...has anyone else noticed an increasing need for decreasing draw weight... I have assumed it is related to the aging population of trad members... Apparently, around the year 2016, 65% of the USA population will be equal to or greater than 65 years old..... I easily pulled twice my age when I was 30... Now I pull less than my age....don't ask :(
I only pull less due to an old shoulder problem. :D
Ha! We won't ask your age! I'm sure there's a million reasons. But for me. I decreased weight in the last year cause my shooting style wasn't in tune with my draw weight. As a snap shooter I did just fine with a heavier bow. 55-60. No problem.
Now with my new style of draw... Hold..... Release....
Holding 55# isn't working too well. I start to shake in 4 seconds and accuracy is compromised. I've dropped to the high 40's to 50# weight and my accuracy and consistency has gone through the roof!! And I'm comfortable shooting most big game animals with that weight.
Would love to see what some other people are doing.
I went from 90 to 64 because my middle finger hurt. Then I went from 64 to 55 because my middle finger and my index finger hurt. Then I went from right hand to left hand because my fingers were not getting any better. If I would have listened to John Schulz like I should have I would have never gone over 55 and my fingers would thank me for it, but not all of the deer I would have killed with that puny little 55 pound yew longbow.
I noticed the last couple years my 60 pound bow started getting harder to pull after 25 of the 40 3D targets. So I dropped down to 51 pound and after shooting this for months and I try to shoot the 60 pound, it only takes about 10 shots with the 60# bow to start shaking.
I'm 31 and been shooting trad for around five years and I've always felt best staying around 55#. I can shoot more but I don't think theres a need in it. I only hunt deer, pigs and small game so no need to get into really heavy weights.
I don't know. I shot 55# Bows for a few years. Now I have a 73 nm classic in the way. I shoot heavy weights just as well or better than my 44# bear cub. If I can pull it and shoot it well I wil continue to shoot heavy weights while hunting.
I know I'm not going to hurt myself. Just of late I have come to the conclusion that sooner rather than later, going down in weight is the smartest thing for me to do. Shoulders and tendons can't take the amount of shooting I like to do. At least not with my heavier bows. My body is telling me it's time to take it a little lighter were bow draw weight is concerned. Hey, let's face it, and be smart about it. Aging is unavoidable.
The answer is "yes". After nearly thirty years...simply yes. No shame either.
Before I sold my 55# Mahaska longbow, I took it out and shot it for old times sake. The next morning my shoulders reminded me that they are old. In fact, I hurt for several days. I can shoot my Orion for a while, but not as many shots as I would like. At this point my 46-47# bows are just right. With two blade broadheads, I can shoot through deer with them. Whitetails are the biggest thing I shoot and the biggest thing I am likely to shoot at this stage in my life, so I see no reason to punish my tired, old body unnecessarily. I love to shoot, so lighter is fine with me.
62 tomorrow!!!! so, yup!! Lighter is better and proud of it.
Happy birthday, Joe! I turned 60 a few weeks ago. I have no desire to turn back the clock, but I wouldn't mind slowing it down a bit. ;)
74 to 52 from my thirties to my mid sixties (66)
Yes I have noticed the trend to lighter draw weights in general.No,it is definatly not just you!
I think alot of shooters that came over from compound shooting in the 90s thought they needed to shoot at least 55#s.Alot of bows sold in the 50s, 60s, and 70s were around 45 #s.That was probably about the medium range.I think 55#s was probably about average in the 1990s into the 2000s.
I do believe alot of traditional archers are older on the age curve these days.That has something to with it as well.Hopefully we will see alot of younger bucks coming through the ranks in the future of traditional bowhunting!The future depends on it!
I shot 65-70#s in my 30s and 250 arrows a day.
I am 50 now and shoot around 50 #s and 50 arrows every other day or so.Works well for me at this point.
I dont feel underbowed at this poundage at all and enjoy the accurracy,comfort level,quicker recovery from shooting sessions and less wear and tear on muscles,joints and connective tissue.
I do think some of the newer bows are giving archers excellant performance at this weight.As well as the newer string materials and skinnier strings.
A well tuned heavier weight forward carbon arrow also aids in penetration on game in lower poundages.
Some of the new broadheads avaliable are amazing as well to maximize results in lower poundages.
If you can shoot heavier well though more power to you.Not necessary though for most game and I am glad for that.
I'm shooting 48-52lbs. and it seems like alot. Used to shoot 65, than 55. Just getting older, I guess.
Since speed is unimportant and overrated in traditional archery and arrow weight/ gpp determines penetration, I don't understand the need to shoot such heavy bows for just whitetails. Most decent bows at 45# will a shoot a 600gr arrow 140 fps - 150 fps. Isn't that more than enough for typical hunting distance of 10 - 15yards.
at 71 years young a bow that is 50 lbs seems to be right for me, but also have limbs at 40 lbs for indoor.
I'm 32 or 33 :confused:
I shoot 45-50 because I like to shoot longer. when I shot a 55 lb bow, I was only good for about 20 shots.
I'm 59. I started shooting 47# when I was 14. I had been playing with 20# fibertlass bows before that. I killed my first deer, on my first bowhunt when I was 16 (Pearson Cougar). Today I still hunt with recurves that draw 46-49 pounds.
I have never encountered a situation where more would have been necessary.
If your wife shoots a heavier bow than you, is this something that should be made public knowlege?
Whether it is a wheel bow or recurve I think for the most part people draw way more weight than is needed. I dropped down to 58# on my compound 10 years ago and have since killed many deer, bear, caribou and elk. I always get complete pass thru's unless I hit a shoulder. Plus my accuracy has gotten way better. When I switched to shooting traditional again I started at 43# and have no intentions of going higher than 50#.
I shoot light stuff cause I shoot it better. I can shoot 58# but why.......my target panic flairs up and I can't shoot all day. Anything I hunt I can kill with a 45#-48# bow! When I was 40 55-60 was not an issue.....that was over 20 years ago! :wavey:
QuoteOriginally posted by stagetek:
I'm shooting 48-52lbs. and it seems like alot. Used to shoot 65, than 55. Just getting older, I guess.
Same here. Seems weird that a bow that a few years ago seemed just too light now feels just about right....if only it were 3-4# lighter. I shoot regularly--like 4-5 times a week so it's not that I lay off too much. I'm hitting 70 next birthday (can't believe I just typed that :scared: ) and your muscles just aren't what they used to be as we age. :(
I draw 68 lbs. I wouldn't mind bumping up to 73-75 lbs. But I'm 21 and have been shooting the same bow since I was 15(draw was originally 28" it is now 32"). I guess I kinda grew into the heavy poundage. For what it is worth, I LOVE the way a 740 grain arrow rockets down range out of my bow.
QuoteOriginally posted by JamesV:
If your wife shoots a heavier bow than you, is this something that should be made public knowlege?
:notworthy:
We only praise honesty around here...
If a guy/gal shoots what is comfortable for him, and not try and over do it, then he/she could probably just keep using that bow for life. We only got the one body, and if we use our brains as much as our muscles and stay within our capabilites our body will last longer.
I'm only 25 and I'm shooting 71@28 with my 28" draw. The main reason I shoot that weight is because the bow was given to me. Now that I've shot the bow for over a year I love the weight(and of course the bow)! This is only my fourth season in traditional archery so I'm still new, but I guess my personal opinion is you should shoot the highest weight your the most accurate and comfortable with. If your shooting a tennis ball at 20 yards 5/5 shots with a 70@28, and doing the same thing with a 50@28 why go down to the 50? I get that you can shoot more arrows with the 50 but if you put in the time you can shoot that heavier one just as long. I also like the extra comfort knowing if my shot is off and hits a bone I have a better chance of getting to the goods with the extra weight. My buddy Tim tells me to drop weight everytime we talk, he says my shoulders will thank me one day :biglaugh: He's probably right but I'll shoot this bow until I can't get it back to anchor.
This is just my personal opinion (probably my ignorance), I'm not trying to go against the grain or ruffle anybody's feathers.
Well, I occasionally shoot with a skinny young kid (14 yrs old maybe?) that shoots 50# bare fingered. More power to him. I admire him.
This old man is a lot more comfortable with one of my lighter bows and a glove. I can still shoot my 50# curve for hunting, but I enjoy the mid-40# stuff a LOT more when it's not just one arrow.
I've tried everything from the low 40#'s up to 67#@27", I'm 40 yrs old now & find 55#@27" is perfect & I shoot it best.
I'm with Jon, shoot as much weight as you can with confidence and accuracy. I also believe strongly that your fitness level is a key component, regardless of age, in your ability to handle heavier weight bows.
Snakebit, You should listen to your friend.......seriously!
Age has a some to do with it but sometimes age causes us to not stay in good shooting shape. I know I struggle with my 60 pound bows after deer season and during the winter from not shooting regularly but as spring comes and especially after I arrive in camp in Colorado in June, I start shooting every day and in a couple weeks or so muscle tone has returned.
I know I have moved down in weight the last 10 years. I went from 61# to 57# to 53# now. I notice that as the weather improves and I can get out and shoot more, It gets easier.
As Bill said it takes more work to maintain muscle tone as you age.
In my 20's in the 70's my first real hunting bow (not counting my solid fiberglass when I was 12) was 45@28" went to 50@28" K-mag then 55 k-mag and Howatt hunter the same wgt.I hunted with them through the 70's,80's and 90's then bought my first takedown Bob Lee 57@28 and also used some 60@28 limbs also.In my late 50's I started going back down to my first 45/50 plus or minus a couple and am quite happy with lighter wgt.Killing them just as dead.I am almost 63 and 50@ 28 I draw app. 28 1/2" works perfect for me.Kip
If you listen to your body and not your poundage crazy buddy, you just might get to shoot years longer. Like someone else said in another thread, dead is dead. Age DOES make a difference. Just wait a few more decades and see...,
I think Mike Macredy summed it up perfectly. You don't realize the stress on joints and connective tissue until it's too late. If you can't pull your bow easily then your pulling too much weight. If your young, that's one thing, but as you start to age your body just doesn't rejuvinate itself like it once did.The result can be damaging, just ask those who have gone threw surgery,ect.
I met a young man that had the same model longbow as mine, over 15 years ago. Except his was 51 pounds at 26" and mine was 64 at 26". His bow made three elk bleed on both sides with short blood trails all three times. Mine never went elk hunting. 40 years ago a slightly older young guy than me, we were hunting the same nice buck. He was shooting a 45@28" Bear Kodiak and pulling it just shy of 27", I was shooting an 85 pound longbow.. It came past him and he put a cedar arrow with a four blade Bear straight through both lungs and into a creek. There have always been those that knew that they had enough killing power even though their bows were not monsters. Perhaps once again more archers are finding that out. I had to learn the hard way by having a deer go down with a bow that was half the weight that I would normally use and the deer went down just like the heavy bows did it. It is a wise young man that decides to go for accuracy over struggling to get more power and staying with that choice. Down the road his joints will be better off.
Im 27 going on 90. When I started trad shooting I started with a 60lb hatfield takedown. I have had a few back and shoulder injuries and bumped down to 50lbs. Then had to quit shooting completly for a yea or two. this past september i got back able to shoot and started with 50lbs. Today I got my first bow above 50@28. It's a 56lb pronghorn... A couple weeks of shooting should tell me if my back is upto it or not. I have a fairly long hold at anchor and 50lbs is easy to hold so I'm thinking 56 should be doable for me.
Awhile ago I felt that I might need to go back to a lighter bow as well. So I picked up a 48# pronghorn. I also joined a yoga class of all things, primarily for help with my 60 year old back.
Then I read something Mr Distefano (sp?) wrote about the need to shoot year round. So, I thought instead of waiting for spring to start shooting again, I would try shooting all winter in my garage. Mostly to keep the strength built up, and try to hit smaller spots on my target.
Strangely, now I can my shoot my 55# recurve very well and can do a passable job with an older 60# longbow now. So, I use my 48 for awhile and then move up to the heavier bows. Don't know what I will hunt with for sure but am guessing I will be able to handle around 55# again.
Thanks Mr. D for the challenge!
I am 53 and also shoot girly weights like between the 45 and 51 pounds.
But can it be maybe also the reason that modern bows become better in sence of less drawweight/higher speed?
Maybe a modern hybrid longbow these days of 45 lbs offers the same speed as an older longbow of 65 pounds??? So maybe there is less need for heigher drawweights also?
Just caressing myself here.... :dunno:
Some bows are most definitely faster than others. My Grooves Spitfire that is around 45 at my draw will out shoot a number of other bows as much as 10 pounds heavier that I compared it to shooting the same arrow. the other part of that is that Grooves prefers to shoot the same arrow as bows ten pounds heavier as well. Today, if one wants to shoot a lighter bow, there are numerous high performance options that were not around before. however, when I was a teenager in the 60s my 55 pound Pearson was the stiffer than the others bows. Most of them were shooting 45 pounds.
I think this trend is due to many of us realizing that we are much more accurate with lighter weight bows. I'm only 35 and I've never shot anything over 60 lbs. For hunting I shoot about 53lbs. But I can shoot 40lbs. even better. No matter how much I shoot 53lbs. I can still shoot 40 better. Since I hunt whitetails and turkeys my next bow will be around 43 to 45 lbs. I have no qualms at all about shooting whitetails with that weight and I can shoot it well.
I should add that I shoot the way Rick Welch does in that I "hold" for up to 3 seconds before release. When I used to snap shoot 60 pounds was no problem.
I can still pull and shoot 80 plus pounds, but my shoulders have gotten bad so even though I can do it, I now shoot 51-56#s and my shoulders thank me! Shawn
Yes! I used to pull a78# bow, then went to a65# bow. Had an injury and now hunt with 55# but do most of my 3D at 50#. This is due both to age (63) and the injury.
I don't think age is the only factor and just because someone is older doesn't mean they can't draw and comfortably shoot a heavier bow. Everyone is different. I know a man (close personal friend) who shot 61# for years. He is now 71 years old and still pulls and shoots a 55# longbow everyday. So he has gone down some in weight but not to what I would consider a lower weight (especially considering all the bows I shoot are in the 55#-60# range and I'm only 19 lol). I have quite a few people in my family who are either physicians or pharmacist. It really just comes down to the person. Some people may be able to pull and shoot just as much weight the day they die as they could in their prime and others will have to move down in draw weight. I personally hope I never have to drop in poundage but if I do due to health reasons when I get older it will just be something new to embrace.
QuoteOriginally posted by straight_arrow:
I'm with Jon, shoot as much weight as you can with confidence and accuracy. I also believe strongly that your fitness level is a key component, regardless of age, in your ability to handle heavier weight bows.
+ 2
I shot low 70s till I was 55 and had neck surgery,dropped down to 60 to 63# .Last year I noticed I was having trouble with 63# so I made a 50# longbow for my whitetail trips back to wis. every year and am the process of building a 55 to 58# (I hope) one for elk.
I'm active and workout at least 5 times a week and 60 years old and going down hill :scared: So I think age just gets ya.
But its better then the alternative :goldtooth: