bow pound question

[jstone]

I hurt both of my shoulders a couple of years ago. I am still.trying to get them stronger. But it is still hard to pull my 70 lb. Bow back like I used to. The question is.... I want to drop the pounds 5-10 pounds. Will it still shoot good and still have the punch I need for my deer and elk hunting? It is a mathews z7 30 inch draw and 70 pound pull at the moment. I also shoot 426 gr.arrows? Hope this question makes sense Ideas Please.....Thanks

[Bob33]

40 pounds is the legal minimum and with the right broadhead and shot placement it will cleanly kill deer and elk at all reasonable distances.

[Jellymon]

Don't worry about it. With your draw length, your bow at 60lbs will be just as fast as my draw length at 70lbs. And I easily get passthroughs on elk with it.
Today's bows aren't as affected by backing off poundage like they used to be. The only effects would be draw length lengthening slightly, and MAYBE a tad more noise. Keep in mind though that you will have to retune, and possibly have to get new arrows in a different spine to keep it performing its best.

[lokidog]

You also have to be careful to not back your limb bolts out so far that they come loose.   

[hughjorgan]

You should be just fine in the 60 - 65 range, dropped my poundage down a couple years ago for elk hunting and have had zero problems with penetration on elk I have shot.

[sakoshooter]

I switched from yrs of 70 lb draw weight to 60 with no regrets at all. No more pain. Shoot better especially on long days and have complete penetration on every deer I shoot. Elk? Can't say. They avoid me like the plague, LOL.

[RadSav]

Unless you are planning a Walrus hunt the bow backed down to 60# should be good for anything North America has to offer.  You may need to take a second look at your arrows though.  If too stiff they may no longer group with your field points.

[ouchfoss]

I switched from yrs of 70 lb draw weight to 60 with no regrets at all. No more pain. Shoot better especially on long days and have complete penetration on every deer I shoot. Elk? Can't say. They avoid me like the plague, LOL.

I use to shoot 70 for many years and after lowering my draw weight to 56, my accuracy has gotten a lot better! Wish I would have done it years ago. Have had no problem getting a nice bull, a bear and two deer in last 4 years with that poundage. Heck, my old longbow drew at 55 lbs and shot maybe 160 fps and still had no prob getting me a cow elk one season.

[Band]

I shoot 60 lbs.  The last elk I got was a big cow.  The arrow did a complete pass through (both lungs) and traveled another 70 yards or so before it hit the ground.  There is no reason to shoot a 70 lb. bow IMO and if it causes shoulder pain, backing it off to a lighter poundage is a no-brainer.

[follow maggie]

I shoot mine at 55 pounds and it does fine