Started around 1969 with a 25# Bear "Red Bear" Had a bunch of solid glass bows in the 36# - 45# range... Got my first laminated recurve to hunt with my 1st year 1976, a 50# Bear Alaskan.

I had the heaviest bow out of all of us hunting. (my friends & I) most were using 40# - 45#.

I think my first bow was a 12# lemonwood longbow.  Of course, that was 60 years ago and I was seven years old.  Progressed to about 65# over the years.  Now shooting 50-55#.

Went from shooting a 70# compound to shooting a 50# recurve.  At that time 55# seemed like too much weight, although I could get it to full draw I couldn't control it the way I wanted to.  Currently shoot bows anywhere from 50# to 100#, but have shot most of my critters with bows from 53-60# at my draw length.  Shooting the heavier ones sure makes the lighter ones feel easy, and you never know what life holds in store.  Maybe you get a chance to chase buffalo, and then being able to shoot a heavy bow is a plus.

65# Howatt Hunter.  I had been shooting a 92# compound, so it wasn't bad.  Have hung around the same weight ever since.

First trad bow was a 65# (at my draw) Tigercat.  A few months later I sold it and bought a longbow I was pulling 82# on.  Like some others have said, young and dumb.  Still own a flatbow that I was pulling 120-125# with (never scaled it).  It is 98@28, I was pulling it right at 32".  Stacked like crazy.

Bounced around a bit, settled on 66# at my draw for a long time, but if I get another bow it will be 50-55@ my draw...or less.  I can still pull fairly heavy, but see no point in it.  I have a bow that's in the mid-low 40's at my draw that I hunt with some, but haven't shot anything with it yet.  It was a gift, and I promised I'd try to bloody it.

Heavier draw weights were used to mask my awful release.  Finally bit the bullet and worked on getting a better release.

I started with a 60# compound in 1985, then on to a 65# compound.

My first trad bow was a browning stalker recurve? I ,and honestly cannot remember the weight in 1994.

Then I bought a longbow from a guy building bows and he talked me into a 67# bow.  I shot it well as I took 2nd in a traditional league two years in row.  Looking back I wish I would have started with a mid 50# bow.

I currently shoot 50# bows most of the time but ramp up to 60# for hunting season.  I can shoot the 60# as well, just not for as many arrows.  I have a 60# Robertson that I can outshoot all my other bows with for first couple dozen arrows.

Lately I have really decreased my number of arrows per session, concentrating on quality arrows, vs quantity.

I started with a 50# longbow. went well for me

not sure maybe 20lbs about 50 years ago. First real recurve was 40 then 60 then 70. Like shooting 55-60 now.

Bear bow that was 50@28 in the 80's. I have stayed between 55lbs and 65lbs. Nothing over 65lbs and that is my max in warmer hunting conditions.

At a time in life when I could, I started with a 70# longbow and shot around that poundage for years. No longer though

QuoteOriginally posted by Cyclic-Rivers:
(1969) 45 lb grizzly I was 13.

I should state, I had a gray fiberglass recurve when I was a kid.  put  a lot of arrows through it.  I think it was a 25 or 30 lb bow but I was only drawing 24" or so.

42 pound Maddog longbow my first year.
Second year I owned 3 bows in the 50s.
Third year shooting trad I had 3 bows in the 60s.

Now I just shoot whatever I'm in the mood for. I can maintain good form up to about a hundred pounds, but I like my bows I the 65-80 range. I'm a huge fan of going light until you get your form down.
Thom

Thanks for all the replies guys.

21# and 59 years ago!  

54#

I shoot both right handed and left handed and I believe that is what has allowed me to shoot the draw weight that I do...I started shooting traditional bows seriously at the age of 58 with a left handed bow that draws about 35 to 38 pounds at my draw length...then I bought a right handed bow that draws about 45 to 47 at my draw length...I was happy at that weight for a while until I bought a nice 1960 Kodiak that is just over 60 pounds at my draw length...I found out that I could shoot that weight and have never looked back...right now I shoot 60 to 63 pounds both right and left handed and by this fall I fully intend to be shooting just under 70 pounds right handed...as long as there is no physical distress involved I cannot see a downside of being able to shoot more weight...I will hunt this fall mostly with bows that draw right around the 60 mark, but could also be found in the field with a bow that is only 45 pounds and the one mentioned that I will shoot at close to 70...I will be 62 this winter...it is not a given that as we age we need to shoot less weight

DDave

One way that I verify that I am coming to full draw and shooting consistently is to shoot Technohunt....you get a printed velocity for every arrow at the end of your shooting time...if I am still getting the same velocity at the end of a 40 or 45 arrow session in a half hour I know that I am maintaining good form and not over bowed

DDave

55# martin X200 I think,,, 3 or 4th shot I put it through the neighbors tin shed,,,, I new then I needed to drop 50lbs and bought a 50lb martin pioneer and new then I would pretty much always shoot 50lbs.

Started at 54#.  Now own two others, 50# and 52#.  Never felt the need for more poundage.

Started at 57#s. Too much. Had it reduced to 54, still too much. Now i own two bows. 46# and 52#. Wont go any higher as I developed TERRIBLE short draw habits with the heavier bow and severe target panic.