Minimum Elk Bow Weight

[sharp69]

I know that personal minimum draw weight for elk is a perennial hot topic. I'm not asking for personal opinions. Some folks will find 55 pounds too much to shoot accurately. Some teens, women and small-framed men, people with shoulder problems, etc. (I believe that Dwight Schuh fell into one of the above categories at one time) I think the following information would be valuable: If you live in a state where public elk hunting is allowed, and your regulations mandate a mimimum draw weight, please respond with your state, and how the rule is written.

[Terry Green]

TTT

[steadman]

This is from the UT proclamation:
E. Archery Equipment
R657-5-12

(1) Archery equipment mabey used during any big game hunt, except a muzzleloader hunt, provided:
 (a) the minumum bow pull is 40 pounds at the draw or the peak, whichever comes first

So there you have the min. for UT hope this helps.

[elk ninja]

Idaho: 50#@28".  I read that to be the bow, so if your draw is short, like mine, you could be leagally drawing less....
Mike

[**DONOTDELETE**]

wow my bow has 54#@27" on it... Guess I can't use it in Idaho.


No Elk in Jersey, but 35# @ Draw long bow / recurve

[elk ninja]

Mystic, your bow would qualify because when they test the bow they draw it out to 28".  Unless you have a unique design trad bow, it would be more than 50# at 28".  Not what is marked on the bow, but what it draws at 28".  The way the law is written is not very good because you can legallly go hunting with a 35# bow (that is 35# at your draw length), but if it bulls to 50# @ 28" it is legal.  
Mike

[Greg Owen]

Washington state's game rules read like this:

(a) It is illegal to hunt big game animals
with a bow that has less than 40
pounds of pull measured at 28 inches
or less draw length.

[Basic Instinct]

50 Lb min in Oregon, at your draw length

[wingnut]

I just looked up Idaho to be sure and it's 40# @ 28 not 50# as stated above.  

Mike

[centaur]

50# in Wyoming. No mention of draw length.

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by sharp69:
 I'm not asking for personal opinions.  If you live in a state where public elk hunting is allowed, and your regulations mandate a mimimum draw weight, please respond with your state, and how the rule is written.

That's what the man asked for....so that's why I cleaned up all the comments that weren't what he asked for.  Please respect the man's wishes if you want to post.

[longbowman]

Terry,  Thanks for clearing that up.  I was a little offended until I went back and re-read the original post.

[Tater 2]

Quite right the man asked for facts not opinions,I responded to another post witout thinking. DUH

[Terry Green]

No worries guys...that's why they put erasers on pencils....none of us are perfect.

[SCS]

PA is 35lb for deer, 45lb for elk.
Steve

[beachbowhunter]

45lbs in CA

[Tater 2]

Colorado
       35 pounds minimum draw weight with maximum letoff of 80%

  That is the way it reads

[stykbow67]

Nebraska,50lbs or more at or before 28"

[Angus]

In CA, I don't see any poundage requirements.  However, there is a requirement that states the bow must shoot a legal hunting arrow at least 130 yds horizontal flight.  Of course it doesn't define "horizontal flight"!

[Juniper Bow]

There is no minimum draw weight in MT, but the arrow must be at least 300 grains in weight (probebly not a problem for anyone shooting traditional).