I just bought my 1st longbow....it is a Bear Montana 45 # ....I am a 50 year old novice hunter .......is 45 # enough to hunt whitetail ? How about small game as well......any advice is appreciated.....

You will see many folks hunting deer with that poundage. A 400-450 grain arrow at 45lbs will work fine.

I'm going to be hunting with confidence this year with a 43# bow.

I'd rather hit light than miss heavy!

Yes and yes...tune it up & take "sure" shots.  Since i developed shoulder problems at the young age of 55, my every day bow is 45lbs.  Last year i took a couple of deer & pigs with it and they didn't notice the poundage! i use closer to 500grains with it & two blade magnus stingers.

What rastman said is dead on.  Now go hunting!

It is plenty.

In the state of Oregon, 40#'s is the minimum for deer. Good luck and go hunting!  

45# is plenty.  
Broomstick, weight of the bow has nothing to do with whether you hit what you're shooting at.  It's the ability to handle the weight you shoot, light or heavy.

Orion,

Are you suggesting that a new shooter should get the heaviest possible bow they can draw and they'd be more accurate with it and get a more productive practice?

Or did you just want to say "Broomstick"?  I see what you did there.

everything I own is 43-51 kills deer all day long

i use a 44# recurve as my main bow. got a pass thru on a doe this year and a 145# hog, arrow buried to the fletching. i use 525gr arrows and steel force 2 blades. im only 26 yrs. old and i could pull alot more bow but im most accurate with bows from 44# to 50#. fred eichler completed the super slam with a 54# recurve...so that should prove what great tuning can do.

Not one negative response out of 10 so far.....I guess my bow store owner was right when he sold me the bow.....I will stick with 45# until I master it and can handle more....Thank you all for the responses.....Rastaman, your response was the clincher....If your game has yet to notice the poundage, and it has been consumed, then I will rest my mind at ease

Trab it's more then you will ever need to hunt with any big game in the great USA..Good Luck and welcome to traditional hunting..

Thanks King....much appreciated

Just shot this one in January. The long bow is 47# @ my draw. 45# will be fine. just need good arrow placement.

Trab,

Make sure you cover the weight on the bow with a little piece of tape so the deer won't see it.  If they do, it probably won't do the job.  If they can't read, well your in.

LOL

I've been hunting with one of our Orion recurves, 48 @ 29 and it's plenty of bow for North American game.  I shot clear through a buffalo a month ago with it.

Mike

The proof is in the picture......thanks Jerry

I use 45 and 50 pound bows and they work just fine. I use my 45 for small game too.

I have bows ranging from 40# to 78#. All of them are very suitable for deer. In fact, the lower poundage bows will usually allow you to gain proficiency quicker than a high pound bow - it just takes longer to gain control over the stronger bow. Listen to these guys who express confidence in lighter draw weights as they know what they are talking about.