In your heart of hearts....

[stykbow67]

No....

[dino]

no

[lodestar]

NO

[champ38]

no

[Bill Carlsen]

Can't say yes or no without explaining my position. Back in the 50's I saw lots of big bucks taken with bows in the 30-40# range...I mean really big bucks. Back then not many of us hunted or even considered tree stands which changes the dynamics of shooting any large animal. So, I say both yes and no. First of all it is probably illegal in most states to hunt with any bow under forty pounds...so that is a no. Can it be done...history and my own experience says, "yes" it can be done but I would not recommend it. My wife shot thru and killed a nice mature black bear with a 46# bow and a four blade bh. She was advised to use nothing less than 50# and a two blade head. It wasn't that long ago that many of us thought we had to shoot "manly" bows of over 60# to hunt any large animal. Most of the posts I see lately about successful hunts seem to indicate draw weights in the 40's to low 50's. Ten years ago those would have been considered too light. In the 50's the average bow weight for hunting was in the mid 40's and everyone was shooting four blade Razorheads.

[barebow62]

no

[Aeronut]

Years ago Kansas used to have a 4o# minimum on bows but there isn't anything I have found as a minimum draw weight any more.

Even though it would be legal here I don't think I would.

Dennis

[TNstickn]

I wouldnt..................BUUUUTTTTTTT,

The ballistic calculator says:
34#, 24" shaft, 90fps, 800 grain arrow, pt blanck range= 14ftlbs. (.3192338lbs-sec momentum)

45#, 29" shaft, 120 fps, 450 grain arrow, 20 yds= 13ftlbs. (.2311870lbs-sec momentum)

I dont rely on these numbers for my self, I was just comparing a long shot from an average self/ low poundage bow, with a 5 yd shot from the bow described.

Just something to chew on.....again I wont take my kids till they pull 40 lbs.

[Soilarch]

You're killing us Terry.

I wouldn't...but I have no experience to back that up.  My experience only says there's a LOT to it besides bow weight. (and that was all with compound)

[Legolas]

 


Paulie

[Ray Hammond]

Bill,

.....never mind.

Bradd,
33#@27 inches-you in a wheelchair? My dad is 80 years old next week and shoots a heavier bow than that..at targets. He isn't even a hunter.

[The Ghost]

Uh uh...no way Jose...

[JESSE69]

NOT ME SAYS THE THE RABBIT

[Benha]

No

[Jack Denbow]

NO

[Terry Green]

Thanks for taking the time to post guys.  Much appreciated.

E. Texas HillBilly, NO.

[imskippy]

Originally posted by Terry Green:
Would you as a trad bowhunter shoot at big boned mature Iowa bucks with a 34# bow drawn only to 22 inches?  Which equates to a 28# bow drawn to 28 inches?

This is not a trick question, and there will be no pics, nor am I going to proving anyone wrong.

I just want to know if trad bowhunters think in their heart of hearts if that set up is truly enough to go out and hunt big boned mature northern bucks.

Simple answer please, yes or no?

Terry edited his original post. What I'm wondering is what did you see or read that made you ask that question with such specifics?

[Bill Carlsen]

Ray...feel free to finish your thought. My position is clearly ambivalent because experience and circumstances can vary greatly....and bow weight is only one factor. In fairness to the question, I would recommend that one should hunt with the heaviest weight that the hunter can shoot accurately with...and if they are sharpening challenged to shoot presharpened bhs....and all sorts of other things come into the equation.

[paleFace]

NO!

[hormoan]

I'll have a shooter with a IQ of 100, shooting a 28 pounder. Versus a shooter with a IQ of 28 shooting a 100 pounder.


Just my take after 34 years in a sporting goods store.

No offense meant to low IQ's     :D     nor anyone else JMHO