Elk and 50ish #

Gooserbat · December 10, 2013, 06:18:00 PM

Would you hunt Elk with a bow in the 51-53# range?

I know I have a long draw (30+) and I shoot a 530 gr arrow but should I perhaps look at a bit more weight?

Silvertip Marc · December 10, 2013, 06:26:00 PM

I will be following this post closely. A new bow is in the future, and that is my same draw length and bow weight that I am looking at.

Gooserbat · December 10, 2013, 06:28:00 PM

Yeah I've always shot in the upper 50's say 56-59 but I'm looking to get a new bow and those 5 lbs lighter limbs sure feel good, and are plenty for deer.

joe ashton · December 10, 2013, 06:29:00 PM

yup! I've taken 4 elk with that weight long bows. Have very sharp BHs and patiently wait for the classic broadside shot....

Over&Under · December 10, 2013, 06:29:00 PM

The last elk I killed was with a 51@28 bow drawn to 29"...and a 530 grain arrow. No problems with penetration or recovery.

I hunt elk each year with low 50's # bows and have no worries with my setups. A nice heavy arrow with good arrow flight and the right shot placement, you should be fine.

I know many of my buddies that do the same each year with no problems.

Prairie Drifter · December 10, 2013, 06:36:00 PM

More than enough. For me, anything over 50# at my draw length, and I only draw 26".

I know it works Maddog Prairie Predator 51#@26" 500gr arrow

Africa 2011

Trumpkin the Dwarf · December 10, 2013, 06:48:00 PM

Use two blade/smaller 4 blade heads(magnus stinger comes to mind) that are razor sharp, on 10gpp arrows, and you are good to go. Elk are easy to kill if you hit em right. But elk will go forever if you hit them poorly, no matter what weight bow you use. I shoot a 68lb bow at my 32" draw (with 740 grain arrows), and hit a cow in the elbow joint last fall. Penetration was nonexistent, and the cow ran off like nothing had happened. Chances are slim to none on getting through any heavy bone you encounter on an elk.

Matty · December 10, 2013, 06:48:00 PM

You should use the search tab, I bet there's a hundred topics on this subject. Just use key words like: draw weight elk.

Trumpkin the Dwarf · December 10, 2013, 06:48:00 PM

p.s. Matty is right. there are a lot of threads just like this one in the archives.

legends1 · December 10, 2013, 08:27:00 PM

I shot this Bull with a 64" 51#@31" Safari Elite recurve. Arrow was 510 grains.

jrchambers · December 10, 2013, 08:32:00 PM

couldn't help myself just been waiting for a chance to use this gremlin

Bill Kissner · December 10, 2013, 08:46:00 PM

I agree 51 to 53 pound bows are enough to kill an elk BUT a hunter shooting that poundage would want to stick to a good 2 blade broadhead rather than a multi blade head. As with any animal, there needs to be an exit hole for good blood trails.

December 10, 2013, 09:02:00 PM

My Sarrels Blueridge longbow is 50#@ my draw length and I would not hesitate to shoot an elk with it!

Bisch

rolltidehunter · December 10, 2013, 10:05:00 PM

Yes I shot a 6x6 53@26

SlowBowinMO · December 10, 2013, 10:09:00 PM

Your 30+ inch draw is a huge advantage. It would likely take a bow over 60 pounds at 28" performance wise to equal your low fifties bow at over 30 inches.

Todd Cook · December 10, 2013, 10:11:00 PM

I think it would be plenty. I would probably try to tune an arrow in the 600-700 grain range though.

monterey · December 10, 2013, 11:58:00 PM

I agree with Todd, go with a heavy weight-forward arrow with a COI two blade. I doubt if any elk has ever been killed by a bow but plenty have been killed by arrows! :cool:

Conner Parry · December 11, 2013, 01:15:00 AM

28 yard broadside shot, 48lb trad tech titan recurve and 416 grain arrow, Magnus 2 blade stinger. Double lung shot, the elk was dead in less than 10 seconds.

vernon · December 11, 2013, 06:08:00 AM

I shoot 51# and 54# and never worry about chasing elk with either

vernon · December 11, 2013, 06:09:00 AM

That is at my 28" draw. I've used both 2 blades and 3 blades.