Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: Bofire on August 05, 2009, 01:51:16 PM

Title: Stupid questions
Post by: Bofire on August 05, 2009, 01:51:16 PM: Thanks guys, here are my questions.

I am thinking about trying bow hunting, I shot a bow at Cabelas that was 56lbs. I am about 28-29 draw length.

1. bow draw weight? If I get a bow that goes from say 40-60 lbs, is that enough? and does the bow shoot about the same at either setting? Or would i have to have arrows and stuff set up for the 40 lb and a different set up for 60?

2. Arrow speed, I assume a 40 lb bow shoots slower than a 60 lb. Does that mean it has more arc in flight? How far can a deer be killed with a 40 vs a 60 due to penetration?

3. To be honest the 56 lb bow was sort of hard to draw and hold. would I be smarter to get a 56 or 60 lb and just get used to it or get a set up for 40 lbs then increase the power when I got stronger?

4. Range, can a guy ethicaly and consistently kill a deer or elk at 40 yards, 50?

5. are the broadheads that "open up" legal here?

thanks agqain
Carl
Title: Re: Stupid questions
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on August 05, 2009, 02:21:26 PM: 1. 40 lbs is the minimum for draw weight to hunt with so theoretically it's enough if you limit the range. I've been told that bows perform best at or near their peak draw weight. You will have different spined (stiffness) arrow at 40 and 60.

2. A 40 lb draw will arc more than a 60 lb due to less speed.

3. If 56 was hard to draw, I would get a 50-60 lb bow and start at 50, if that is comfortable. You'd be surprised at how quickly those muscles develop.

4. It depends on the shooter. I am very comfortable at 40 yds. With more practice I can get to 50, but 40 yds is plenty.

5. Mechanical (those that open on impact) are illegal in WA

Hope that helps.
Title: Re: Stupid questions
Post by: bearpaw on August 05, 2009, 02:36:41 PM: Carl, I hurt my arm and had to get a light bow. My new bow is set at 47 pounds. I have taken two deer with it, first one shot at 55 yards knocked off it's feet, died where it fell, and another deer shot at about 20 yards then ran about 50 yards and died.
Title: Re: Stupid questions
Post by: EastWaViking on August 05, 2009, 02:57:45 PM: I have a 60 lb. bow and I just had the poundage tested. It's at 58lbs. I have had nothing but complete pass throughs on every deer / antelope I have shot with it. I even had a double shoulder blade shot on a white tail that didn't even slow the arrow down.

Set the bow at a comfortable draw weight. Practice a lot and stay withing the distance you can consistently hit a 4" circle.... and go HUNTING!

good luck
Title: Re: Stupid questions
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on August 05, 2009, 03:11:23 PM: As already said 40 is the min, I have shot 58 lbs and this year my bow is at 70, it all depends on you, if your new, it will take a month to develop the muscles needed in the drawing of a bow, once you shoot for a while it will get much easier..... the shot is more important then the lbs IMO..... even a 40lb bow with a well placed shot will do the job, id stay above 50 however..... just my OP on that...... as far as range... I shot a deer at 53yrds through both front shoulders and the arrow landed in the ground 10 ft on the other side of the deer, that was at 58lbs and 260 fps........ some hunters can only shoot to 30-40yrds, some can shoot much much farther, the bows can do it, its a matter of the shooter behind the bow....... and mechinicals are not legal
Title: Re: Stupid answer
Post by: Bean Counter on August 05, 2009, 03:37:31 PM: Carl,
I hope your search is going well. I don't have much experience but I can share with you what I've learned from a summer with my PSE.

I don't know about all bows, but mine have changeable limbs. Mine came with a 60 lb and a 70 lb set. The 60 actually ranges from the high 40s to the low 60s, and the 70lb can be set in the high 50s up to 73 lbs I believe. Lots of room to grow there. I had the 60 lb limbs put on and set to the lowest level. I'm not sure about how all bows work but with mine I can increase the #s with a simple hex wrench. The important key, at least with mine, is that everything be adjusted evenly. If I were to go a turn and a half on the top limbs and then two complete turns on the bottom limbs, thats a :bdid:

Quote from: Bofire on August 05, 2009, 01:51:16 PM
2. Arrow speed, I assume a 40 lb bow shoots slower than a 60 lb. Does that mean it has more arc in flight? How far can a deer be killed with a 40 vs a 60 due to penetration?

I'll have to take others word for it on the sufficiency of 40 lbs, but my main motivation to bring up the #s is to get a flatter trajectory. If your rangefinder cannot pick up the distance or say you don't have enough time and have to estimate, the flatter the trajectory your arrow flies at, the more forgiving your aim will be.
Title: Re: Stupid questions
Post by: Bofire on August 05, 2009, 07:12:10 PM: thank, you all.
Carl