Do y’all think a 40# longbow at my draw length is adequate for whitetails?

Yes sir I know some hunting with that exact setup.

How's your accuracy and sharpening skills? DL and poundage is not important unless is below legal minimum.

PS This is a summary of hundreds of posts asking same question.

Accuracy is great out to 15 yards.

Yes, hundreds of posts. An archive search will reveal them. I see you posted back in 2007. Where ya been bud? :)

Yes

What’s your draw length? Or maybe I can find it in the archive.

The ONLY measurables are grains and feeps. You probably know how much your arrow weighs and if it’s moving fast enough to provide a useful trajectory, it’s probably fast enough for whatever range out to which the trajectory is useful to you.

But (JMO) if you have a professionally-built (or reasonably well-made) bow and a draw length >24”, with a 400-450 grain arrow, you’re probably as good as your tune.

Yes. Make a full draw and a strong shot. Sufficient to any reasonable hunting range. - lbg

What’s your draw length? Regardless 40lbs has been proven many times to be Adequate for deer. Talked to a women last year that killed an elk with 38lbs.

To all those that said yes, you're missing more than half of the info to answer and incomplete question. What is the draw length? Better yet , what is your fps and arrow weight? In other words , poundage alone is meaningless.

Poundage alone is meaningless. Exactly.

Poundage even on a slower bow and shorter draw length should be adequate.

I would concentrate on a true flying arrow that recovers quickly from paradox and a strong super sharp broadhead around 10 grains per pound and accuracy/shot placement.

I call my #40 Grizzly my twinkie bow. I'm a retired carpenter and all my twinkie tools are in my tool shed. What are twinkie tools you ask? All my lightweight Chinese made plastic bodied throw away tools are my twinkies. They do the job, but they ARE twinkies. My old beat to hell US made heavy duty kick ass tools are definetly not my twinkies. See the pattern here? lol

Absolutely!!

How'd ya do on your Black Bear hunt in '17?

I would be worried less about the draw weight of your bow and far more on why you’re only accurate out to 15 yards…that sounds to me like you have issues with arrow tune and form. If an archer’s arrows are not accurate at 20 yards then they’re not flying well at 15 yards and that affects penetration. If it’s a form issue then that also affects arrow flight. 40# works if you have a stable arrow.

It's great, like a 4 cylinder car, it is all you will ever need.

The bow is 45# 28. I’m pulling about 26.5. I was in a car accident and quit deer hunting all together. Moved to hawaii 2 years ago and had pigs coming up in the yard every evening so I bought a compound off Craigslist and started whacking them. Moved to Arkansas any have more deer than I’ve ever seen. Killed 3 opening morning. Tagged out easy and looking to get back to the longbow for more of a challenge. Been shooting a 45# Stryker longbow at my local dealer and can’t decide if 45# is enough or should I order a 50#. I use to shoot a 50# Jeffery Archery longbow and a 50# Black Widow recurve. I’m now 54 years old. Been shooting 28” 600 spine arrows at the shop. Started at 30” and kept getting shorter til the flew straight. I would want my hunting arrows 500-600gr. I’m not sure of the speed.

A four-cylinder might get ya by, but you will always find a time you will wish you had more power. If ya can handle 50lbs why not get 50lbs

Ofcourse you shoot 50#s if you can handle it.Guys who can handle heavier bows with complete control dont shoot 40# bows particularly in a hunting situation.

Folks have physical issues and some are getting on in years.You also have women and younger archers who typically shoot lighter bows.Some have target panic and need a lighter bow to control it.

A friend of mine has killed 5 whitetails in the last 3 years with a 37# straight limbed ASL longbow and 27 inch draw.Not exactly a speed deamon.He's a good shot and his setup in tuned for perfect arrow flight.

If you do shoot 40#s you do have the option of getting the highest performing bow available if you want maximum arrow speed and kenetic energy.Thats a choice some make with lighter poundage bows.

I would bet the average poundage bow being shot these days is around 45#s just like it was in the earlier days pre 80s and back.The bigger companies sold many bows in the 40-45# range.Bows seemed heavier as I recall in the 80s,90s and earlier 2000s.Compound crossover where guys were shooting compounds in heavier draw weight and thought that thier trad bow had to be heavier.These archers were part of a quick explosion in traditional gear with the advent of Traditional Bowhunter Magazine and nice shoots in many states that catered to trad archers and wer advertised in that magazine.Alot of those guys have gotten older and are now shooting around 40-45#s.

Anyway way plenty of guys,gals and young uns shoot 40#s and bring home the bacon.Bottom line.

Funny, Bowlim.

It doesn't matter if you are shooting 40 lbs or 60 lbs, shot placement and a sharp broadhead and well tuned arrows are what matters. If you get a bad hit iys a bad hit regardless of poundage.

Sean, IMO, its like a rifle...for whitetail deer I can kill the same deer with a 708,308, or 243 as the guy hunting with a 7MM Magnum..but with a whole lot less recoil.

With a 40lb bow with a low stretch string and with the glass used today a 40lb bow will kill a deer as easy as a 50 lb bow.

Too nany people have proven that for it not to be true...including Native Americans

Disagree with you TGbow it not the same!!!!,

If you get a bad hit its a bad hit regardless what the poundage is

If it's legal it will do the job providing you do your part. No matter how many pounds the bow is it's only as good as the shooter.

It will work but 80 lbs is more better

Didn’t I read on here some kid killed a deer with a 27 lb bow? If so than you can kill em with 27 pounds

shot this buck november 6, 2021 here in iowa this fall with a 40#@28" draw bear super mag. did the job with a 50 yard tracking job! oh, and a real sharp wensel 3- blade head.

Yes, 40 lbs is ok in the right hands but like Clint Eastwood said a man got to know his limitations and sharp broadheads and accuracy is a must.

Sharp broadheads and accuracy is a must regardless of what poundage you're shooting

Are we posting compound pictures here now? Wrong forum? Intended for bowsite?

If ya read through the thread he was explaining his situation. I’ve seen compound bows before my eyes don’t hurt :)))

Thanks for everyone’s response’s. I bought it this morning

Only if you're hunting grasshoppers

TGbow. What is different about the glass being used now compared to the glass on a bow made in 1961?

Peter, Im not a bowyer but from what Ive read the glass today is better.

I hate admit this but as many times as this question comes up I'm interested in it now as finger arthritis has reduced my draw weight for 55-60 to sub 50 with 40-45 range coming fast. So don't listen to the critics and keep seeking the info you need. I have been pondering just how effective a Hill style bow is in the 40-45lb range on deer size game because its something I would have never considered 2 years ago.

can't leave anyone out.

Mike E x 2

Mike E, I’ve never been on a bear hunt.

Well, I guess that settles the potential accuracy question…. at whatever range that was. You’ve got some good consistency there.

But (especially) at #40, you definitely (IMHO) want to move your point of aim down to about the where deepest part of the grip is. Those two you stacked high to the left are way too close to the scap for any comfort. Lotta meat and bone there, which is why the myth of The Void is so difficult to stamp out. I wouldn’t want those hits at #55….

Deer ribs just aren’t that sturdy, and if you avoid the shoulder (meaning everything that comes off at once while butchering), you really can’t go wrong unless you’re just TOO far back. More horsepower might sometimes buy you an exit wound when fewer will not, but so long as your broadhead reaches the off side of the animal’s ribcage, you’ve already cut everything that’s going to kill it.

But you’ve killed a bunch of critters with blades, so you know all of this….

Congrats on having not gone too high on poundage. I knew a guy who shot a compound at #80 and said a #35 recurve kicked him HARD. You seem to be doing OK.

Thanks Corax

TGbow...Larry Hatfield stated that the 3M glass used on all Howatt's from 1959-1964 was, when glued with Urac, better than any glass he used after as they needed to use epoxy, which had its own issues.

The 3M had better torsional stability than the later glass.

Peter, like I said Im not a bowyer, just going by what I read. I think Mr Hatfield would know.

Even at that, with a low stretch string on a 40 lb bow you still gaining 5 lbs on the average.

Ohios minimum was set at 40lbs way before compounds so they're pretty sure it is. But for you not over 15 yards because you said accuracy is only good to 15 yards.

Alabama was 35lbs for years and just a few yrs ago it was charged to 30lbs.

To the Op...I hope so it's all I got!

boatbuilder: A 40 - 45# Hill bow will likely be more than adequate. With good form and a full draw so would 35# if legal in your state, with 400 grain arrows and a two blade broadhead.

A few years ago I got a used 32# Howard Hill thinking to using itas a teaching bow for newcomers. It is a lovely Redman model with yew limbs. Guess what? It has become my favorite bow for form work and general archery as I age.

I have no doubt it would cleanly take a buck. But I still have a 39# yew I would prefer to use on deer as log as I am able. Shoot the best you can with the limitations a hard life has left you; and enjoy it. Don't stop. - lbg

sharp broadheads, heavy arrows with near-perfect flight, and close range - no problem IMHO. got a 60's Kodiak Special (66"-33#) that i may take turkey hunting this spring just because... Tennessee used to specify draw weight, no longer. just has to have a "sharpened" head on the arrow. this is ambiguous at best RE knapped points. no longer mentions "20 gauge or larger" for shotguns either for turkeys, just shot sizes - #4 or smaller.

GLF,

Now you got to remember, that is only for the BIG Deer we grow here in Ohio. If you go outside of the state the deer are tougher and need more poundage :'). DANNY

I had my arrows weighed today and they came in at 350gr with the 125gr field point. Im ordering some 190gr Simmons Tree Sharks. That will put me at 415gr. Do y’all think that will be enough?

Sean, IMO..it is enough. That's 10.3 grains per pound.

I prefer heavier equipment because my arrow does not always end up where I am aiming and having extra penetration can make a real difference in the final outcome. To answer your question: yes, 40# is adequate for whitetail, provided you hit it where you are aiming and use a good sharp broadhead.

Ollie x2, killed one about 7 yds with a 42# recurve using a 2016 125 gr, snuffer on a frontal shot that completely went through the brisket and out the anal and traveled another 6 yrds hunting on the ground, razor sharp head and heavy arrow did the damage.

It’s worked for me, so, yes.

Thanks y’all

Thanks y’all

I agree with Ollie. Just hit where you are aiming.

Sorry...I'm with Driver !!!!!! DEs

yep

Shoot the draw weight you can shoot accurately and pay attention to the bowhunter's trinity. A well tuned arrow, a sharp broadhead, and correct shot placement. Keep shots within your personal maximum yardage and you will be fine.

Sean, here was a doe from earlier in the season. 40# bow at my draw. The arrow was roughly 375 grains. The head is a Magnus two blade with bleeders. The shot broke a rib going in, hit the heart, broke a rib on exit and snapped the femur as it exited. The arrow didn’t fully exit her body.

Here is the exit side humerus (misspoke when I said femur)

Toilet. Great deer and great shot congrats

Perfect shot. Well done.

Tony, there's the proof. Good shot.

No, 28.

This one I caught high and right. Punched through the scapula, two ribs and the exit shoulder caught the arrow. It was the same arrow/broadhead from the first doe but I used a 40# bear TD on that one.

Nope. Completely unethical to use a bow of that weight. Anyone using that weight succesfully is just getting lucky and doesn't care about the animals.

Lmao@ Danny

Thanks for the pictures yooper. I’m try to post a video of me missing on here but can’t figure out how to do it

It tickles me when this question is even asked.90% of the old recurves from the 60’s and 70’s are in the 40-45# range. Everybody hunted with them back then. If 40# would kill a deer in the 1960’s, why would it not kill a deer in the 2020’s ? The Indians used whatever weight the bow came out to, for thousands of years….

Guys Yooper gives us old guys hope

Its silly to ask if 40 is enough nowadays as its been proven over and over but i asked the same questions myself.

I have shot 40-45lb bows almost exclusively and in the back of my mind its always been a concern if it was enough.

By random chance i picked up a 55lb bow at my draw recently. Surprisingly to me the poundage isn’t difficult to shoot but i been shooting a 60lb compound the last few months too.

Noticed i get better accuracy with the heavier bow probably due to my poor release.

On the flip side i have found with my 35lb Bear TD it’s finicky on my release and string torque on my drawing arm.

Not advocating more or less poundage as theres to many variables specific to the individual.

Did find it interesting nonetheless.

I've been shooting forty-something pound bows for quite a few years now and I don't think I need more for the hunting I do but...

I pulled out my old 55# Howatt Hunter last week and I really had fun with it. If I find someplace to hunt this year I might take it hunting again.

Vintage I’m in Heber Springs

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