Ok this for you guys out there that chase elk around God's beautiful country side. What draw weight is a good weight for elk? I know shot placement is everything but I do know weight helps also.
What's you're current set up?
I've not had the opportunity to actually shoot an elk with a bow but everyone tells me the heaviest you can shoot well is the best weight. Wyoming has a minimum draw weight of 50# or a bow that can shoot a 500 grain arrow 160 yards. A few other states have 50 as a minimum as well. Colorado's minimum is 35# with a broadhead of at least 7/8" outside diameter.
The bow I currently shoot is 51#.
55# is a very solid wt to be at with your draw length. 500grn-550grn arrow would be a great wt as well.
ElkNut1
I would say draw weight is way down the list in importance when it comes to making the kill. Not all bows are equal-sometimes not even close in terms of delivering power to the arrow. Work on everything else and a 50# bow should do the job-mine has.
I took a bull in 2010 with a fairly lightweight (~46#) recurve and was shooting a 630 grain arrow with 125 grain COC broadhead (scary sharp). I would suggest as heavy as you can accurately shoot though. The heavier arrow seemed to help as I got complete penetration.
I would reccomend 50+ and right in 10ish gpp arrow you would be good to go.
There will be many people come here and say they did it with 35lbs or something similar. It is possible and the real key is setup.
*****BOTTOM LINE IS Your arrow weight has to be matched to your bow and your arrows must fly true.*****
Tuning is just as important as draw weight and arrow weight do not neglect it.
In addition if your shooting a dull broadhead it wont matter if your shoot 70lbs your in trouble.
Wow, they still have it listed in the Regulations but those may be the 2012 regulations they have online. EDITED: The regulations online are the 2012 regs.
Good to know.
QuoteOriginally posted by FerretWYO:
Wyoming law just recently changed. There is no weight requirment now.
Listen to the guy two above my post with the monster elk in his avatar :)
54# is the most popular weight sold at the local traditional shop here in Denver. That's an average, I'd say highest weight you can shoot accurately after working out.
QuoteOriginally posted by steadman:
Listen to the guy two above my post with the monster elk in his avatar :)
X2!!!!
A good rule of thumb for any game is to shoot the heaviest bow you can consistently shoot accurately matched with a good heavy arrow tipped with a SHARP broad head.
QuoteOriginally posted by steadman:
Listen to the guy two above my post with the monster elk in his avatar :)
X2!!!!
A good rule of thumb for any game is to shoot the heaviest bow you can consistently shoot accurately matched with a good heavy arrow tipped with a SHARP broad head.
QuoteOriginally posted by old_goat2:
.......I'd say highest weight you can shoot accurately after working out.
X2, but don't sacrifice accuracy and a well tuned arrow for a few pounds. No such thing as too much KE or speed in archery, come to think of it, the same goes for a gun.
DITTO FerretWYO!!! 55# will punch right through one if you are using kickin' sharp broadheads on perfectly tuned arrows. 70# won't be affective at all if you shoot arrows wafting sideways and/or dull broadheads. USE A BOW YOU TRUST AND ARROWS YOU HAVE PROVEN. Get close and do not be satisfied with a questionable shot. Elk are hearty animals until they are wearing a double lung job. I believe 50-60#rs have been responsible for many an elk steak.
killed a bull at 15 yards with 53lb@26 550 grain arrow.
arrow burried up to the fletchings
I've only killed 2 bulls - one average body size and one very large body size. Shot through both with big Snuffers, one bow at 58 lbs and one at 65 with 620-640 gr arrows. That is into the fletching with arrow out the offside.
You really realize how big they are when they are on the ground...they are a BIG critter compared to a whitetail. I don't feel overbowed in the mid 60's on elk, and I wouldn't feel very good under mid 50's with heavy arrows. Of course I want to shoot big broadheads. They are tough animals, and I REALLY want 2 big holes for tracking an elk in typical elk country.
R
I was incorrect about the weight being removed. It was the arrow casting requirements that were removed.
What ELKNUT1 said with a razor sharp, COI broadhead!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
QuoteOriginally posted by Matty:
What's you're current set up?
I am shooting a bear kmag #50@28" with a 500 gr arrow and 135 grain head
I've taken 4 with mid 50# long bows. and a variety of very sharp broad heads. thunder head, zwicky 2 blade, magnus 4 blade and a woodsman...
55 !
I will start by saying I have never hunted Elk but having seen a few on trips to Colorado and north Arkansas they are a big critter that I would suspect have some pretty thick hide and bones. I would not feel comfortable shooting anything below 50# and would feel much better with 55#-60# and 600 plus grain arrows. I know there isn't much poundage difference in 50# and 55# but that extra 5# in my experience shooting tends to really boost arrow speed with a 600 plus grain arrow. All that said my preferred weight in a hunting bow is 60# but I have shot through many whitetails and a couple hogs with 55#
Deeter,
If you have trouble with accuracy on heavier bows, I would respectfully suggest that you look for a more effecient 50# bow (see Bjorns' post) than the Kmag just to be safe. I would characterize your set up as a medium-light weight arrow with a medium-slow bow. But consider the source...I am in the 55-60, 10 grains/lb club and have only shot through two bulls.
what ever you pick, tune it and when you r done tuning it do it again..... get arrows flying clean and straight.
also the last thing you need to do before you go is tune it one last time.
good luck.
go for a scary sharp two blade as well.
Considering that much less efficient primitive bows and stone points have been successful for thousands of years, a modern bow, and razor sharp metal broadhead will do just fine. Have confidence in your perfectly tuned arrows, and put that shot in the boiler room, and you'll follow a short blood trail to your trophy. Good luck, and post some pics!
shot one with a 54# longbow and going to chase them this year with a 51#.
I keep thinking back to whar Ryan Rothhaar said."You really realize how big they are when they are on the ground."
It's truly an understatement.It is an eye opener to stand over the first one.Big creatures and tough.
My thoughts are,if you have to go in the low 50's,make sure it is an efficient setup,especially the arrow an broadhead.The broadhead and shaft need to be tough and tuned,and of a weight you know will penetrate well.
If anything is ever going to go wrong in the field,being within bow range of a screaming bull after days of playing tag and possibly after extreme physical exertion,would probably be the place.The more you can handle well,the better.
Many people travel and incur a lot of expense to go on an elk hunt so a good bit is at stake.So many things can go wrong at the moment of truth but equipment failure should be the last on that list.There are months before an elk hunt to work into or work up a good elk setup.
I think I read in Dave Peterson's book on elk hunting that he used a 53 lb Shrew with fairly heavy arrows. I don't have the book handy but it seemed to be a carefully thought-out combination.
QuoteOriginally posted by MnFn:
I think I read in Dave Peterson's book on elk hunting that he used a 53 lb Shrew with fairly heavy arrows. I don't have the book handy but it seemed to be a carefully thought-out combination.
Yes, 53lb shrew, 650gr arrow, foc over 20%, single bevel head. I believe it was two years ago he went through a shoulder on a 5x5 bull and made a clean kill.
Most of my elk have been killed with 73lbs or so. One year I had to hunt with 53lbs due to injury. I got good penetration but no exit hole. I had to drop my bow weight again due to a long layup off my feet so the last few have been with around 60lbs and have all had exit holes. I'd shoot the heaviest you can shoot accurately, but would try to keep that as close to 60lbs or above as possible. I use 10gpp arrows.
Deeter...im not going to put a # on things here but what i will say is you need to talk to Larry Hatfield of Martin archery...ask him how many elk he has killed with a 50lb bow...while ur at it pick his brain about arrow weight and broadheads...then follow his advice...
Seen enough elk shot w/ 50lbs or less (5).Furthest w/ 25yrds and all where trouble to recover.
My outlook on elk is a big animal which means a larger kill zone,which means further shots.If you are dicipline and keep to 20yrds or less,you are fine.If you push that 30+yrds?I would go w/ more horsepower.
There is a lot of great information in this post the only thing that I can add is don't over bow yourself and make sure you can hit what your aiming at and make sure your broadheads are razor sharp and have fun. The Elk woods are awesome.