What's minimum legal weight for bear and elk in your state?

Flatout · March 07, 2011, 10:46:00 AM

I am thinking of finally buying myself an expensive set of limbs, and would like to setup my bow to be able to hunt pretty much anything in the lower 48. But I am also getting older so I don't want to pull a lot of weight. I am debating between 45 and 50 lbs. What are the legal minimum bow weights for elk, bear or any other large animal in the lower 48?

I would appreciate real answers and not a lot a side tracking into heavy bow /light bow discussion.

Thanks in advance

Prairie Drifter · March 07, 2011, 11:32:00 AM

No minimum weight in Montana.

elknutz · March 07, 2011, 11:37:00 AM

Oregon is 50lb for Elk and Bighorn Sheep and Goats. 40lb for everything else.

kadbow · March 07, 2011, 04:03:00 PM

35 lbs in CO, a little on the low side if you ask me.

Ragnarok Forge · March 07, 2011, 04:07:00 PM

40lbs for everything in Washington State. We have excellent hunting for both on both sides of the state.

wixwood · March 07, 2011, 04:35:00 PM

Wow, when I saw the answer from Kadbow I thought "is that right?". Sure is and I agree, seems a little low. I guess I converted the muzzleload calibers to pounds in my mind and thought it was 45# for deer and 50# for elk and bigger.

Smallwood · March 07, 2011, 06:55:00 PM

I think it used to be 45, but then they lowered it to 35# .

Bjorn · March 07, 2011, 07:34:00 PM

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

Flatout · March 07, 2011, 08:23:00 PM

Thanks for the great answers! Keep 'em comin! I mostly hunt whitetail in OH and for deer its 40 lbs.

Spectre · March 07, 2011, 08:29:00 PM

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

Wow. Horizontally? That sure rules out a lot of bows.

recurvericky · March 07, 2011, 08:30:00 PM

In Kansas, there is no minimum weight. I am glad that I saw this thread. I am going to make a recurve for my daughter to hunt with and was wondering about the weight requirements in Kansas.

Friend · March 07, 2011, 08:49:00 PM

No min draw wt requirement in KY.

There is a maximum draw wt requirement - Not more than you can draw.

tradshooter · March 07, 2011, 09:13:00 PM

Flatout,
There may be other requirements for archery hunting of big game besides minimum bow poundage, that you should be aware of.
In Idaho there are several requirements for hunting big game (all big game species) with a bow, they are:
1)Bow weight minimum of 40# at a 28" draw length
2)Minimum arrow and broadhead combined weight of
300 grains.
3)Broadhead minimum width of 7/8 inch and
primary cutting edge minimum of 0.015 inch
thick.
FYI, no requirement to date for distance or
cast of an arrow.
I hope this helps. Best of luck.

bwana · March 07, 2011, 09:19:00 PM

40# for everything in Arizona

Flatout · March 07, 2011, 10:59:00 PM

Just thought about it, it would be nice to know the min weights in Canada and Alaska too. Anybody want to chime in on those?

danderson · March 08, 2011, 12:13:00 AM

mass for bear(and everything) 40# @ 28", 7/8" broadhead. for a compound, draw just has to be 40 pounds

chinook907 · March 08, 2011, 10:18:00 AM

In Alaska, minimum 50 lbs for elk and brown bear, minimum 40 lbs for black bear.

March 08, 2011, 11:17:00 AM

NY it's 35# for Big Game.

swampthing · March 08, 2011, 11:48:00 AM

30# for turkey, 40# for deer/black bear, 50# for moose in NH.
I'd just go with the 50#, do some push ups and some stretches and be done with it.

speedwalker · March 08, 2011, 06:14:00 PM

No minimum for bear in Pa.