lb bow and 450 grn arrow,is sufficient for,not only Deer,but Elk and Moose as well.He made this quote in the interest of forming Weight requirements for Game hunting laws.Would you come on Here and Argue hunting with lower weight bows with Howard Hill? Ive said it before and ill say it again.The most reliable Meat provider,i ever knew when i was young,was a subsistence hunter,who hunted for 3 families,every year.He probably killed more deer through the years than anyone on this site.When hunting with a Bow,He used a 40 lb bow,but his draw was 26",so whats that tell ya.Yet you would argue with him abot ethics and Bow weight,wouldnt you.Many people,even those that HAD the heavy bow mentality,are comming around to what people have known for a long time,but was lost for a while,in an era of sport hunting.You dont "need" heavy bows for most hunting in this country.

So true Piney. We're got entirely too much wounding in our ranks. But to say its heavy weight causing its just wrong. Anyone who's built into their bow weight(which anyone hunting wiht it should be) and can shoot is capable of 1 good shot. Getting tired from shooting heavier weight(if built into it) comes from repeated shots its not gonna make a difference in 1 shot. But can make a difference in blood trails. Doesn't matter, sounds like you've done quite well with lighter bows just as I've done quite well with heavier bows. To be honest when I dropped to 60 lbs that I figured that to be mid weight. Never heard 60 called heavy before coming to the leatherwall. As for the half draws. Come to a traditional shoot in ohio. You'll see bunches of that, n almost all shooting under 50 lbs. Thats a bad habit that knows no weight limits. I think it came along mainly from tp and from guys who had never shot stickbows trying to shoot "trad" back in the late 80's.

shot this one last night 40#@28" bamboo backed ipe bow.

Pinelander and others. You can probably kill most anything with a 35# bow. MY OPINION doesn't count any less than anyone elses. I think it's unacceptable on big game and that's why we have a minimum of 40# in colorado. Every now and then I pull out a 1968 bearcat that was my first bow as a kid. I killed over a dozen elk and been through the mill in most any situation you can think of in the high country... Yep...unacceptable. However shoot whatever you want as long as it is legal. If you can legitimately and accurately shoot more then the question is why?

I personally would not hunt elk or moose with a 35-40 lb. bow... even though some hunters have done so successfully. But if someone is planning to hunt white-tailed deer with that poundage (for whatever reason), I surely won't tell them it is not capable of killing deer.... because it is.

I don't know (and I don't ask) why people shoot that low of poundage. I only know why I was shooting that poundage at the time I killed those deer. And if I had followed the advice of those who say "only for small game"... I wouldn't have been bowhunting deer those years, and what a bummer that would've been for me... missing out on some great hunts.

People who can shoot more wght accurately ARE NOT THE ONES asking if the lighter wghts will work!!!!!

Those asking are the ones shooting the most they can accurately and are seeking opinions on their equipment. Why so many try to make more of it then thate is a wonderment.

Looking at the threads ever year about multiple misses (which equals multiple unspoken wounds) the highest priority of the community should be to promote accuracy 1st and foremost and higher wghts after that. Shaming someone into trying to shoot more wght then they can accurately handle is doing a bigger diservice then promoting accuracy and shooting within their limitations.

"People who can shoot more wght accurately ARE NOT THE ONES asking if the lighter wghts will work!!!!! " IN some cases true that is why my first post clearly delineated exactly that. I think we are all on the same page. I mentioned the handicapped and kids as acceptable circumstances. I support this. 40# is legal and that should be the minimum. Most handicapped individuals will go to a compound just because of this and I think that's the way to go. No need to be pragmatic about the trad thingy. I shot a compound instinctive and did just fine. I've never used sights or a peep. A deer running through the neighborhood or down the roadway with an arrow sticking in him because of bow weight issues is difficult to defend. Less so than a bad shot.

There are also plenty that are asking because they don't have the money to buy one or want to know if what they have will work so they don't have to buy one.

CJgregory,

You might wanna recheck your Colorado Regs?The min requirement for big game in Colorado,is 35lbs and it has been for a few years.

43# Whip $700

43# Holm $485.00

36# Holm $585.00

Everyone of my bows ,Throws arrows like darts ,right to where I wanna most of the time .They may be off by an inch are so ,But they do really fine ,It matters not the price ,It's what you want that meet your needs that will make the difference ,I have the lower poundage because of my shoulders ,I haven't had to have surgery ,I am fortunate ,So I'm keeping the poundage down so that I may never have to have surgery .

I think it's more about what you carry in your "brain" than what you carry in your hand "Attitude ",I have not had one person that Carries a compound bow ,Make stupid remarks ,Or cut me down because I was carrying a traditional bow,And I do not go along with the attitude that some have

"Until you get rid of your compound you'll never be consistent with your traditional "

It is 100% "attitude ",And at the end of the day when the deer is in the freezer "What's the fuss "

I don't think anything gets people more then "Lower poundage "

You would think we were in church,

Isn't that where they shoot their own soldiers !

Carl

40-45 lbs are my minimum - typically use 55-60 lbs

In Colorado, 35# is legal for elk. On this sight if you view Ken@leisure you can see what a 40# recurve did to a bull elk and a mule doe with 620 grain woodies. I would not hesitate to hunt deer with a 35# bow and a medium weight arrow and a wicked sharp two blade head like a stinger.

My cousin killed a doe with his solid fiberglass 35# bear bow when we were kids.

obey your state games laws for minimum hunting bow weights and use razor sharp broadheads

35# is th elimit for deer in FL.

It Depends on a few things. They've all been mentioned above. 1) State Game Laws 2) Lots of PRACTICE 3) Shot Placement 4) A good quality "SHARP Broadhead" 5) And Final, Make sure all conditions are right before you shoot. Example: wind,branches,rain ect...

Just my opinion

55 lb. bow and a bad hit equals no recovery. 35 lb. bow through the lungs equals a dead deer. its that simple . its where you hit them. i have seen compound shooters with 70 lb. bows make a bad hit and lose the deer. i know an older gentleman who used a browning target bow at 32 lb.s and shot several deer. had a pin for 20 yds. and under and did not shoot any farther. arrow always got clear through and broadhead was sticking out the other side.

we are havin fun ain't we boys?;-)

I once shot a 50 pound pig at about 15 yards a bit high with a 37 compound. The broadhead went in about half an inch stayed in there for about 3 seconds as the hog squealed and ran away. Then the arrow dropped off. I was using an aluminum arrow with a broadhead that was not a cut on contact type. In the picture you see that arrow hit at that big shoulder bone right where it intersects the spine. I beleive if I had made that same shot with my current 50# recurve the animal would have dropped paralyzed style. For me any animal that can be had with a recurve is really special and if I lose one because of a high hit that would have been down if I had used a bit more muscle then I'd feel pretty bad. Imagine hitting a buck of a life time with a 35 and it hits that big bone and doesn't go through. You could've had em if you had a heavier bow. These things happen. No one is a perfect shot.

oops. here's the pic.

oops. here's the pic. I'll get it. Never, never, never, never, never give up.

I've been thinking about getting a 35, just to us at 3D and on those winter days when my shoulder is bothering me. Also, for me, a 35 would work dandy from a tree stand on a cold daywhen I'm wearing heavy restrictive clothing. I think I just talked myself into it. With limited funs, I'll likely get a Montana.

Martin X-200 35#, CE Heritage 90's with 125 grain Magnus Stingers at 18yards and a total pass through.

Impressive Hambone. I've been fantasizing with getting a Bear Super Grizzly in 35.

My son shot a Pa doe and buck on back to back nights with his 29# at 28 inch t/d Fedora recurve when he was 14. Note: his draw was 26 inchs. the doe crashed within sight ( I was watching from a nearby tree) and we found the buck within 70 yards. First two shots he ever took at big game. lucky kid. I found out later it violated Pa minimum standards, which was news to me, and, as it turns out, absurd.

GLF posted "Its a real shame y'all can't post all the pics of all the animals lost with low weight bows."

I killed a deer last year that had an arrow sticking out of it's hind quarter. And it was put there with a high poundage compound from the neighbors farm. I also killed a buck, put out of it's misery really, that was shot in the buttocks by a 7mm Rem Mag. My point is shot placement, a well tuned arrow and a sharp broadhead from low poundage bow will work every time. I've been to many traditional shoots with guys shooting too much weight for them and they can't consistently hit the broadside of a barn.

Guys all I know is I have shot 60lbs for years, then went to 55 because I didn't get to practice as much and just getting older. I bought my son a 40 Grizz and I have taken it from him, I can shoot it better than anybow I have ever shot except for my Robertson Longbow(53#). I have a 45# Wes Wallace recurve ordered now. I can also draw the bow an inch farther so my 27 inch draw with my 55+ bows went to a 28+ inches with the 40. Not only am I more accurate but I can also shoot all day long. It is also easier to pull setting in a trees stand all morning long in the cold. I think I am a better shot with a bow 50 and under than with over 50 and it has nothing to do with how much bow I can pull it has to do with the bow that I believe will put a deer down quickly. my 2 cents

i know people who lost deer with a 30-06 after a marginal hit. bottom line is: a good shot equals recovery. some people can do it with a heavy bow, a lot of us can't. use the heaviest bow you can shoot accurately. 40-45 lb. range was the norm before the compound. most switching to recurve shot a 60+ or - compound and do not want to drop in poundage with a recurve but eventually realize 35-45 is plenty with a well placed shot.

mighty light.

lot of people shoot high poundage as george stout says and lean into the bow and are only drawing 24 inches. or they let it go at 24 and then pull their hand back to anchor 4 more inches after the arrow is released. can you hold your bow at full draw for 5 seconds. if so, you can handle it.

The answer is NO under 40# is not feasable for anything but a small doe ,and some Turkeys . I Pm'd my resspectful response to the Gent that started the thread this ones for the rest of ya ' If you are foolish enough to hunt Wild Game with anything less than the strongest you can safely hunt with , you have no busniess in the woods , When I read PineLancers post about folks hurting themselves its BS and there are ALOT of folks out there that worked up to Heavyweight bows over the course of thier lives . My Go to Bow is 115# wright FireHawk or 100# Hill and I shoot over 230# before surgeries, I had UNREALATED neck and back surgery and cannot shoot 115#yet so I Backed down to 70# but really had to train for it . And DO not tell me Woman cannot shoot 50plus # bows I see Some Beautiful Women shooting higher all the time ,You work up to it slowly over time . I will not step into the woods with a bow I do not know for sure I will put down whatever is in it . If I want the chance at a MONSTER buck ( which I dont get anymore but still )I want to know I am zipping a Broadhead through the Vitals every time even if he jumps the string . I do not take shots more than 25Yrds 90% have been under 20 , That means My arrows are cooking and NO way for it to get away . I practice all through the off season (barring surgeries) not just a few weeks before season . Gents Use decent sense ,Not Ol' boy sense if you have to back off of hunting be ethical and do it . Dont risk hurting our image by maiming game just because someone said you CAN do it ,Please Do Not do it

Although it was with a compound the wife shot this blue wilderbeest with a draw weight of 38lbs. She didn't get a complete pass through but did poke out the opposite side. Shot placement is much more important then poundage within reason.

I think the best thing we could all do is stop worrying about what the other guy is doind and make ourself the best we can be. If you are right, and you are not, how did the Indians kill all those animals with bows of that weight? Unethical I quess. I reckon they had no business being in the woods.

Well, when another guy asks "Can I do this / should I do this?" We have an invitation to give our opinions. I don't believe a 35 pound stick bow is a big game bow, ever. Guys do it but it's a trick to pull off. Shot placement and penetration become super critical. BTW I feel a modern 38 pound compound is probably equal to or better than a 50 pound recurve. Not comparing apples to apples guys. This has been a great thread though.

I don't believe that getting consistent penetration with a low-poundage bow is a "trick". It takes the right arrow. Now I know that this thread is about WT deer and turkeys but my experience may put some perspective to it. Heavy arrows flying slowly do penetrate well in my experience. This cow elk was taken with a 41# bow (because of my bad shoulder) but the "trick" to doing it is using a sharp cut-on-contact 2 blade broadhead in front of a heavy (I like 600+ gr. for elk) arrow. My arrow was 630 gr. going a blistering 143 fps! It got 20" of penetration and this was the 5th. elk I have taken with light-weight (41#-54#) traditional bows and heavy (590-650 gr.) arrows. I have also been impressed with penetration (and bone-breaking abilities) on mule deer with this setup. I have found that guys who like to say it's unethical to use light-weight bows don't typically have the experience of hunting with one or have used light-weight arrows with one.

Who said the Indians shot light weight bows? And besides that, I doubt they were taking shots much over 20 yards...

On the other hand, most of the ones I know of -- the nations here in Montana, let gravity do a lot of the killing for them.....bison over the edge...

Exactly Harleywriter. They did run them off of cliffs. Got that from the same publication as the 30-35 pound bow statement. The distance thing is excatly my point also. Maybe instaed of worrying about telling somebody what would be considered proper draw weight we should be working on what our own weaknesses are. For someone shooting a light poundage bow that would be making sure they get closer to game, just like the native Americans did.

My dad has the book and I cannot remmember the name of it, but I have read it there and in history book in school.

OOPS, sorry. I didn't realize that I had already posted on this back in Oct. (so I gave my opinion and picture again) Can't believe this thread is still alive.

guy asks a question, guys give him their opinions...why all the anger and attitude from some of you? 35 pounds is pretty damned light. Yeah, it can be done. If that's all you want to pull...go shoot it. 70 pounds is plenty heavy,....probably too heavy for many shooters. Trad arch is soul fulfilling pursuit. Do what feels good and be responsbile and respectful to the prey.

Lol guys are always comparing compounds of light weight. A 35lb compounds shoots faster than a 50 lb recurve. My thought is why shoot 35lbs with all the "work" that takes, why now try a real challenge n use a 15lb'er. ;D

Lousy shot placement with heavy poundage bows usually gives the same results as lousy shot placement with lighter weight bows. But I suspect that across the board, lousy shot placement is more common with the 70+ pound bow. There are several other factors FAR more important than poundage. The same seems true with 7mmMags and 30-06's versus 243's and 25-06. Just my observations over the past 30 years of deer hunting.

Why is it the folks thinking that shooting Heavy means lousy shot placement ? I think most of you who spout that are doing so without the personal knowledge of the subject . Folks that shoot Heavy Responsibly do so over a Life time ,in my Case I have been shooting over 30 years , We practice twice as hard and are placing our arrows exactly where we want them to be right on top of each other,the trajectory is Much flatter and in the Ethical hunting range of 25yards and under . I am NOT advocating shooting what I do , but using some decent sense is in Order .

And I am REALLY tired of folks spouting off about what Native Americans shoot when you do not know what the heck you are speaking of , Most of the Warring tribes not only shot the Heaviest bows they could in many ,thier Place in thier cultures the Strongest and best hunters led the tribe . The Foolish notion that they were and are little people that pull little primitive sticks really shows you know very little about native archery let alone the native people .

Current Man is Very Weak and too dependant on technology . The sturdiness of mankind is a Joke in comparison to just 10 generations ago ,Maybe not in MY family but certainly apparent in the current thought process's of todays "Traditional" Bowhunter

I have a light set of limbs coming so I'll let you know.

The "foolish" thinking in regards to this subject on this site is other people trying to cram their preference down someone else's throat. Dead is dead! It doesn't matter if your arrow was traveling 220 fps or weighed 1000 grains!! I read in Bowhunter magazine a long time ago recommended KE for deer sized animals was 30 to 35 and for elk size 50 to 55. I'm sure less KE would work for either though. Could be wrong though, as I am neither a writer or scientist, just a hunter.

anyone got any bear no. 1 limbs areound 40 on an A riser that are too light to hunt with and want to part with them?

Den, you might be incorrect, but maybe not. I did considerable research on Eastern Woodland Indians for a book. The most consistent information indicated 35lbs. was about average. They didn't have the knowledge of tillering, etc. that we have today. The bows were all wood, and not laminated. Made from a single piece of wood and strung with sinew. Points were stone. Plenty of meat was not the norm. No tribes survived from just hunting.

Reading this thread makes me glad that I live in a state that has the good sense to require a 40# minimum at one's draw (which I believe is certainly adequate for deer sized game).

Ultra-light might be fine for trout fshing but in my opinion has no place in hunting.

(I wonder if Upland hunting boards have threads with titles like, "Is a 410 enough gun for phesant?")

When I was a boy I showed up at my family's deer camp in Michigan with my new browning nomad stalker 50lb bow the old timers there thought I was hunting dinosaurs, they quickly advised me that they had not seen one in all the years they had hunted in Michigan . They all had bows in the 30-40 lb range and had been bringing the deer home for generations, they were just good shots. Now I live in the Yukon and my nomad does not see much action, I hunt grizzly and moose I use bows in the 60-70 range but the older I get the more tempted I am to pick up the nomad again, I know it would do its part if I did mine. kootenay.

Thank you for bringing it all up again after a year - we really needed it!

I've read lots of testimonials of deer kills with 35 - 40 pound recurves. But what about 35 - 40 pound howard hill bows? They are slower right? I'm getting me one soon; And am considering a light bow becuase my bow hand is acting up and I want to be able to shoot this expensive bow in my golden years.

not in arkansas it is'nt 40# minumum.

Tradmt....classic...LOL

I believe traditional archery takes practice and experience to learn what will or won't work while operating legally. However as I have learned just because you can draw heavier weight and shoot very accurately does not mean you can keep that up in the middle of archery season with quicker practice sessions firing less arrows and then throw in the elements and you learn that 55lbs is too much but 50lbs is just right. However if the archer, the bow, and the complete arrow are properly matched I am sure ( within reason) that a well placed shot with lighter legal bows will do the job just fine.In addition the shooter has to operate within his or her limits and the bows limits. Accuracy beats speed everytime. If its not broke don't fix it whether its heavier or lighter. Take care

35# is legal for hunting in New Jersey. Not sure how they decided on that weight though. According to some of these posts it works just fine. Good thing lite weight hunting bows are legal. So more people can enjoy hunting. Thanks for sharing.

Tradmt....classic...LOL

Yeah,Freakin Hillarious!!! Maybe we should make all those folks,who use less than what you experts use,pay back all those tags they filled,with their less than ethical bows.Mrs Laclair,would probably go broke.Old man Poteet,who used 35 lbs and filled freezers for 3 different families for more years than some of you have been shootin a bow,musta been a complete idiot,for not listenin to your vast wisdom.I woulda loved to see you guys try n convince him of it.That woulda been CLASSIC.LOL

Wow! Incredible thread and great comments.

A modern well tuned longbow or recurve will harvest a deer easily at 35 lbs. I would stay with an arrow over 500 grains. I like Nightwing's recommended weights.

Tradmt....see what happens when you start showing off with your expertise and vast knowledge and common sense. You shouldn't be so hard hearted around such sensitive souls.

With the right arrow, broadhead and foc, you don't even need a bow. Just drop it on them from a tree stand. ;^)

I've got an Idea, everyone hunt with what they fell confident they can cleanly harvest the game they are hunting.