Is it just me or...

Bob4st · April 09, 2013, 10:43:00 PM

...has anyone else noticed an increasing need for decreasing draw weight... I have assumed it is related to the aging population of trad members... Apparently, around the year 2016, 65% of the USA population will be equal to or greater than 65 years old..... I easily pulled twice my age when I was 30... Now I pull less than my age....don't ask :(

Wannabe1 · April 09, 2013, 10:49:00 PM

I only pull less due to an old shoulder problem. :D

Matty · April 09, 2013, 10:51:00 PM

Ha! We won't ask your age! I'm sure there's a million reasons. But for me. I decreased weight in the last year cause my shooting style wasn't in tune with my draw weight. As a snap shooter I did just fine with a heavier bow. 55-60. No problem.
Now with my new style of draw... Hold..... Release....
Holding 55# isn't working too well. I start to shake in 4 seconds and accuracy is compromised. I've dropped to the high 40's to 50# weight and my accuracy and consistency has gone through the roof!! And I'm comfortable shooting most big game animals with that weight.
Would love to see what some other people are doing.

April 09, 2013, 10:58:00 PM

I went from 90 to 64 because my middle finger hurt. Then I went from 64 to 55 because my middle finger and my index finger hurt. Then I went from right hand to left hand because my fingers were not getting any better. If I would have listened to John Schulz like I should have I would have never gone over 55 and my fingers would thank me for it, but not all of the deer I would have killed with that puny little 55 pound yew longbow.

bofish-IL · April 09, 2013, 10:59:00 PM

I noticed the last couple years my 60 pound bow started getting harder to pull after 25 of the 40 3D targets. So I dropped down to 51 pound and after shooting this for months and I try to shoot the 60 pound, it only takes about 10 shots with the 60# bow to start shaking.

D · April 09, 2013, 11:02:00 PM

I'm 31 and been shooting trad for around five years and I've always felt best staying around 55#. I can shoot more but I don't think theres a need in it. I only hunt deer, pigs and small game so no need to get into really heavy weights.

beaver#1 · April 09, 2013, 11:03:00 PM

I don't know. I shot 55# Bows for a few years. Now I have a 73 nm classic in the way. I shoot heavy weights just as well or better than my 44# bear cub. If I can pull it and shoot it well I wil continue to shoot heavy weights while hunting.

Knawbone · April 09, 2013, 11:09:00 PM

I know I'm not going to hurt myself. Just of late I have come to the conclusion that sooner rather than later, going down in weight is the smartest thing for me to do. Shoulders and tendons can't take the amount of shooting I like to do. At least not with my heavier bows. My body is telling me it's time to take it a little lighter were bow draw weight is concerned. Hey, let's face it, and be smart about it. Aging is unavoidable.

will_hunt · April 09, 2013, 11:22:00 PM

The answer is "yes". After nearly thirty years...simply yes. No shame either.

30coupe · April 09, 2013, 11:30:00 PM

Before I sold my 55# Mahaska longbow, I took it out and shot it for old times sake. The next morning my shoulders reminded me that they are old. In fact, I hurt for several days. I can shoot my Orion for a while, but not as many shots as I would like. At this point my 46-47# bows are just right. With two blade broadheads, I can shoot through deer with them. Whitetails are the biggest thing I shoot and the biggest thing I am likely to shoot at this stage in my life, so I see no reason to punish my tired, old body unnecessarily. I love to shoot, so lighter is fine with me.

joe ashton · April 09, 2013, 11:46:00 PM

62 tomorrow!!!! so, yup!! Lighter is better and proud of it.

30coupe · April 09, 2013, 11:57:00 PM

Happy birthday, Joe! I turned 60 a few weeks ago. I have no desire to turn back the clock, but I wouldn't mind slowing it down a bit.

58WINTERS · April 10, 2013, 12:10:00 AM

74 to 52 from my thirties to my mid sixties (66)

Steelhead · April 10, 2013, 01:43:00 AM

Yes I have noticed the trend to lighter draw weights in general.No,it is definatly not just you!

I think alot of shooters that came over from compound shooting in the 90s thought they needed to shoot at least 55#s.Alot of bows sold in the 50s, 60s, and 70s were around 45 #s.That was probably about the medium range.I think 55#s was probably about average in the 1990s into the 2000s.

I do believe alot of traditional archers are older on the age curve these days.That has something to with it as well.Hopefully we will see alot of younger bucks coming through the ranks in the future of traditional bowhunting!The future depends on it!

I shot 65-70#s in my 30s and 250 arrows a day.
I am 50 now and shoot around 50 #s and 50 arrows every other day or so.Works well for me at this point.

I dont feel underbowed at this poundage at all and enjoy the accurracy,comfort level,quicker recovery from shooting sessions and less wear and tear on muscles,joints and connective tissue.

I do think some of the newer bows are giving archers excellant performance at this weight.As well as the newer string materials and skinnier strings.

A well tuned heavier weight forward carbon arrow also aids in penetration on game in lower poundages.

Some of the new broadheads avaliable are amazing as well to maximize results in lower poundages.

If you can shoot heavier well though more power to you.Not necessary though for most game and I am glad for that.

stagetek · April 10, 2013, 02:42:00 AM

I'm shooting 48-52lbs. and it seems like alot. Used to shoot 65, than 55. Just getting older, I guess.

Nativestranger · April 10, 2013, 02:55:00 AM

Since speed is unimportant and overrated in traditional archery and arrow weight/ gpp determines penetration, I don't understand the need to shoot such heavy bows for just whitetails. Most decent bows at 45# will a shoot a 600gr arrow 140 fps - 150 fps. Isn't that more than enough for typical hunting distance of 10 - 15yards.

sweet old bill · April 10, 2013, 04:55:00 AM

at 71 years young a bow that is 50 lbs seems to be right for me, but also have limbs at 40 lbs for indoor.

Cyclic-Rivers · April 10, 2013, 07:19:00 AM

I'm 32 or 33 :confused:

I shoot 45-50 because I like to shoot longer. when I shot a 55 lb bow, I was only good for about 20 shots.

Bowwild · April 10, 2013, 07:39:00 AM

I'm 59. I started shooting 47# when I was 14. I had been playing with 20# fibertlass bows before that. I killed my first deer, on my first bowhunt when I was 16 (Pearson Cougar). Today I still hunt with recurves that draw 46-49 pounds.

I have never encountered a situation where more would have been necessary.

JamesV · April 10, 2013, 07:48:00 AM

If your wife shoots a heavier bow than you, is this something that should be made public knowlege?