Tell me about your favorite deer hunting set-up.
Longbow or recurve?
What are the specs....draw length/weight....What arrows....arrow weight, how many grains up front etc.
I'm in the process of matching arrows to my new bow so I'll add mine when I get done.
64" Sarrels Blueridge takedown longbow
50#@29.5"
32" Gold Tip 55/75 with 100gr brass insert and 150gr point/broadhead. 530gr total arrow weight. 3-4" parabolic feathers.
Bisch
62" Tall Tines R/D 3 peice takedown
30" 500 ICS Beman Shafts 50 grn insert 260 grn Brown Bear Abowyers. 4" feathers
58" Big Jim Thunderchild
49lbs@27
I was shooting 29" Gt trads with 50gr brass inserts and 150grain magnus stingers
I recently started tinkering with CE Heritage 150s cut to 30" with 100gr brass inserts and 125grain heads. Still tuning and working out the kinks.
60" Blacktail Elite takedown #50@28"
29" POC 500 grains total weight with zwickey two blade broadheads.
68" Northern Mist Classic
56lbs.@28'
29" CE Heritage 150s with four 4' feathers
150gr Wensel Woodman Elites
Bear Montana Longbow 40@28
29" Easton 1816's...3 5" shield cut feathers
125 grain magnus stingers
21st Century Trainer, 40# @ 28".
Dale dye medicine point recurve 60"62#@28" 340 Easton full metal jackets 30"with 75gr insert and 175 gr simmons tigersharks on the business end!
58" widow pchx 54@27
Easton axis 400s w/100 gr brass inserts 3 5" shield cuts
125 Magnus stingers
46@28 Predator Hunter
3 fletched 2016s cut to 29.5 inches
135 eskimo Lites upfront (or Magnus Stringers)
Shot off a Bear Weather rest
Delta bow quiver.
1975 Bear Super Kodiak, 53@28. Easton Gamegetter 2016 with 150gr Simmons Tiger Sharks off a Bear Weather rest, Mini Cat-Quiver
Hill Big Five, 66" 50@27, 54# tapered POC tipped with 150gr Tiger Sharks, Hill quiver
Morrison Shawnee longbow 62", 50@28".
Beman Mfx Classic 400 29"long, 100 grain insert, 212 grain Centaur big Game head. 635 grain arrow with 3 5" parabolic fletches.
Really and truly. . whatever is in my hand at the time.
I try to make sure all of my bows get bloodied, don't want to leave any out. Bows are very fickle and are easily upset because they think you no longer love them enough. I have a few different favorites for different applications, a certain bow for the trees, one for the ground, another for inside a ground blind or while shooting in my basement.
CHuckC
Early 70's Bear Kodiak Magnum 45#. Easton legacy 1916 w/ 125gr Magnus 2 blade heads. 462 gr total, (3) 5" RH helical feathers.
As of today anyway,
Blacktail VL Elite Recurve
53#@28"
Snag's Douglas Fir, 75-80 spine w/ barred turkey feathers
180 Grizzly single Bevel
BigJim thunderchild 58" 55@31 and 55@32
mfx , Easton trads .500 spine full length 375 gr up front and total arrow weight of 725 gr
( vpa 250 gr broadheads)
58" Bodnik slick stick 50# at 25 CE 350s 100 gr inserts with 125 gr magnus two blade total arrow weight 630grs
62" Tall Tines Curve 50# @ 28" drawing 29.5"
Beman CenterShot 400 w/50gr brass insert, bh/screw in insert weight of 300gr, 30.5" arrow length. Total weight of 642 gr.
I change the bow every year. However, the bow is always a recurve with a draw weight between 46-49 pounds. Bow length is 56"-62".
I used Beman MFX Classics for a few years, then the Easton Trads, and last season Easton Injexion FMJ. The only broadhead I use is a Strickland, 2-blade, single bevel Helix (I've used 125, 200, and 155 grain heads). I use 3, 4" feathers. My arrows have weighed, 414-450 grains. My draw length is 26".
62" Toelke Super D, 47#s at 25-1/2", GT 3555s, 50 grain insert with 175 grain 2 blade. But I'll have some 3 blade instincts tuned before next year
I love the way Black Widows recurves shoot, I prefer the way a longbow handles. I am not familiar with the SIW. My draw is 26.5", my arrows are all 27" bop. I shoot 1918s out of most of my low 50s to upper 50s bows, with slight point weight difference to accommodate the spine requirements. For wood shafts I use 45-50 tapered cedars with 145 Grizzlies for two bows and 55-60 tapered Surewoods with 160 grain Hills or Grizzlies for the rest. For my heavier bows I use 70 pound tapered cedars with 160 single bevel Hills, or the old Kodiak Grizzlies at I believe 170 grains. I do not worry about the foc with these arrows, it is apparently plenty to get pass throughs on whitetails in Iowa.
QuoteOriginally posted by pavan:
I love the way Black Widows recurves shoot, I prefer the way a longbow handles. I am not familiar with the SIW.
According to Black Widow....I called them before I bought the bow....the SIW was a "precursor" to their current PSR bows. They said the SIW has a shorter riser and the redesign of the riser resulted in the PSR. He said performance should be essentially the same but that the SIW is more prone to hand torque.
64" Palmer recurve. 54# at my 30' draw. Shooting Beman ICS Hunter shafts, .400 spine. 3 fletch 4" LW feathers. 150 grain VPA 3 Blades or Magnus Stinger 2 blades.
I hunt with a half-dozen or so bows -- longbows, hybrids and recurves around 50# plus or minus a little, and shoot wood and carbon arrows about 550 to 600 grains. I may take one out in the morning and another in the afternoon. They all shoot well.
Shot a turkey with a 50# Bear TD and GT carbon arrow last spring, an elk with a 52# A&H ACS and Easton Axis shaft in early fall, and a nice buck with a 50# Morrison Shawnee recurve and Sweetland Forgewood compressed cedars in late fall.
I like shooting a lot of different bows.
What Chuck said .
Hopefully this year it will be my 56" Check-Mate Firebird 57# @ 28". This bow is ridiculously smooth and forgiving. This will be my first year hunting trad.
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg162/foxtail-offroad/2014%20hunting/20141227_184706_zpsktbepize.jpg) (http://s248.photobucket.com/user/foxtail-offroad/media/2014%20hunting/20141227_184706_zpsktbepize.jpg.html)
Black Widow PSAX 71@31
Gold Tip Ultralight 300 31.5"
50 gr. Double footing
200 gr. insert/adapter
300 gr. TuffHead
3 3" A&A rocket fins
830 gr total weight with 32% FOC
JD Berry Morningstar ASL longbow 51@27 with sitka spruce shafts spined 50-54 with 125 zwickey eskimos up front.
66" 51@28 Two Tracks Echo longbow. 29" douglas fir tipped with 160gn. Stos. This is about to change. I pulled the trigger on a NM Classic. 51#@27. The K-zoo Expo always gets me into trouble.
66" Black Widow PL-III 53# @ 28
CE 250 heritage with 20 gr. insert
175 gr Simmons Tigershark
Good deer medicine!
God bless,
Rodd
I think my best has always been my '73 Super Kodiak with GT 55/75s.It's 52@30", I use 50 gr brass inserts and either a Bear Razorhead or 125 grain Magnus Stinger. One of the only 60" recurves I can shoot comfortably at my draw length..The bow just has MOJO..lol
Wapiti Spike, #58@29", 75-80 Surewood with Zwickey Deltas and 5" shield cut feathers.
Roy Hall Navajo Chief 58" 53# @28
Beman ICS 400 Hunters (never weighed them but they hit like a hammmer)
Simmons Treesharks
3 5" shield cut right wing
This has been my only bow for going on 10 years.
I did just receive Hope the St. Jude's bow by Sarrels. Blue Ridge 60" 54# @28"
Same arrows as my Navajo
I could see me falling in love with this bow.
She was tuned in a matter of minutes and handles like a dream. There is a slight difference in cast that took me three groups to dial in. If the weather and deer cooperate I should add some "mojo" next weekend.
Chris
Got this late this past season, Cari-bow Tuktu Ex, 53#@28", 60". Probably shooting woodies, depends on what survives the time until next season. Made up a few to get tuned for it.
(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l502/MrDwood/DSCN3764_zpsev86wtd9.jpg) (http://s1121.photobucket.com/user/MrDwood/media/DSCN3764_zpsev86wtd9.jpg.html)
(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l502/MrDwood/DSCN3774_zpsr8vfuim4.jpg) (http://s1121.photobucket.com/user/MrDwood/media/DSCN3774_zpsr8vfuim4.jpg.html)
A 54# 60" Pronghorn with 250 grains on the front of 500 spine carbons.
(http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag19/cootling1/IMG_6431_zpslyz30d2h.png) (http://s1296.photobucket.com/user/cootling1/media/IMG_6431_zpslyz30d2h.png.html)
(http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag19/cootling1/IMG_1947_zpskpidbnoq.png) (http://s1296.photobucket.com/user/cootling1/media/IMG_1947_zpskpidbnoq.png.html)
Silver tip 55@28, axis 400s w/original woodsmans and or screw in VPAs 175s or 200s.
This yr it will be a Morrison Leadwood 19" ILF w/47# medium max 1 carbon/foam recurve limbs shooting 30" GT 3555 w/100 grn brass insert and 125 DRT.
Dale Dye Medicine Point 62"65@28
I'm loving a three piece Big Jim Buffalo bow I just recently got. It's 54@28. I've got some 55/75 Gold Tip Heritage arrows that are cut to 28.5. The broadhead i've got is a Grizzly Instinct that is 200 grains with a 125 grain insert for 325 grains up front. I think it makes a 640 grain arrow. I zipped right through a whitetail this past season.
Most times it's a Holm-Made River Runner by Chad Holm, 60" 46# @ 29". 2016 Alum full length with Magnus I or Z-Deltas 145Gr. I did use a Kimsha longbow 66" this year on a few hunts, same poundage and same arrows.
57#@28" Schafer Silvertip, 56". AD Trads with 400 gr up front.
60" Bear T.D., 72#@27", Cedar arrows and Bear Razorheads.
My 50 # Widder
10 strand SBD string with catwhiskers
Great Northern limb bolt quiver
28" 2018's 5" LW helical sheild cut tipped with 145 gr Snuffers
58" Tall Tines TD recurve 48 @ 28"
12 strand D10 Oliver Stacy string w/acrylic yarn puffs
4 arrow side mount Kanati quiver
2016 Legacys cut 29.5" bop drawing 28.5", 3 5" lw parabolic, with 125gr Eskimos on the business end
Legends Bows Mayan longbow 37#@29.5" 66" Cedar shafts 465 grns. Grizzly 125.
Bow......Dryad 60"....52@28
Arrow....Victory HV300...28 5/8"...100 gn insert...250 gn VPA Terminator...3 X 4" shields.....580 gns.
60" 47#@28" Wes Wallace Mentor.
30.5" GT5575 with old Wensel Woodsman.
62" Morrison Shawnee longbow, 50@28"
29" Beman MFX Classic 400, 5" parabolic feathers, 100grain insert. 200 grain Centuar Big Game Head--635 grain arrow.
Black Widow PSR 60" 48@28
Morrison Cheyenne, B riser, D Max 1 carbon/foam limbs, 62", 47#@29", my draw length, 29.25" Carbon Express Maxima Red arrows with 3 4" right helical/wing feathers, standard CE inserts, 200 gr Helix broadheads with right bevel.
Bill
Not sure at this point. I did so well with my Thunderhorn last year.... then I went and got a new Berry Taipan and a new Caribow Tukutu extreme...... at this point I have no idea. The Thunderhorn being a three piece takedown sure makes it convenient......
I always shoot the exact same arrows - 29 inch GT 55/75 with a nasty 205 grain Simmons up front and a three yellow turkey feather rudder for steering in the back....
then again my Bruin recurve hasn't been bloodied in a while.....
Last year I did best with a 66" 62# osage selfbow I made, and shot28" 670 grain tapered larch shafts with 225 tuffheads.
I am just going to use one of my ordinary old 1960 Kodiaks for deer this year...or maybe my Root Custom...I am pretty sure I have some arrows that will work around here somewhere
DDave
(http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54/damascusdave_2009/d7c680b6-f985-4373-984b-9fecc5e15974.jpg) (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/damascusdave_2009/media/d7c680b6-f985-4373-984b-9fecc5e15974.jpg.html)
62" Border BD 62# @ 29"
330 Easton Da Torch arrows
Zwickey Eskimos w 75 g adaptor
BCY 450+ Flemish string by Sowerby
Thunderhorn Quiver
Nice bows, DDave. My next one will be similar, maybe a '59...
Big Jim Thunder Child 56" 50 @ 28" with a
Big Jim Quiver
Gold tip 5575 cut 29", 3 RH 5" inch feathers
250 gran 3 blade VPA
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa277/DUCK_TRAP/42663AC8-DCDF-478E-B9A5-3C98810C52A2.jpg) (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/DUCK_TRAP/media/42663AC8-DCDF-478E-B9A5-3C98810C52A2.jpg.html)
62" Tall Tines Recurve 55#@28"
AD Trads with VPA 3-Blades
2013 Bear Kodiak or 1973 Bear Super Kodiak, both 60", 50#@28", B-50 Dacron with beaver fur silencers. 68#-70# cedar or fir shafts with either Bear Razorheads or Magnus 1 broadheads.
Right now I'm shooting a 55lb Hoyt Dorado with Easton Axis 340's - 75 grain insert and a 150 magnus stinger.
It did the job this year. Of the two bows I've killed deer with, this has been my favorite!
I'm the year after next it will be a new bow :pray:
I got the go-ahead to get a new one!
(http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g359/tradhunter1/20141031_173925_zps192d2e58.jpeg) (http://s1097.photobucket.com/user/tradhunter1/media/20141031_173925_zps192d2e58.jpeg.html)
Yellowstone Hunter 60" 62@26"
Arrows are Surewood shafts, pink and black marble dip, 125 gr. S.T.O.S.
QuoteOriginally posted by TRAP:
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa277/DUCK_TRAP/42663AC8-DCDF-478E-B9A5-3C98810C52A2.jpg) (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/DUCK_TRAP/media/42663AC8-DCDF-478E-B9A5-3C98810C52A2.jpg.html)
62" Tall Tines Recurve 55#@28"
AD Trads with VPA 3-Blades
Trap, that is a fine looking bow.
I keep leaning towards my 55@28 64" widow PLV but I will probably just stick with my proven killer and my quietest bow that seems to just be the perfect hunting bow for me, my 60" 60@28 widow PSA, asbell grip with xx75 2020's and Zwickey deltas or I may try a 3 blade this year.. I have so much confidence in this set up, its really hard to try something else..
I am shooting my Pronghorn Longbow 62" 52@28 Axis 500 with Zwickey Delta two blade. My backup is Pronghorn Longbow 62" 51@28.
I've harvested deer with recurves from 50-70 lbs and arrows of all weights. For right now (youth is passing) I've settled on 60lbs, 58"-60", and just less than 600 gr multi blade arrows.
Any more weight on the bow or arrow (more than 10 grains per pound) reduces my accuracy too much and any less reduces my penetration and messes with my release too much.
I've also shot bows from 52"-64" in length and have found that 58"-60" is a real sweet spot for the average sized person between too short (reduces accuracy) and too long (hitting limbs ect)
I am 5'9" and have a 28.5" draw just for info
Last year, I shot 2 bows. One is a HHA Cheetah, 68" drawing 55# at 28". The other is a NM Shelton that is 68" long, pulling 53# at 28". I actually only pull 25". I have another Shelton on order made of yew with the same specs as the first. Both of my current bows shoot either 50-55# or 55-60% wood arrows with 125 grain Zwickey 2 blade heads.
Camo limb Silvertip 60" 55# @ 28". 400 Full Metal Jackets 100 grain inserts VPA 175 3 blades.
Get to try my Blacktail Elite TD this year. 64" 55#@28", shooting Legacy 2219 with 190g Tree Sharks. I have played around with the carbons and aluminum, bare shafting and all, and the 2219's fly the best after much tuning.
I've been using a Huntworthy Productions Outlaw, for the past four or five years. It's an all natural, laminated R/D hybrid longbow, with a bamboo back and carbonised bamboo belly. 51@28, 65 1/4" tip to tip.
I shoot 29" Gold Tip Traditionals, with 4" parabolic fletching, left helical, with 125 gr. original Woodsman broadheads and stock inserts, with a total weight of 429 gr. (8.6 GPP)
Bob
In my signature are specs...
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee146/gdpolk/Traditional%20Projects/photo1_zpsbe696cf0.jpg)
Palmer recurve, 64" 54lbs at my draw. Beman ICS Hunter .400 with 150gr 3 blade VPA broadheads.
Schafer 1pc. 52#, 27.5" Cedars with Bear Razorheads.
TallTines Stickflinger 60" 55@27"
400 FMJ footed. 75gr. insert with abowyer bonehead made up to be 220gr.
Morrison Shawnee longbow 62" and 50@28 with 29" 500 Beman MFX with 100 grain brass insert and Centaur single bevel Big Game heads.(625 grains total).
A&H ACS, 3 pc takedown, 62", 55lb at my 28" draw.
Grizzlystics Alaskans cut to 30", 5" shield - left helical feathers, 100 grain brass inserts with 125 gr 4 blade Magnus Stingers.
:)
Treadway Black Forest, 64", 47@31
400 spine Black Eagle Carnivores with 44 grain brass inserts with Magnus Stingers, Dead Right There, and Steelforce broadheads coming in at 450 grains.