I consideration to George's post, I am assuming perfect flight and form at my 28" draw.  There are many variable indeed.

What they scribble on the side of your bow is relatively meaningless. I have 50# R/Ds that shoot circles around my 60# longbows and I shoot the 50#s more accurately. So how is the 60#er a more lethal weapon just because it has higher numbers scribbled on the side of the riser? Accuracy and arrow tune will trump anything else.
And for what it is worth, there is a small herd of Elk that lives within 10 miles of me-I guess I live in Elk country. Yippee!!

There are some of us out there that were not designed to draw a 60# bow and shoot it well. Does that mean that we're not eligible to hunt elk? I've killed a few with bows in the 52# range,but I'm picky about my shots, and I practice a lot.

QuoteOriginally posted by Cool Arrow:
There are some of us out there that were not designed to draw a 60# bow and shoot it well. Does that mean that we're not eligible to hunt elk? I've killed a few with bows in the 52# range,but I'm picky about my shots, and I practice a lot.

Many states do have a minimum poundage requirement.

I am in complete agreement with those who have said that draw weight has become next to useless in determining whether or not a bow is actually adequate for a certain animal. Like others have said, a 50# ACS may well outperform a 65# or even higher Hill style longbow. There is such a huge spread in traditional bow performance today that one draw weight could easily produce a difference of at least 20fps between different bows depending on the bow you use. Draw length, as mentioned, is also a very valuable piece of the equation when figuring your bow's lethality potential. A 50# bow drawn to 30" is going to put out roughly equal energy to the same bow at 56# drawn to 28", or 62# drawn to 26".
Besides, I know a 13 year old kid who killed a 14 point bull with a 35#@17" longbow, 327 grain arrows, and mechanical broadheads, so I'm sure you'll be fine  

Craig

Well, as they say, a little knowledge is a terrible thing 8^).

Absolutely, I'd use a 3-blade magnus SnufferSS instead with 200-225 grain total head weight though!

 Probably don't need the extra head weight but I like it that way!

 ElkNut1

Let me say that My bows are 50-52# at my draw of 29", I can shoot more wieght but not well. As I have gotten older I have dropped down some. Right now I have 2 bows that are 54# @ 29". Is a couple of pounds gonna make it or break it??? Like I said I like to keep shots 25 yd. or less.

fifty pounds is plenty for elk,oregon minimum draw weight for elk is fifty so wherever you are hunting make sure your bow is marked at the required poundage or you run the risk of being cited. EXAMPLE: your bow is marked 48@28...you have a 30" draw and the poundage at 30 is 54...you can be cited for shooting an under weight bow.i have seen it done so make sure it says the required poundage.fifty is plenty for elk. like stated shot placement and a razor sharp broadhead plus a smooth release are the keys to good penetration.

Here is how I see that. Will it kill and elk? Yes it will. I have seen that be true more than once.

Would I recomend that set up or use it myself probably not.

Elkherder brings up a really good point about the release-a good release can be worth as much as 10% over a mediocre one, and it is for 'free'. Check it out.

QuoteOriginally posted by just_a_hunter:
If your arrow is tuned and flies true, absolutely....

Todd

DITTO!

Years ago I had 2 brothers bowhunting elk with me.  They were probably the best hunters I have every been with.  Almost daily they could get within bow range of elk.  They both shot 50-55 lb. bows / wood arrows and bear 2 blade heads.  Of course this was many years ago and this was about what everyone shot.

Anyway, they wounded more game than I ever shot at.  They were very good shots, but just did not get the penatration.  We all thought they were on the low end of bow weight.

I have shot a 70 lb bow for 35 years and would consider anything below 60 lbs as marginal.  I know not everyone will agree, but that is my personal recommendation.  There is a big difference between a whitetail deer and our elk.

see, I told you someone would say they knew a 13 year old kid who did it with a 35# @17" bow- now, just to prove I'm not just lucky but also KARNAK the magnificent, the note in my mayonnaise jar says the next guy is going to tell us about his hunting buddy's wife who killed one with a 39# bow and 345 grain arrows- and the arrow went out the other side and stuck in a ponderosa 42.5 feet past the elk.

tap...tap....tap

That combination is more than adequate. My hunting buddy's wife killed a B &C bull with a 39# bow and 345 grain arrows. Not only did she get a complete pass through but the arrow was found stuck in a ponderosa pine 42.5 feet past the elk!!!  

I can draw more #'age but I know in a hunting situation more is not always better, I think that a bow shot with confidence is better than being over bowed and shot poorly.

You guys are something!!!

There is lots of info here but much of it is slightly tainted.  I guess my question is if you own and shoot 50# bows and plan on using them for elk then why ask the question?  Everybody who doesn't shoot meadium weight bows (60-70#) is going to tell you that you're fine and everybody who shoots medium to heavy bows will tell you you're just a tad light.  Don't fall too hard for the I shoot ACS or other R/D type bows and they outperform Hill bows of even heavier weight.  I don't shoot Hill bows and still have to say that if you're shooting heavy arrows you would be hard put to match their performance with anything out there.

QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
Just asking for opinions,and I'm sure I'll get a few...lol! Would you hunt elk with a bow that draws 50-52# and shoots a 575 gr. arrow. Shots kept to 25 yards or less. Also I would be use'n a 2 blade broadhead. Just wondering about this set up!!!    Thanks........ron w

In a heartbeat. If I remember from the latest TBM, Fred Eichler hunts with a 54# recurve and arrows that weigh slightly under 500 grains. I'd say he's killed a critter or two in his day.

I have never personally met anyone that has lost an elk due to low poundage.  I think sometimes poor penetration gets blamed on low poundage when it fact they were shooting at extended ranges, put the arrow right on a bone or shoulder blade, or poor broadhead choice.  Bottom line is, from guys that I know who have lost elk, they made a poor shot and/or did not wait long enough.  I would not hesitate shooting low 50's for elk but my 25-30 yard shots would be out of the question.  And 10-15 is what I would have to have.  

We should not be debating poundage because ft/lbs of energy would be more informative.  Who cares what the poundage is considering the major differences in efficiencies.  Just one personal example.  I have an 80# Bushmaster Hill style longbow that I think shoots very close to the same speed as my Centaur Chimera at 65# with the same arrow.  Also as previously mentioned, you can't put too much stock into what is written on the bow.

Arrow placement will always e the most important element.  Out of control increased power will do little to help you bag an elk.