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Author Topic: Draw weights for hunting?  (Read 4538 times)

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Offline solodesperado81

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Draw weights for hunting?
« on: August 30, 2012, 12:38:30 pm »
Can anyone give me a good idea what draw weights work for hunting certain game?
Like, 30-40lbs good for turkey?
What works well for Mule deer, elk , bear etc.
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Offline Pappy

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2012, 12:51:00 pm »
40 would probably be OK for Turkey,but they are pretty tough to penetrate the feathers,I use around 50lb for Turkey and White tail deer,not sure on Elk/Muleys/bear but I would say about the same with good shot placement. :)
I tell folk to shoot all you can handle good in cold weather and most accurate with. :) :) That's the main thing. :) Good sharp head and well tuned arrow. :)
   Pappy
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Offline Tom Leemans

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2012, 01:08:56 pm »
I like to say that anything 50-60 is what I like for most game. With properly matched arras and a keen eye and good form, you can drop big game with less, but a little extra insurance never hurt. Just don't overbow yourself.
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Offline boughnut

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2012, 01:15:52 pm »
I have hunted traditionaly my whole life and my whole life up until about 3 years ago I always believed that it would be best to hunt with the heaviest draw I could handle.  I have become wiser the past few years and now perfer 45 to 55 depending on the critter and bow design.  I like to have a performance design with heavy arrows.  What I have learned it that a 45 pound bow will still go straight through a deer with proper design and arrow but yet I can be twice as consistant and accurate.  Accuracy is the key not power.  you do need enough power to get good penetration but accuracy kills quicker than an over powered bow.  my light weight bow are producing anywhere from 150 to 165 fps with 550 grain total weight cane arrows.  just my two sense.
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Offline crooketarrow

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2012, 02:18:17 pm »
  Shoot as much weight as you can,
  50's for tukeys and deer.
  60's for elk size.
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Offline rossfactor

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2012, 03:21:52 pm »
Its been said many times that 50 lbs is enough to kill any animal in north america.

Ishi hunted deer with a bow in the low 40s.

Gabe
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Offline boughnut

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2012, 03:28:02 pm »
my point exactally.  really it comes down to what you are most accurate with.  If you can not hit the heart or lungs than you are in trouble or in for a long day of tracking.  The new law on it now for big game hunting is 40 pounds  Used to be 45 but now is 40 many tribes used bows as light as 30 to 35 pounds to take deer.
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2012, 04:24:52 pm »
I believe it really boils down to distance. I personally wouldnt shoot a 40# bow at a deer from 20 yards. I would take the same shot with 10-15#'s added to that bow. I shoot pretty much every day year round with all kinds of bows. Lighter bows are great, but you can REALLY see a target penetration difference between them and say a 50# bow, almost half in some cases. Use nothing under 40# and be responsible with your trigger finger.
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Offline johnston

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2012, 07:08:25 pm »
45#-55# out to 20yds if you pick your shot and don't panic. Forty to 45# if within 12-15 yards. 

BUT.....you have to only attempt what you know you can do. Any doubt do without. When I am
too old to pull more than 30# I will only shoot at the heads of fly over doves.
Within range of course.
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Offline vinemaplebows

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2012, 07:17:39 pm »
40 and up.... :)
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Offline mullet

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2012, 09:12:40 pm »
50-60 for everything I hunt.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2012, 09:20:37 pm »
 I like about 55# for everything.
  I believe 40# is the minimum in some states for traditional equipment.
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Offline Traxx

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #12 on: August 30, 2012, 09:41:42 pm »
Too much attention paid to bow poundage.Many other factors to determine and equate into the situation as well.

The most reliable and best hunter i ever knew,growing up,used 40 lbs at 28" draw to take more deer than anyone could remember exactly.When he was younger,he was a subsistance hunter.In his elder years,he filled the freezers of his as well as 2 other families regularly.The kicker was,he only drew to 26" so he was shooting about 35 lbs.He was a true hunter,that knew when and where to shoot em and never compromised his limitations.He never lost an animal,that i ever heard of.
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Offline Traxx

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #13 on: August 30, 2012, 10:50:54 pm »
Also,Larry Hatfield,
Some of you may have heard of him,Has killed more black bear,Bark peelers as he calls em,than anyone i have ever known.He took em regularly,with a 40 lb bow.I doubt,that Larry,draws any more than 28" and id bet its 26 or 27" at most.
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Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Draw weights for hunting?
« Reply #14 on: August 30, 2012, 11:05:56 pm »
Quote from: Pat B on August 30, 2012, 09:20:37 pm
I like about 55# for everything.
  I believe 40# is the minimum in some states for traditional equipment.

It's the minimum for all bow hunting here where I live, here in ohio.
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