another bow question

[Jburke]

What is the best set up for a bow?  I am somewhat familiar with the terminology, but don't really know how to piece it all together.  I know the minimum draw weight is 40 lbs here in Washington, but what is the minimum that you guys recommend for deer and elk?  And I know speed makes a difference also, so any advice on a minimum fps would be good as well.

[Todd_ID]

My  on the draw weight is to shoot a few different weights, i.e, 50, 60, and 70#.  Hunt with the one that you can draw straight back, without moving the bow arm, from any position, and then back it off about 5# to account for cold weather, heavy clothes and first-shot-of-the-day cold muscles. 

Speed is harder to quantify.  Traditional guys kill elk every year at 160 fps and under with heavy arrows, and 20 years ago we killed elk with compounds at 200 fps.  Compound shooters will wound animals and not recover them this year at 360 fps.  Most of the bows out today will shoot a hunting weight arrow in the 250-300 fps range, and that's plenty to kill any animal on the planet.  The speed bows out there now are so strong that the best use of them is being able to use a heavier arrow (500 grain) at a good speed (275 fps) rather than a 400 grain arrow at 320 fps.  To gain speed, you give up a little in the form of forgiveness, hand shock, and noise.  Killing shots are placed in the right spot; speed is rarely the determining factor. 

Shoot a bunch of bows at different local pro shops once you figure out your draw weight.  One of them will feel significantly better (easier to shoot) than the others.  The guys running the shops know their stuff well, so ask questions until you understand what they are saying, and they shouldn't lead you astray as long as you listen to their advice and not the manufacturer's marketing.

[Machias]

Boy that is some very good advice right there!

[colockumelk]

Yeah it almost sound like he knows what he's talking about 

[Intruder]

Spot on advice from Todd....

Another "my " series of suggestions.

Buy a moderately priced compound that feels good to you. 
Get a good fall away rest (the thing that holds your arrow when you draw it back)
Shoot carbon arrows
Get a good quality sight (single or multi pin)... if you go multipin don't overcomplicate things by having too many pins.
Buy good broadheads... that's where the rubber meets the road
Practice

[boneaddict]

Where the hell was he 20 years ago when I was trying to sort all that out. LOL


I am so much more simple.  Can I pull it back...YES  Can I hit anything when I shoot...Yes.   Must be the right set-up. 

[SpokaneSlayer]

  Can I pull it back...YES  Can I hit anything when I shoot...Yes.   Must be the right set-up.

Sounds like my set up.  I only pull 56#, shooting a 346 grain arrow about 226 fps.  Quite slow compared to some.  But I don't struggle to shoot it and it's more accurate than I am.  It provides enough punch for deer but nothing bigger.

[Todd_ID]

Where the hell was he 20 years ago when I was trying to sort all that out. LOL


I am so much more simple.  Can I pull it back...YES  Can I hit anything when I shoot...Yes.   Must be the right set-up. 

20 years ago I was at that same place!  My pins looked like this /  one day and this \ the next because I didn't have a clue what I was doing.  My fingers never hurt, though, because I practiced all the time until I was pretty sure I could kill something, so the calluses were thick.  Somewhere along the way it started to click, and man oh man tuning is so much easier today for me than back then.

[Jburke]

Went out and bought a bear lights out.  Shoots good and felt good for me.  I'm impressed, think I'm getting hooked on this archery stuff.