I swear, I'm turning into a wimp - even a 45# bow seems like a chore to shoot some days.  I think it's time for me to admit that I'm not the 25 yr.old mercenary stud that I used to be.    :(  
If my next now is less than 40 lbs., am I required to turn in my manhood card?

I believe Killdeer has killed quite a few deer with a 37# recurve.

Night Wing shoots upper 30s. Think he fares pretty well, too.

Pretty sure you know the answer to this question already.

QuoteOriginally posted by JamesKerr:
I believe Killdeer has killed quite a few deer with a 37# recurve.

Yeah, but she doesn't have to worry about turning in her man-card.     :D

I'll be pulling 30# by the end of Sept I hope revovering from torn tricep tendon surgery. I'm not hunting deer with that weight though. That will have to wait.

Do what you can with what you have has always been my philosophy...but...my inner child always gets in the way! Even though I know better I do not "warm up" as I should with my lighter bows. But, I must admit that I do enjoy shooting the lighter bows more!  

I never felt the need to apply for a man card. Having the hunting skill to get close enough to kill deer with light bows trumps struggling to draw too much weight and is the manly approach or the two.

I'll be starting the season with any number of old Bears from 35-40lbs and I'll shoot thru and kill deer just as fast, with even better shot placement, then when I shot 55lbs.

The heavy vs light debate reminds me of the old joke about the young bulls and the old bull running or walking down the hill to get to know the cows in a better way.

So, what's the joke about the bulls, Mojostick.

Tom , Keep the man card. LOL Forget the bulls.

God bless you , Steve

QuoteOriginally posted by Tom Anderson:
So, what's the joke about the bulls, Mojostick.

The young bull wants to run down the hill and do his thing with one cow. The old bull suggests walking down the hill and doing his thing with all the cows.

TX has got it. LOL

I've been shooting my 40# recurve all year and am completely confident that I will have no problem harvesting a deer with a well placed shot.  I can shoot this bow for longer periods of time and feel like I'm more accurate with it.  Get a lighter bow and have fun with it......no problem    :D

Not since I was eight.

Man card    Anyway, keep the man card, just make sure the bow has the legal weight written on it.

One of the best hunters i ever knew,used a 40#@28" bow to take many deer,through his years..Thing is,his draw was no more than 26".I doubt any on here woulda told him he wasnt a man and he woulda told them,where to stick their "Man card".LOL

I for one have never understood why confidence is in poundage, I do understand that you need a certain amount of Kenetic Energy to break bone, but when it comes to deer you can do that with a 25 pound bow.  Provided, you a proficient with the bow you are using and you know your limitations.  Now those that shoot higher poundage is no problem, more power to them.

I started out with 58# (1974), I also found that it was too much for me.  At the present time I'm shooting a 34# Griffen.  I was not shooting for a long time because my shoulder, it took a long time to diagnose what I had.  And now that I know that I can be proficient with 34 pounds, why do anything different.  It's easier on my body, I know my limitations, and I found it's like riding a bicycle.  Alot also depends on how well you tune an arrow to the bow.  That's one thing about Trad gangs members they are excellent bunch of people with a wealth of experience and helpful spirit.

I stop shooting for about a year, I did not shoot any bows simply because my shoulder.  But getting back into it feels good.  If you've got a proficient well made precision traditional bow, low poundage is no problem.  Except for your state limitations.  You have to be sure your legal.  And mentally prepare yourself that you not going to shooting anything bigger than a Whitetail deer.  Although I heard of people shooting elk with a 40# &45# bow, I would not want to try that myself, it's just not justice to the animal.


Carl

QuoteOriginally posted by Mongo:
Not since I was eight.

That hurts, Mongo....   :(

Not yet .. But I'm working my way down as the years click by

Mongo meant to say he's trying to make up for other inadequacies that we shouldn't mention.