How much is too much draw weight?

[Todd_ID]

The way I size draw weight to a new shooter is to have them sit in a chair, and have them raise their feet off the floor.  The weight they can draw without struggling is the weight I recommend them starting with.  For most that's about 50-55#, so I tell them to go with a 50-60 pound bow.  There's a chance that they'll shoot enough to be able to draw more, but many don't.  Most people that think they need a 70# draw weight haven't hunted much to get into the contorted draw positions and trying to do it without excess motion; some can at 70#, but it takes a strong person to do it effectively.

Most of the problem with holding a bow at full draw is the weight of the bow in the bow hand and not the draw weight.  Drawing and holding the weight uses huge muscle groups in your back.  Supporting the bow's weight at arm's length uses the relatively small shoulder muscle.

[bloodhound]

some good stuff here, but i think you should be able to draw your bow strait back while held on target and do it slowly. if you can take 4-5 seconds to draw your bow and pull it back without shaking like a rag doll you can shoot the poundage. none of this shoot for the sky draw, looking behind you to see whos watching while you use your neck muscles twisting your back trying to make a standing pretzel draws. nice, easy, slow, strait back draw without changing your shooting stance or form.

[Miles]

The answer to your question is:  whatever is comfortable for you.    There is no one size fits all when it comes to draw weights.    I shoot an 80lb bowtech and can shoot 150-200 arrows a night if I feel like it, but I've also been shooting a bow since 10 years old and developed the proper muscle groups to be able to do so.   As a kid I started low, and would add a half turn on each limb every so often.  I built myself up to the minimum 45lb draw weight for hunting (NH)  and just kept going after that.  Poundage is not everything...but it helps in some instances.   

[pianoman9701]

A good trick to keep your compound bow at full draw when an animal hangs very close up is to drop the both arms until your shooting hand is at shoulder height and lock that elbow into your side. You can hold it there for quite a while while waiting for the critter to step out.

[pianoman9701]

Too much? I knew a guy who shot a longbow at 100 lbs, consistently and accurately.

[bloodhound]

i dont agree with the if you can hold it back deal. i feel thats crap. i dont care how long you can hold an 80 pound bow back at 85% let off, if you cant do it without waving the bow around like a crazy person all over the place trying to pull it back. all that movement will give you away in a heart beat. slow and steady wins the race.

[sebek556]

Too much? I knew a guy who shot a longbow at 100 lbs, consistently and accurately.

fred bear 

[Todd_ID]

Too much? I knew a guy who shot a longbow at 100 lbs, consistently and accurately.

fred bear 

Well before that.  Saxton Pope and Art Young did it at the turn of the century.  And they shot at stuff out to 200-250.

[cocogirl]

Draw weight is subjective to the owner and how honest they are with themselves. Shouldn't be difficult to pull back but there is situations that we all can get into hunting that can make a bow harder to pull back then just standing there shooting targets. Just be comfortable shooting, don't need to impress anyone. To many folks shoot way to much draw weight and it hurts their shooting form.
I don't know, I've killed everything from moose, elk, bear, and many other animals and all that really matters is making a perfect shot. 

[Todd_ID]

Draw weight is subjective to the owner and how honest they are with themselves. Shouldn't be difficult to pull back but there is situations that we all can get into hunting that can make a bow harder to pull back then just standing there shooting targets. Just be comfortable shooting, don't need to impress anyone. To many folks shoot way to much draw weight and it hurts their shooting form.
I don't know, I've killed everything from moose, elk, bear, and many other animals and all that really matters is making a perfect shot. 

  You've got it figured out!

[blacktailcody]

I'm 14 and I shoot a 70 lb bow at 29in draw length.

[demontang]

Go hike around for a day carring your bow then see how hard it is to pull back and hold. I dont know how many times I would hike up a steep hill to find elk waiting there for me and have to draw and hold tell one would give me a shot

[N7XW]

The maximum legal let off was 65% a couple years ago.

Now there is no limit.

Yep, I had the same question before buying my new bow.  Got it confirmed by wdfw.

[RadSav]

Too much? I knew a guy who shot a longbow at 100 lbs, consistently and accurately.

fred bear 

Actually Fred Bear was a firm supporter of heavy draw weights for hunting.  Many called him an extremist with a holier-than-thou attitude.  It surprises most these days when they find out "Heavy" in Bear's mind was 60# @ 28" shooting about 185 fps.

[windygorge]

i was pulling #70 at 65% mathews ultramax.  i got busted in the open drawing back on a bull at half draw. at 20 yrds.  at about a minute of excruciating pain and a zillion "now what do i do's"  i decided to pull my bow to full draw with him looking, it worked and i was able to get that bull.  if you have never tried holding your bow at half draw for an amount of time, you should try it.  then draw it back.  you find muscles you never knew you had