Big Game Bow Weights

Airbreather · March 19, 2015, 09:54:00 AM

Can anyone steer me in the right direction for required bow weights for big game hunting in Colorado. I did a brief search, came up with articles. All help is appreciated...

Blackhawk · March 19, 2015, 10:17:00 AM

Below info was posted here on TG in 2013, but cannot guarantee it is correct or has not been changed.

Alabama: 35 lbs.

Alaska: 40 pounds peak draw weight when hunting black-tailed deer, wolf, wolverine, black bear, Dall Sheep and caribou

50 pounds peak draw weight when hunting mountain goat, moose, elk, brown/grizzly bear, musk ox, and bison

Arizona: 40 lbs

Arkansas: 40 lbs

California: All bows used for big game in California have to be able to cast a legal hunting arrow horizontally at least 130 yards.

Colorado: 35 lbs.

Connecticut: 40 lbs

Delaware: No minimum limit

Florida: 35 lbs

Georgia: No minimum limit

Hawaii: (A) Long bows with less than forty pounds of drawing tension at a twenty-eight inch draw;

(B) Recurved bows with less than thirty-five pounds of drawing tension; or

(C) Compound bows with less than thirty pounds of drawing tension.

Idaho: 40 lbs

Illinois: 40 lbs

Indiana: 35 lbs

Iowa: No minimum limit

Kansas: No minimum limit

Kentucky: No minimum draw weight

Louisiana: 30 lbs

Maine: 35 lbs

Maryland: 30 lbs

Massachusetts: 40 lbs

Michigan: 40 lbs

Minnesota: 30 lbs

Mississippi: No minimum

Missouri: a longbow or compound bow of any draw weight; handheld string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes and quickpoint sights are allowed

Montana: No minimum

Nebraska: 40 lbs.

Nevada: 40 lbs

New Hampshire: 40 lbs

New Jersey: 35 lbs

New Mexico: 40 lbs

New York: 35 lbs

North Carolina: 35 lbs

North Dakota: 35 lbs

Ohio: 40 lbs

Oklahoma: 40 lbs

Oregon: 40 lbs deer/50 lbs elk

Pennsylvania: 35 lbs

Rhode Island: Long bow, recurve, or compound capable of not less than 40 pounds at peak draw weight at peak

South Carolina:

South Dakota: 40 lbs

Tennessee:

Texas: None

Utah: 40 lbs

Vermont: Moose--Bows of not less than 60 pound draw weight,
based on the archer's normal draw length for traditional
bows, and using arrowheads with at least 7/8 of an inch
in width with two or more cutting edges.

Virginia: Bow must be capable of casting an arrow with broadhead
at least 7/8 inch diameter (or expandable to that size), minimum of 125 yards

Washington: 40 lbs

West Virginia: No weight limit

Wisconsin: 30 lbs

Wyoming: 40# or have the ability to cast a 400 grain arrows 160
yards for antelope,deer,sheep,mtn goat.

50# or have the ability to cast a 500 grain arrow 160
yards to hunt

MnFn · March 19, 2015, 10:33:00 AM

Somewhat surprised by Vermonts moose requirements. Especially compared to Alaska's requirement for hunting Briwn bear, bison, moose, etc.

OregonTom · March 19, 2015, 10:52:00 AM

I noticed California requires a bow to cast an arrow horizontally for 130 yards. They don't mean literally horizontal right? I would have to arc it pretty steep to get 130 yards out of my recurve.

Roadkill · March 19, 2015, 11:19:00 PM

Blackhawk, great list and valuable. I can see you put some time into it and my trip back east is a snap now.
I got Nevada regs today and they changed to a 40# min.over that arrow over distance. I do not think they put that out for public comment, just did it.

monterey · March 19, 2015, 11:29:00 PM

Surprised to find any states still using the cast distance requirements! What a ridiculous drill it would be for an officer to perform that test in the field!

screamin · March 19, 2015, 11:59:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by monterey:
Surprised to find any states still using the cast distance requirements! What a ridiculous drill it would be for an officer to perform that test in the field!

They don't! I've had the pleasure of talking to 2 wardens on 2 different occasions in Nv and they never asked me to do this. They just want to make sure you have a tag.

March 20, 2015, 11:52:00 PM

Texas no longer has a minimum draw weight.

Bisch

Traxx · March 21, 2015, 01:00:00 AM

Surprised to find any states still using the cast distance requirements.

And im surprised more dont use it.Im disappointed in Nv DFG,I mistook em fer smarter than that.

dragonheart · March 21, 2015, 01:05:00 AM

Interesting info. We all have an ethical responsibility as bowhunters to shoot effective bow and arrow weights. As much as you can shoot effectively.

March 21, 2015, 01:33:00 AM

I stopped telling people what weight to use on hunting bows the day I helped drag the dominant buck out that was shot with a 35 pound Hoyt target bow, later I found that his bow shot 1916s faster than my 50" 49 pound bow. The year that I quit hunting with super heavy bows was the year that I hurt my arm lifting weights and killed a large doe with a Hill longbow that was under 40 pounds at my draw. Everyone has their own level of physical durability and fitness and some bows are just a lot faster than others. It would be a technical nightmare if states got too involved with specifics, but I do wonder how much thought went into the choices, like how bludgeons and htms are legal for turkey in Iowa. I was told that it was for improved game loss, I am guessing it would come down to a head shot or just ruffled feathers.

newhouse114 · March 21, 2015, 01:46:00 AM

"If" your state has a minimum weight, it is a good idea to KNOW the actual weight at your draw length. I have a Samick Sage that "says" 45 lb @ 28", actual draw weight is 57 lb. @ 29.5".

March 21, 2015, 01:52:00 AM

Years ago in Wisconcin, I had a game warden check my bow with a cheap little scale and a draw stick. He told me that he caught someone that changed the weight on their bow and it was barely legal. My bow was not marked, since it was one that I made myself. He got almost a 16" draw out of it.

mgf · March 21, 2015, 06:51:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by monterey:
Surprised to find any states still using the cast distance requirements! What a ridiculous drill it would be for an officer to perform that test in the field!

Then they could spend the rest of the week looking for your arrow. LOL

PaulDeadringer29 · March 21, 2015, 07:33:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by newhouse114:
"If" your state has a minimum weight, it is a good idea to KNOW the actual weight at your draw length. I have a Samick Sage that "says" 45 lb @ 28", actual draw weight is 57 lb. @ 29.5".

Mismarked limbs?

March 21, 2015, 09:35:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by PaulDeadringer29:

QuoteOriginally posted by newhouse114:
"If" your state has a minimum weight, it is a good idea to KNOW the actual weight at your draw length. I have a Samick Sage that "says" 45 lb @ 28", actual draw weight is 57 lb. @ 29.5".
Mismarked limbs? [/b]

Sages are commonly heavier than marked. I would verify any bow I owned to make sure I knew what the draw weight was.

Bisch

warden415 · March 21, 2015, 11:49:00 AM

West Virginia is listed wrong. We have NO minimum draw weight.

Blackhawk · March 21, 2015, 12:06:00 PM

Listing has been updated to reflect the changes mentioned.

**DONOTDELETE** · March 21, 2015, 02:13:00 PM

An average 35 pound bow will easily cast an arrow 150 yards.... we do a clout shoot every year and the distance is 180 yards for men & 150 for women.
My wifes bow is 35@32" and over shoots the flag without proper elevation adjustment.

Traxx · March 21, 2015, 10:22:00 PM

Exactly Kirk!!!!

I have exceeded the minimum in Nv with the old regs,with a 35 lb recurve bow and a 500 grn arrow.
On top of it they have dropped the arrow min weight to 300 grns.

So,based on the new regs,a guy shooting a 40 lb selfbow,with 4 inches of follow at 24" and a 300 grn arrow,will be legal,but a guy shootin one of your 35 lb bows at 28" or further would not.Go figure.LOL