I have a recurve for my wife, I'ts A Bear Kodiak Hunter 35#@28", I'm figuring with her short draw she might be pulling about 33#.Would this be enough for whitetail? She will be hunting on the ground only.I need your opinions.
Thanks everyone.

People have used less.I mean I would probably go with at least a 450-500gr. arrow with a hair poppin cut on contact 2 blade.Relatively close shots that are completely broadside or very slightly quartering.Thats just my opinion you can take worth a grain of salt.

Hope This helps.

I know a man who got complete pass thru on a doe using a 36#, shooting a 340 grain shaft! He hit the lungs.

That's pretty light.  I'd see if she can work up to 40# or so.  What's the MI reg minimum?

might want to check with your local DNREC officers.  I know in Delaware that they REQUIRE min of 45#

My first hunting bow as a kid was a 35# Tamerlane, the same one my grandmother killed numerous deer with.  Proficiency is the key with any bow no matter the draw.  I agree with String Tracker, check with your DNR to see what there requirements are.  Most minimums that I've seen nowadays is between 40-45lbs.

In Ohio it used to be 45#, but now it is 40#.

Honestly?  It may be enough....but I personally would not hunt with that poundage.

My son killed his first deer (8 pt buck) at age 13 with a youth longbow pulling 33# @ 24" which was his draw length at the time. Cedar arrow with a 2 blade Magnus penetrated to the feathers.

It will be enough, she just needs to take her high percentage shots with sharp heads.

My first bow was a 40# recurve.  I called the DNR and asked what the minimum poundage was for deer hunting.  The officer told me Michigan doesn't have a minimum and that his aunt hunts with a 35# bow.

The deer I killed with that bow was with a 2 blade Magnus sitting on a Chundo pine shaft.  The arrow didn't pass through, but buried itself to the nock.  Double lung.  Arrow broke and did some good damage.  I found all 4 pieces.  2 in her and 2 on the ground.  Glued it all back together and have it hanging in my shop.

I'd say if it gets her hunting, she's practiced A LOT, has the knowledge of vitals and can keep her cool to take a high-percentage shot while on the ground, her setup is SUPER tuned, and the heads are sharp, then do it...

I would, however, recommend a good piece of cover, or better yet, a ground blind, to allow her to concentrate on getting to full draw, and getting her form in place to make the shot, so she doesn't have to worry quite as much about getting busted at ultra-close range.

Moving your body millimeters to make that draw can take a lot out of you, and your concentration for the shot, while you're in the deer's "sixth sense" zone, and they can sense any movement just barely outside their vision cone.

In a nutshell, anything to boost her confidence during the final shot sequence (and accuracy) can help to offset a light setup.

And I'd also recommend the two-blade around 400 grains of arrow, maybe a hair more.  Any more than that will drop really quick...and tuning is the most important part...heavy doesn't work if it's wobbling on the way there...

Just my thoughts,
Marc

Back in the 50's it was not uncommon to see game taken with bows in the 30's. But, yes, it is enough given a good shot angle and if you are shooting within the laws where you are hunting.

i second otto's opinion.....yes you COULD kill a deer at that poundage but i'd go higher if at all possible. my 2 cents

29# RD longbow in one side out the other don't ask how i know that.

If she can excercise the restraint necessary to take high percentage shots within her effective range she will kill as many deer as the rest of us.  Have fun.  Be safe.

Jerry Dishion (SP?) from Stotler archery told me along time ago he shot through 17 deer with his first bow which was 37#--> I was young and wondering about #40 for whitetails and he among many other people said 40 won't be a problem providing the shot distance is not beyond 20yds w/ two blade and everything is flying perfect.

If she's hitting good and everything is set up right, why not!

I would say no.  The perfect, perfect, perfect senario doesn't always happen in actual hunting situtations.   If your wife should wound and not recover her first deer, she will likely feel so badly about it she may never hunt again.

I know I am at the other end of this light bow thing, but it is my opinion and I am sticking with it.

Cheers.

you are kidding, right? No? You have to plan for the worst....work for the best. 33 lbs is too light for the worst.

If you didn't respect the game you wouldn't be asking...so have enough respect for them to have your wife work up her poundage, and arrow weight, where she can responsibly shoot a living creature with a bow and expect to get the results she is looking for.

One bad experience and your new hunting partner might quit. You don't want that to happen, do you?

Notice I didn't say it "can't be done"...what I am saying is that though you CAN do something, it doesn't mean that it's something one ought to do. Some natives shot some really wimpy little bows..while subsistence hunting....but we aren't hunting to feed ourselves..we are hunting for other reasons. Just food for thought.

There's enough guys weighing in on for or against, so I'll add a different twist to the pot.

You mention she has a short draw and it appears as though it might be 27"s+ (based on the #s you figured).

Keep in mind that most guys who tell people they have a 28, 29...30 inch draw always seem to draw 27"s when I see them on the courses, etc...

In a hunting situation, even a well practiced, seasoned archer who draws 28"+ might short draw the 27-28 they are likely getting...you see where I am going...

Just something to think about when you are right near the line.