Just curious what folks are using for a hunting bow weight on big game (deer, hogs, black bear)? I'm wondering if more people are using 35-50lbs, 50-65lbs, or the big, anything over 65lbs on up bows? I'm not trying to start a debate over heavy vs light bow weight, as there is no "right or wrong" answer here, (I know the light ones will kill quite clean if the arrow is sharp and well placed), just curious as to what everybody else is using. I have been using various 48-65 lbs recurves and a #60lbs longbow, but I'm finding myself drawn to heavier bows. Yup, it most likely IS my ego, lol! So, what are you hunting with????
Due to shoulder problems in the past, my ideal "hunting" weight is 48lbs at my drawlength. That works fine for the deer and hogs i hunt. :)
57@28 is my favorite number.
I practice mostly with a 70# longbow. Could hunt with it, but mainly hunt with 55-65# stuff. Practice with the 70 makes the lower weights easy. H
Mainly with 58# at 28in. Fox longbow, new for this season 63# at 28in. Dryad Orion with longbow limbs, can't wait to make meat with this beauty!
Travis
Started with a 45 pound Drake and Howatt curves many moons passed. 75's thru 2003 55 to 65 lb longbows and curves.
Since '03 shooting everything with 48 pound curve and longbow.
In all those bows and all those deer never saw any real reason why I went up in the first place and now that my neck has got a plate in it certainly will not go any higher again. No reason.
58-65# at 27". Practice alot in the offseason with the heavier bows and usually hunt deer/elk with the 58#er.
65 for everything
I am with Groud Hunter and Bozara,practice with 65-70# hunt with 55# for WT and 60#for the rest.
I have always shot 60-66# but the last couple years,due to shoulder problems,I have dropped to 50-55# at my draw length.I have been paying a lot of attention to getting as good arrow flight as I can plus a few other things that make my setup more effecient and am really impressed with what the lighter weights can do.
I went from starting at 60lbs and am now at 47lbs. I really like this poundage. This is a good wieght for me to be able to shoot as much as I want with no pain from old injuires which is nice :)
I shoot it very well which is the most important thing!
Did you see the testing DR. ashby did on the 40lb bow? pretty impressive!
45#
My go to bow is 52#...........IJ
I shoot 60# for everything.
-Mack
54#@29.5"
70# Bear t/d recurve
73# St. Charles t/d longbow
60 -65 recurves and 62 to 67 longbows at my 27 inch draw length. A little time ago, I picked up a longbow, 54 at 27 inches and a couple of recurves between 58 and 59 at 27. They are great for lot of multiple day shooting sessions, but I still will rely on the old faithfuls.
42 to 46
I use 70# to 75# for everything.
65 or 70 I'd go up another 5# if I had the money for another bow
I use 50-55# for everything.
Started with a 43lb now I have a48lb 62in and a 58in for shooting in the blind.
My turkey bow will be a 64lb. pignut longbow. the bow that I can hit my old decoy in the head with best. I had 4 out of 5 in the head twice in a row just to see if I could do it, with chunker mismatched arrows from 15 to 18 yards. It is heavier than I would want to use for the big bird, but I don't argue with anything that works. I do not plan on shooting them in the head however. Now I also have an excuse to buy a new decoy.
:o Forgot to say it is a 50lb.58in.
50@28
I am shooting two recurves--55#@28" and 60#@28". I seem to be shooting the 60# better and better. It may be my "go to" bow by August.
The biggest game I hunt is whitetails and I average 48# at my draw. I have heavier bows but am the most comfortable with that weight.I have a trip to FL set up to hunt hogs in May and I plan to use my same set up. After then, I'll see if I change my thinking
44#
55#@28" 70" Mahantango longbow
45#@26"
49#s and 50#s @ 27"s from a 62" and a 64" Mohawk.
55# @ 27 B/W longbow
52# at my 27" draw straight limbed longbows....for everything from rabbits to Sambar and hopefully later this year ...elk .
ben
My good friend built my bow for me when I was 16 and it was 60lbs @ 28". As I continued to grow the poundage did to, I now pull 70lbs @ 30".
was shooting a 55#bear supermag, but do to shoulder issues I changed my newly ordered 60# recurve to a 48-52# long bow.I'm taking the advise of some trad shooters and the bower, they say a bow like this is sufficiant enough to kill and there smarter than me when it comes to the trad thing. that being said i'd shoot a 70# if my shoulder would let me, maybe with some rehab?
57-64#
52# now with a 67# on order
53#s @ 29". I have bows down to 48#s.
Shoulders are still in good shape, and don't want to go any higher.
1-58#, 1-61#, and one on the way. Thats a 65#
I use 55lb & 60lb.
Frank
56#'s @ 28"(my draw)
65#@29.75"
52 to 58 pounds Recurves and Longbows
50#-52# @ 29" most of my go to bows, may be dropping back to 46#-48# the way some of them perform!!!
34 to 60 and a 65 pounder on order
55 lb at 30.25 inches. My second bow is being made to the exact same specs so 55lb and 55lb. for everything.
70#'s for it all.Anything else is a woman's weight...LOL :biglaugh: Just kidden I am comfortable with that weight and I want to shoot it as long as I can.
My bows range from 47-55# @ 27 1/2", I guess I'm shooting a girlie man's weight but with a 6" screw in my left shoulder, it's about as far as I want to push the pain and "crackle" envelope. LOL.
Most important thing isn't weight but ARROW PLACEMENT >>>>>>>----------------------->>
My bows range from 42-45# @ 29". I enjoy shooting and can (and do, on occasion) shoot them Allllllllllllllllllll day long.
Winterhawk1960
I shoot 50# for everthing
All my bows are 47#- 50# at my 26" draw. Use 'em for hunting, 3D and stump shooting. Kinda like it that way. ;)
... mike ...
I mainly shoot 68-71#@30" now, feels pretty ideal.
Craig
I am currently shooting 55# for everything. But I killed my first whitetail with a 40# curve, so I would say that anything whitetail sized and smaller I would use 40#, but I know of women that shoot whitetails with 35#, and our legal minimum is 30#! So I think you are probably safe with anything 40# and up???
Both of the bows I hunt with are 48 lbs. at my draw length 29 3/4. I'm getting on up in years and I find that weight about right for me. Will kill anything in Arkansas.
I shoot 55 @ 27
54-58 pound bows that I hunt with.
John III
I shoot 50@28 on all my bows but the largest animal around here is a whitetail. We don't even have hogs yet but unfortunatly they're all around us from what I understand.
50 to 65 depending on the bow, 50 to 54# for 50" or less. 65# in a 62". Got a 66" Kolometz that's 67#.
54 or 55 @28. I can shoot more, I could shoot less but I like this weight. Not to hot, not to cold...just right. And, its deadly; add a heavy arrow with EFOC, and nothing is safe. I will put it up against anything extant or extinct in North America and almost anything on this planet. Give me some of those rambo "boom" tipped arrows and I will include mechanical monsters on that list too.....haha.
55-60# is a comfortable range for me.
53#-58# Longbows and recurves, right now likeing the heavier straight shooter.....
58# to 65# depending on which bow I grab.
55#@28 for me with magnus 2 blade
chuck
70# at my 28" draw
60@29 for me. HH Halfbreed.
60#@31.5 for everything.
45#-52# at my draw length.
51# & 52# @27"
56#@28 about 59# at my draw.
See my signature below.
I shoot a 50lb. Thunder Stick Mag & a 50lb Montana. could & have shot heavier. The biggest thing I hunt is whitetails. 50lbs. will kill anything I'm after.
Early 60's. I practice with the same bows I hunt with.
Anyware from 50#-to58# @ 27 1/2".Can't shoot the heavy stuff since my 2 spine operations but I have complete confidence with my arrow and broadheads to tackle any thing with those weights.
55-61#
Hunt with a 60lb @28" also shoot for fun with a 60lb and a 55lb.
46 @ 27 hunt and fun
74#@ 28"
46@28 I have a set of limbs that I will be using this year their 51@28 and I order a Blacktail Elite 52@28
52 - 49 lbs at my draw. Works so far.
52-57 lbs works for me. If I go lighter, I can't get a good release. And if I go with more weight my shoulder starts to protest.
Mainly 53 @ 28".Seems to be my perfect weight.
52# @ 27" feels great for my tired old body!
80# Shelby Mustang Longbow
76# Howatt Hunter
72# Brackenbury
72# Shelby Mustang
70# Bear T.D.
75# ML-14 Longbow
68# Brackenbury (Everybody has to have one girly bow!) LOL
55# and 57# I liked my bear polar that was 45# better because I could shoot it longer without much fatigue.
I use 46# @28SR Swift & 50#@28 Tomahawk SS.
Both seem to get the job done.
My bows go from 41#-47#. Mostly grab my 42# Pronghorn or 44# BW PCH these days.
45 to 50 ... that's what my shoulder likes ...
My bows range from 50 to 58 pounds at 28". Hunt mostly with 57@28, 66" Hill "Wild Boar". Just might hunt with a 50@28, 66" Massie "Longhorn" this season to see how she does. :campfire:
I started out many many years ago real heavy and always liked the release of a heavier bow. Back then i had bows form 86# dow to a measly 71#. THEN i had a shoulder injury had to go way back had bows in the 58 @26 ( my draw length) then had naohte rinjury and have beenout of archery for aolmost 9 years jsut got back in a few months ago now shooting a 45# recurve and a 53#28 IN long bow. Just ordered a new bow at 50@26 I should be fine with that
50 to 54 at 30 inch draw works for me.
I use my 53# @ 28" longbow for everything but bow fishing.
So far, 60 lbs at my draw. Should have a matching 50 lbr. soon.
50# Diamondback LB, only bow I own so it gets used for everything.
54#@29 for hunting.
67#@27'' 60'' Firehawk longbow For Hunting
54#@27'' 60'' Firehawk longbow for 3D Tournaments
69# 29" Shrew, Carbon/Foam Classic Hunter It is the cat's Meow for me, only bow I shoot anymore.
47# @ my draw seems to be my sweet spot. Never felt under bowed.
55lbs for me.
54@28 with my Silvertip recurve.That is the chosen bow for this year.
Working up to stay in the 60-65 range slowly.After this year I think I might have some 60# limbs made for the Schafer..Or look for a brown camo set.
FWIW I took my first deer with a 45(Which was actually 48#) Bear grizzly and got a pass thru at 20 yards.
That was with a full length 2216 and a Zwickey Eskimo.
The low bows work just as good.I wouldn't hesitate to hunt deer with a 40# bow if I needed to.
54-58# That covers the 4 that I hunt the most with and 2 of those are at 57# at my 30" draw.
Two slightly heavier at 62# at 30"
DD
45# for 3-D and can shoot that all day. 50-55# for hunting.
my "go to" hunting bow is 51# @28"...that being said...I'm confident I could do EXACTLY the same thing with my 43# Wing!! "It aint the arrow boys....it's the INDIAN"!........my opinion.....jg
50, 54, 58, 59, 60, 60, 64, 66 are my most used bows during the past about 15 years.
Rated at 28" my fishing curves are 45#, 48# & 50#, my favorite three hunting bows are 50# 55# & 60# ahh there is actually a 45# @ 28" Kmag that I like too. I draw 29 1/2" to the side of my mouth.
I have a 42@28 which I pull to about 40# that I use for bowfishing and I just got a 56@28 which I likely pull to about 53# that I plan to use for everything else.
50# at my draw length. My biggest animal to date with that weight is a 670# Kudu in Africa last summer.
Bisch
47# @ 27"
55 to 65 with a 30 inch draw. Gary
I'm selling all my bows and have a Yellowstone longbow on order that's going to be about 42-43 @27..
55-60lbs. at 28in.
60 @ 28" - could go lighter if it weren't for that whole weight not being adjustable on the recurve thing.
63# to 83#, but I think I'll settle on about 69# for some time.
Either 54# or 57#. Whatever I practice with for that particular hunt.
My go-to bow is a 58" Black Widow PSRV,52@27 but this coming season I think I'm gonna be hunting with a '75 58" Browning Nomad Stalker II,48@27 or a 54" Shakespeare Super Necedah,52@27. I'm leaning towards the Browning though
I USE A 45 LB BEAR GRIZZLEY.I WILL NOT SHOOT OVER 20 YDS NO MATTER WHAT.POINT SMALL SHOOT SMALL.I HAVE KILLED MY SHARE OF DEER.I AM 65 I DO NOT NEED MORE WEIGHT.IT WORKES FOR ME SO WHY CHANGE.KEEP YOUR BROADHEADS SHARP SHARP SHARP.I WANT TO KILL MY DEER NOT WOUND THEM.I HUNT IN A GROUND BLIND NOT UP A TREE LIKE I USED TOO OUT OF THE WEATHER IN OUT OF DANGER.GROUND BLINDS ARE THE WAY TO GO.HAVE FUN AN BE SAFE.
One of mine is 57# and the other is 58# seems to work for me. Havent really tried any others so I dont know how they would work.
for me its 45 to 48# at my draw
55-60 at my draw.
Thanks to smooth draw curve on my GN Critter Gitter, I'm going to hunt with a 68@28 bow.
5O AT 28. AT THE MOMENT I"M SHOOTING 47 AT 28 ON MY OLE' K-MAG.
52lb to 55lb
57-62 for everything
I'm shooting 45# for hunting (mostly bunnies for now) and target. I thought about moving up, but want to really get comfortable with one bow. I can shoot 45# a lot more, and more often, than a higher so I'll just enjoy that for now.
46 - 52
55#@28" for me, which is around 62# or a little more at my draw length.
45-52 @30" draw
Millenium longbow Mohican to #40
hoyt gamemaster II to #50
45
I do still have a 52 and a 53 that I take out occasionally but the 45s are the go to bows.
66@30, 65@30,68@31.I draw 29.5 shoot these three bows on reg.basis hunt w/all three. would like to try A lighterbow around 58-60# @30. After 50-60 arrows Ihave to really concentrate on every shot due to fatgue.
62at27
Bear A Mag limbs from 42 to 48 lbs.
55-57lbs@27inches. This covers my 3 bows. When I order a new one it will be just 2 or 3 lbs. lighter. (Getting older))) :archer: :jumper:
70lbs + for me
go to weight 62#@27 but have range of 55 to 65# for Hunting.
50 at 27''
250lbs ha-ha
bows 47-52 at 26
55# LH, and 54-70 RH and favorite 65#
My observations:
8 out of 10 bows I sell are between 44# and 53# @ 28". 8 out of 10 people that I check their draw length in my shop while shooting (not holding) draw 27" or less. Average age of my customers is about mid 40s I'd say.
Anyway I hunt with 48# at 26.5" but shoot all bows I build a hundred times or so before sending them out. The 71#er I built last month took it's toll on me. I only shot it about 25 times. :banghead:
I shoot 57# for everything. (60# at 38", but I pull a little over 27").
All of my bows that I will be hunting with start at 55# and go to 70lbs, doubt I will be hunting with the 70lber this year, still warming up to that one.recently got a blue stripe Super Kodiak at 65lbs, thats gotta get bloody this year!!!!
mine is 47@28 using carbon arrows
54# @27.5 any thing more i just feel over bowed .I know my limit and i'm stickin to it. David
46 pounds at my draw
48-52# Pittsley Predators and Super Kodiaks.
54 and 55@28 for my two bows
does the job for me
All of my bows fall in the 52-56 lb range at my draw.
I have longbows from 40 to 78 lbs. but almost always reach for the 65# Wesley Special.
53# @27" Recurve, Looking to go lighter around 48#.
50-55 lb works well for me.
56@28 shakespeare Ocala
48@28 Pearson Mercury Hunter
I practice alot with the 56lbs-er and plan to hunt with the 48 I have them tuned to shoot the same at 20yds both new to me this year.
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Glenn
60lbs. @28"
65- 72#- Primary bow is 71@29. I thought hunting was fun? GY
I have four bows ranging from 58-51@28.I draw 27".Right now that 51 is just soooo comfortable.
i shoot a 45# recurve and that takes care of everything
63@29
73@29 1/2".
Primary bow is 68@28 and my backup is 60@28.
I have shot the heavy weights but no more.I dont see a point in it anymore.My bow weight now is 51.
I have a 48 and a 58 and will hunt with both. Probably the 48 for whitetail most times....I shoot both equally well....so maybe to change my luck (hopefully won't need to - grin).
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Glenn
59@29 thats what i do for everything
60# @ 28" for both my primary and backup bows (twins). I have a bunch of other bows from 50# to 71# @ 28" but 60# @ 28" feels the best to me.
I workout with the Formaster with a 65# bow, so 60# feels great to me. Before I used the Formaster I was thinking of stepping down to the high forteys, because of a shoulder injury and tennis elbow problem. Practicing shooting with Formaster eliminated my tennis elbow in my drawing arm and working out with the Formaster strengthened a injury I had in my bow arm shoulder. I don't know where I would be without the Formaster. It made me bow strong, improved my form and made me rock steady at full draw.
Gil
56#
48# will put backstraps on the grill but my combo looses steam past 25 yds.I like to look at my critters when I shoot so at 30 yds. and that's my limit, I prefer my 58 pounder.
48# @29" works for me.
Ran 55-62# for years.
Now run 50-55#
55 - going to 60 soon as I can get limbs ordered for my tip.
J
Bob Lee T/D 53#@28
BW ma3 46#@28
Toelke 60"whip 49#@28
next week a mohawk 62"# @28 48. going to Comptons looking for something around 45#@28.
50-55 lb @ 26"
53# @ 26 1/2"
My preference is 67-70@291/2, Ive just gotten used to the arc at this wt.
50#!!
54# recurve at 27
I've shot bellow 50# and over 60#, but I always end up hovering around the 55# mark with my bows. It's just a great medium of weight that is negotiable in all weather conditions, and can take any game on this continent and most others.
My thoughts anyhow,
Ethan
I shoot a 49# 60" bow. I would not hesitate to use a lower poundage bow for deer.
Well, I shoot 44#, just had a clinic with Rod Jenkins world class archer, I asked him what he shoots at deer an he said , nothing over 40#, he killed several last yr. an had a pass thru on all of them. Its hard to kill something deader than dead.
50 to 53# at 27 recurves......my next bow will be 46 to 48 #
80-85@28" longbow
Harrelson Recurve - 56@28
Acadian Woods TD Recurve - 54@28
Treadway Longbow - 48@28
Got another Harreslon TD coming and it will be around 52 to 54@28. I plan on ordering a Hoots recurve, 56 inch, 50@28.
45 to 50 pounds
Have a 50# and a 52# at 25inch draw. MY next one will be about 45 to 47#.
59# 31 :archer2:
55 @30
53# Longbow, 60# recurve both are weights given are at my draw length.
54# at 29" for everything
48# to 53# at 26.5"
45#-50#@28.5"
67#@28" and I pull 29". About 70# is great. I have killed deer with a 53# @ 28" though.
54# to 56# for everything...
54 to 56 @ 26
50#ish +/- a few pounds depending on bow and animal hunted
I only have one bow at the moment so it's 66#@29 for me in a Hill style bow of 70" AMO.
40#@32"
Right now I'm pulling 52 @ 27.5. Think I want to go to 55 or 60ish on my next bow.
48# and 50# long bows, perfect for this old guy.
50@30 on all my bows, cant hardly see the arrow so im pretty sure its enough for the game i hunt.