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.
