minimum draw weight thoughts

[vandeman17]

I know that the minimum legal draw weight for a bow in WA is 40 lbs but I wanted to hear your thoughts and opinions on it. The reason I ask is that I have been trying to get my dad into archery hunting so he could go with me but he has a bit of a bum shoulder and is worried about not being able to draw a bow. We are wanting to hunt deer and elk and I told him that he could probably draw a 55 lb bow pretty easily since he could almost draw mine and it is set at 65 plus a longer draw length then he would use. What do you guys think?

[Bean Counter]

Take care of your pops. What about a cross bow?

[Bob33]

If he can draw a 55 pound bow pretty easily, and the minimum weight is 40 pounds, what's the issue?

[vandeman17]

Thought about that but it would probably limit places that we could use it. He lives in Texas where I think you can use them but if we go to Montana or he comes to Washington then that might be a problem... 

If he can draw a 55 pound bow pretty easily, and the minimum weight is 40 pounds, what's the issue?

I don't know if he can or not, I am just saying I think he COULD based on watching him try to draw mine at 65 and the longer draw length. I am just wondering if you think that would be sufficient for elk and deer hunting? I know that you change the weight and such on the arrows to adjust for the draw weight but do you think it would be lethal on an elk at 40 yards?

[Bob33]

With the right broadheads and accurate shot placement, a 40 pound bow will kill elk at 30 yards all day long.

[bobcat]

Have him get a 45-60 pound bow. I've got issues with both of my shoulders and that's what I just bought last year. A decade ago I had a 70 pound bow and could pull it back easily but started having shoulder pain that would last for 2 to 3 months at a time, so I gave up on archery hunting for a while.

But now with this new bow I had it set at 53 pounds and shot it quite a bit over the summer with no issues whatsoever. I didn't end up hunting with it this last season but plan on using it this year. It's especially nice now with 80% let off being legal, I'm only holding 11 pounds when at full draw.

I'm thinking I should be able to gradually work myself up to the full 60 pounds if I do it gradually, even if it takes a couple more years I don't care. I just don't want to mess up my shoulders bad enough to where I will need surgery to fix them.

[vandeman17]

Have him get a 45-60 pound bow. I've got issues with both of my shoulders and that's what I just bought last year. A decade ago I had a 70 pound bow and could pull it back easily but started having shoulder pain that would last for 2 to 3 months at a time, so I gave up on archery hunting for a while.

But now with this new bow I had it set at 53 pounds and shot it quite a bit over the summer with no issues whatsoever. I didn't end up hunting with it this last season but plan on using it this year. It's especially nice now with 80% let off being legal, I'm only holding 11 pounds when at full draw.

I'm thinking I should be able to gradually work myself up to the full 60 pounds if I do it gradually, even if it takes a couple more years I don't care. I just don't want to mess up my shoulders bad enough to where I will need surgery to fix them.

What I want him to do is go to the Bass Pro Shop by his place down in Texas and see if he can try shooting a few 50-60 lb bows with the shorter draw length.

I have actually thought about selling my bow and picking up a 50-60 lb draw so that I can set it at 60 to have the full draw weight. I can draw mine pretty easily now but it would be nice to be able to have a nice, smooth easy draw for those times when you have to be really sneaky. 

[Fullabull]

Best thing is to visit a pro shot and have him shoot some bows set at different poundages. do not let him know how much he is pulling though before he tries it, he might surprise himself

[vandeman17]

Best thing is to visit a pro shot and have him shoot some bows set at different poundages. do not let him know how much he is pulling though before he tries it, he might surprise himself

I agree. He is probably stronger then he thinks he is... 

[Camp David]

Accuracy is more important than energy. Lots of animals have been taken with light bows. Remember the efficiency of a bow is better than what is was years ago. You get more energy out of a 40lb bow than you did only a few years ago.

[h20hunter]

Also...keep in mind that it is not how much he can pull......it's how much he can pull and shoot accurately. I pull 65-70 but am a big enough dude that I can practice at that much easily. However, I could kill animals (If i ever get a shot) just as well pulling 20 lbs. less.

[vandeman17]

Also...keep in mind that it is not how much he can pull......it's how much he can pull and shoot accurately. I pull 65-70 but am a big enough dude that I can practice at that much easily. However, I could kill animals (If i ever get a shot) just as well pulling 20 lbs. less.

My thoughts exactly. I am trying to convince him that if he could practice comfortably with a 50-55 lb that was fit and tuned to him that he could kill just as many elk as I could with my bow.

[Fullabull]

Here is another thought, if you find he can pull comfortably in the 50's. You might purchase a 60lb bow and just dial it down to what he can draw. That way he can always go up if he becomes stronger at it. Getting a bow you can dial up or down a bit would be nice and would give you some flexibility... My dad is pulling 60lbs, he is 72 but I could tell this year he was having a little more difficulty with holding it for very long. We will probably dial in down a little for nex year.

Good Luck

[vandeman17]

Here is another thought, if you find he can pull comfortably in the 50's. You might purchase a 60lb bow and just dial it down to what he can draw. That way he can always go up if he becomes stronger at it. Getting a bow you can dial up or down a bit would be nice and would give you some flexibility... My dad is pulling 60lbs, he is 72 but I could tell this year he was having a little more difficulty with holding it for very long. We will probably dial in down a little for nex year.

Good Luck

I was thinking about starting him out in the low 50's until he got his form down and strength up and then seeing if he wanted to up the poundage a little bit. If he is shooting awesome groups and feels totally comfortable at the lower weights then I don't think I would change him though. If it aint broke, don't fix it. 

[Snapshot]

What I think is this: trying to pull a 65# compound with an injured shoulder is a sure way to mess it up even more. Get him a compound that can be dialed down to 40# so he can practice and build up that shoulder. If it gets stronger he can increase the weight. I think doing it one pound at a time would be the smart way to go about it.
Don't overlook the advice someone gave above about "the right arrow" because that is vital to being able to get the most out of a low-poundage arrow flingin' device.

[hillbilli]

Uncle ted kills just about everything with a 52lb or so compound, and lots of folks use traditional bows that put out a lot less energy than a 50lb modern compound.. that said Mission has a couple bows that go all the way down to 40lbs or less, and all the way up to 65 or 70. (Mission Craze, and bowtech and bear now make one that does something similar) really marketed for teenagers, so you can buy your kid one bow when he's 11, and use it till he's an adult..but works well for someone with a weak shouder..

[sakoshooter]

If he can draw a 55 pound bow pretty easily, and the minimum weight is 40 pounds, what's the issue?

Yeah, what?

[vandeman17]

Like I stated earlier, I don't know if he can but I THINK he can. I just wanted to know if you guys thought that was sufficient to be a good all around bow for deer and elk hunting.

[D-Rock425]

Look at all the animals ted nuggent has killed over the years with a bow he only shoots 50 pounds. 

[vandeman17]

Look at all the animals ted nuggent has killed over the years with a bow he only shoots 50 pounds.

I agree. Just needed some reinforcement and maybe some written proof that he can read to use as my case for him to buy a bow. 

[vandeman17]

another question, I found a bow that is adjustable from a really low poundage all the way up to 70. If he were to start shooting at say 40 lbs and eventually make it up to the 55-60 lb mark, would he have to switch arrows?

[Fullabull]

Yes, go to one of the arrow manufacturers web sites (like easton) and check out their arrow charts, they will tell you what spine is needed for the lbs pulled. I would start with just a few arrows since they are exensive and when he finds the lbs he can settle with, purchase the arrows you need.

[Hornseeker]

A 40 pound compound gets the job done all over the nation every year... If he can pull anything over 40, he's golden... I know many women that have killed deer and elk with 40-45# setups... dont even Hesitate.

DO pick the right broadhead though! If I was drawing that lower weight, Id use a 2 blade or at least something small... Stinger would probably be my choice, maybe even with the bleeders in.

[buck man]

A 40 pound compound gets the job done all over the nation every year... If he can pull anything over 40, he's golden... I know many women that have killed deer and elk with 40-45# setups... dont even Hesitate.

DO pick the right broadhead though! If I was drawing that lower weight, Id use a 2 blade or at least something small... Stinger would probably be my choice, maybe even with the bleeders in.

Yeah 40# will kill about anything. Watched Teds wife shoot a zebra stallion with45# in Africa. All my daughters have killed mature whitetails with 40 # hoyt rintech. And that's an old school hoyt. Pic is my 14 year old with this years  buck 5 1/2 year old. Big body buck with nothing ûp stairs. 40# will deffinatly get it done.

[Snapshot]

I just wanted to know if you guys thought that was sufficient to be a good all around bow for deer and elk hunting.

For deer hunting 40# is plenty. The best elk hunters I know say a minimum of 50# ought to be the goal.

[RadSav]

The squaw has killed elk with her 24.5" draw length and 50# draw weight nearly every year for the past 20.  Those elk including a few big bulls neve seemed to care that she was only shooting 50#.

Dwight Schuh is one of the most accomplished bowhunters in the world.  And his draw weight of choice (with his bum limb) is 55#.  Hasn't seemed to be limited by it at all.

[kckrawler]

If it's a rotator cuff issue, have him go down to Sports Authority and buy one of those yoga bands. They come in weight ranges from 20-100 lbs. Oddly enough they're cheaper than surgical tubing, they have more resistance, and they're a great way to practice drawing at home and building up those muscles around the shoulder. You can also find all sorts of exercises online specifically for the shoulder. Have him start now and redraw your bow in a few months...I'll bet he notices a difference. 

I wouldn't have been able to get back into archery if I hadn't found these...f#cking shoulders anyways 

[Mike450r]

I would say determine the appropriate draw weight for his restrictions and get a bow in that draw weight +/- 5 pounds.  The bows with a larger variance, say  45-70 will not shoot as good when turned down,  bows perform noticibly better at or near their peak draw weight.

[carpsniperg2]

With some of the great bows out there that have great speeds. You can sling a arrow with 40lbs to kill just about anything in the woods around here. My little bro shot a buck with a bow set at 43lbs years ago. Just go with a solid 2 blade head. It will penetrate so much better. I love my g5 stuff but on the lower end like 55 or less I will switch the bows to magnuss buzzcuts.