Friends,
I read a guy who said anything less than 60 FP should not be used for elk.
I get 34 footpounds out of my longbow. (55#, 180fps, 473 gr arrow, aluminum; 125gr 2 blade broadhead)
Assuming a good shot (broadside or quartering away), is this enough to kill an elk at 20 - 25 yards?
Who has some experience with this?
He was a compound man for sure because you would have to have a Loooong draw and be pulling 70# or more to get that with a stickbow. I have a friend and mentor who has hunted elk for over 40 yrs with bows getting less than 20 foot pounds. A heavy arrow and good sharp two blade broadhead will give you excellent performance with that set up.
wolfshadow,
With a sharp BH you will shoot through most elk with 34 ft pds. Let me guess, the guy with 60 pounds is shooting with wheels and broadheads from the dark side.
I've shot through elk with a lot less then your outfit.
Mike
70# @ 28 and a 650gr arrow at 190 FPS and I am getting around 50 foot pounds.
i shoot a 53 pound recurve with a 500 grain arrow and it kills them just as dead as they can get.
If you use certain expandables on elk you would be lucky to get good penetration with 70 FP or more. If they deploy that is!
Elk don't know how many foot pounds hit them. They die when hit right with a sharp broadhead. If I'm wrong, there sure have been a bunch of elk that died of natural causes over the years about the same time that they got shot with an arrow.
forget FP
your setup will kill an elk
Where does this crap start. I think the answer has been mentioned....compounds and expandables.
Your setup is fine.
George,
This is the second thread on this in 3 days and the millionth in the last month.
Many people are looking for validation on their set-up from people who know. Keep passing the good info and helping these guys out. That includes info you have given me.
I'm finally happy with the bow I ordered yesterday. 62in Timberhawk recurve pulling 53# @ 29in. I will shoot 600-700 grain arrows out of it with a good 2 blade head.
I feel that will cover me for anything I ever want to hunt in the USA. I finally feel like I don't have to explain my set-up.
-Charlie
Make sure you hit where you aim and maybe try adding some weight to your arrow to like 550-700gr and make sure your broadheads can shave hair against the grain. With that you should have no problem. Maybe add your weight up front if you do for better forward of center. It'll give you that little bit more punch. My 2 cents.
That is true Mr. Peterson; however, we can't assume a bad shot will turn out better because the bow is heavier, the arrow has more front of center....or the broadhead has a single bevel, etc. A bad shot is just that...a bad shot. More we should learn to be patient, and wait for a shot that will put the odds in our favor. I don't go afield worrying about bad shots...negative thoughts feed negative actions. I am, however, really picky about when I will take a shot so I can minimize those ugly circumstances. Bad shots are usually due to bad decisions on the hunter's end.
Good words, George.
I want an arrow heavy enough to punch through the elk's ribs. If you accomplish that, you've got him. All else being equal, I'd use the heavier arrow. At twenty yards, the trajectory difference is insignificant.