I know that personal minimum draw weight for elk is a perennial hot topic. I'm not asking for personal opinions. Some folks will find 55 pounds too much to shoot accurately. Some teens, women and small-framed men, people with shoulder problems, etc. (I believe that Dwight Schuh fell into one of the above categories at one time) I think the following information would be valuable: If you live in a state where public elk hunting is allowed, and your regulations mandate a mimimum draw weight, please respond with your state, and how the rule is written.
TTT
This is from the UT proclamation:
E. Archery Equipment
R657-5-12
(1) Archery equipment mabey used during any big game hunt, except a muzzleloader hunt, provided:
(a) the minumum bow pull is 40 pounds at the draw or the peak, whichever comes first
So there you have the min. for UT hope this helps.
Idaho: 50#@28". I read that to be the bow, so if your draw is short, like mine, you could be leagally drawing less....
Mike
wow my bow has 54#@27" on it... Guess I can't use it in Idaho.
No Elk in Jersey, but 35# @ Draw long bow / recurve
Mystic, your bow would qualify because when they test the bow they draw it out to 28". Unless you have a unique design trad bow, it would be more than 50# at 28". Not what is marked on the bow, but what it draws at 28". The way the law is written is not very good because you can legallly go hunting with a 35# bow (that is 35# at your draw length), but if it bulls to 50# @ 28" it is legal.
Mike
Washington state's game rules read like this:
(a) It is illegal to hunt big game animals
with a bow that has less than 40
pounds of pull measured at 28 inches
or less draw length.
50 Lb min in Oregon, at your draw length
I just looked up Idaho to be sure and it's 40# @ 28 not 50# as stated above.
Mike
50# in Wyoming. No mention of draw length.
QuoteOriginally posted by sharp69:
I'm not asking for personal opinions. If you live in a state where public elk hunting is allowed, and your regulations mandate a mimimum draw weight, please respond with your state, and how the rule is written.
That's what the man asked for....so that's why I cleaned up all the comments that weren't what he asked for. Please respect the man's wishes if you want to post.
Terry, Thanks for clearing that up. I was a little offended until I went back and re-read the original post.
Quite right the man asked for facts not opinions,I responded to another post witout thinking. DUH
No worries guys...that's why they put erasers on pencils....none of us are perfect.
PA is 35lb for deer, 45lb for elk.
Steve
45lbs in CA
Colorado
35 pounds minimum draw weight with maximum letoff of 80%
That is the way it reads
Nebraska,50lbs or more at or before 28"
In CA, I don't see any poundage requirements. However, there is a requirement that states the bow must shoot a legal hunting arrow at least 130 yds horizontal flight. Of course it doesn't define "horizontal flight"!
There is no minimum draw weight in MT, but the arrow must be at least 300 grains in weight (probebly not a problem for anyone shooting traditional).
Thanks to everyone so far. As some of you may have guessed, I fall into one of those categories, hence my interest. If I ever do get West of the Mississippi, I'll use common sense. All the weight I can handle, cut on contact head, broadside or quartering away, etc.