What do you think is the minimum draw weight a hunter should use for Whitetails?

I am by no means an expert on low poundage, but I would say around #40 pounds and the shooters draw.

Some states have legal minimums.  Ohio's is #40.  Not sure about NY though.

Indiana is a 35# minimum

NY is >35# (unlawful to use 35# or less, so 35# on the nose is not legal).  Leaves no room for error IMHO.  I'd want a deadly sharp single blade (two edge) on my arrow as that weight would lack any push for multiple blades.  Magnus II 125 gr would do nicely.


NYS Big Game Regulations

    http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8305.html  


Personally - I'd rather hunt with a crack shot and patient hunter using a 40# bow than a poor shot who flings wildly and is overbowed with a 65# bow.

In general, I'd say 35#'s is a good area.

My 15 year old son had a complete passthrough on a buck last year at 18 yards with a 37# Ben Pearson Recurve (he pulls to 35#'s). He was using 1816 arrows with a four blade stinger.

I've arrowed and killed many whitetail deer during my 47 years of bowhunting.

The lightest bow poundage I've killed deer with has been 36# and the heaviest bow poundage I've killed a whitetail with has been 44#.

Both of my recurves I presently own and bowhunt whitetail deer with are 42# and 37#.

Of course, one variable that comes into play is my 30" draw length. With a light poundage bow, take a broadside double lung shot 20 yards and under.

The 2 blade broadheads I've used have been as wide as 1 1/4" and the 3 blade broadheads I've used have been only 1" wide.

Take it from me. No deer goes far or lives without lungs.

Maybe I phrased my question incorrectly..what I was asking is...

What weight do  you think is optimal for whitetails?

me its 56 lbs.clean release,and im not overbowed

Jersey is also 35#, but you need to be dead on and up close and personal to do the deed.JMHO

Optimum weight is the highest poundage you can shoot at maximum accuracy.

I don't think there's an upper limit, really. 40 pounds is the minimum here in Ontario, I hunt with 50. If you used a 100 lb bow on a deer, it would probably be overkill, but as long as you can tune your arrows and place it accurately, you're good to go, and you could probably blow through heavy bone better than a lighter setup.

As long as you are accurate, "extra" draw weight is NOT a disadvantage.

Both of my sons have killed deer with bows in the very low forties and even a bit less. Personally, I feel that this is the low end of the scale.

If you draw 28" and can handle 45 lbs, you have good medicine for whitetails. Less WILL work, but a bit more sure wont hurt.

Optimal?  As much as you are accurate with.  What is good one day may not be as good when you're stiff and tired, or wearing bulky clothes and don't quite reach full draw, or thwack an unseen twig, or, like I just did, shoot with wet puffs and fabric camo tape that robs a surprising amount of speed.

I don't ever recall thinking "Damn, I got too much penetration that time" or "Rats, I didn't use up all the available opening for a rainbow trajectory just then."  I'd shoot a 100# bow if I could draw it 60 times in an afternoon of field shooting.

My two primary bows are 56# and 61# at my draw weight.  I'm thinking they're about ideal for the areas I hunt.  I shoot a 600 to 620 grain arrow.  I have had several full pass-throughs with the 61# and the 56#er just stuck a Stos head 1-1/2" into a tree after passing through a whitetail's chest.