Times have changed. Bow # ?

[longbowman]

I honestly believe that the majority of people shoot the light stuff because our society is an "instant" society.  People want something and they want it now.  When they see all the pretty traditional stuff and see the compound shooters flocking towards it they want it too but they want it NOW.  They end up with the only things they can come close to pulling back and then say well this new super flex, deflex reflex carbon master zinger is just as good as a heavy bow rather than put the time and effort into building themselves up to hunting weight bows.  JMO.

[GMMAT]

I won't read through all of the responses....ut I'll make a personal observation:

When I shot compounds, I professed that 50% of all shooters were likely over-bowed.  I stand by that.  With trad tackle, I don't see it as much, but I'm sure it exists.

(PErsonal observation, follows...)

I have never seen an archer utilizing very high poundage shoot his bow with proper form.  Have I seen them shot accurately?  Sure.

Brooks Johnson had a harvest photo in a recent issue of TBM I was perusing just this morning.  He'd shot a bison with a 51# recurve.

Makes one think, huh?

I'm 6'1"/195#'s and a former college athlete.  I still stay in shape (I'll do 25mi. of road work, this week and most others).  i have a 58# 'tip at my draw weight....and a 50#'er.  I'll take whichever one I'm most accurate with on my '10 elk hunt....and do so with complete confidence.

[Ia Hawkeye]

Redddog,
I agree with your post  100%!

Bowhunting and field archery became my passion (1964)!!! (I shot for years before that, but it was a casuel thing.)  

I shot a used 69" Tamerlane for field (36#), and started with a 42# Herters for hunting. Moved up in weight a little at a time until I reached 65#.
Now I shoot 40 lbs.

[WildmanSC]

I awakened an old high school football injury to my right shoulder 8 years ago when I walked out to the garage, took my wheel bow off the hanger and drew.  When I got to anchor I thought to myself "Okay dummy, now that you have it drawn and don't have an arrow nocked what are you going to do?"

The answer was simple, let it down.  The resulting jolt to my shoulder was agonizing pain.  I had the owner of The Archery Shop I frequent get some 60# limbs for it and tried shooting it as part of my therapy for my shoulder.  It didn't work.

Then he suggested I try a 35# recurve he had hanging on the wall in the indoor range in the back of his shop.  I shot it for 3 weeks until I got a new T/D recurve from an elderly gentleman that lives in our area.  That recurve came out at 53#.  It was a bit too much for me.

So, I gave it to my son in law and bought a used 46# T/D recurve.  I've been through a host, around a hundred, of bows over the past years with draw weights ranging from 43# to 57#.  Everything over 49# has been too much for me.  Right now I have a new Marriah Thermal that is 46#@28", my draw length, and a near new Morrison ILF riser with a new set of ILF Dakota limbs that is 49#@28".  The Morrison can be adjusted down to arround 44#.  I very likely will adjust it down to 46#.  I shoot a 504 gr Grizzly Stik Sitka out of both bows and they both shoot the arrow with authority.  The 46# draw weight is all I'll ever need for hunting deer, hogs and turkey.

Bill

[RaybowTx]

longbowman.  Man you made me laugh.  I concur with what you said.  I just can't quit laughing.  I'd luv to see the look on some fellers faces in an archery shop and you drop that bomb.  It'd be 911 to the 40# ers.

Seriously fellers, I appreciate the civil input and sure the education and experiance's along with the successes as well.

But longbowman,, he fixed it. Thanx bud....

Ray...........

[WildmanSC]

This thread has suddenly become something to not laugh about, IMHO.  When you make fun of and look down your noses at others who make a wise decision to not overbow themselves, you are crossing a line that should not be crossed.  NUFF said and last post on this thread.

Bill

[AdamH]

I really don't understand why, when someone can & does shoot heavy bows, it's always a "Macho" thing, it's really Very simple, If you can, fine, if not, fine, but is it really necessary to "Down" the person who "Can" Im really not interested in what minimum wt# it takes to get it done, only what Im very consistent with, Im not interested in a bow # 5-10#'s lighter than what I can handle accurately, because "It's" "Enough" I'll have plenty of time to get to that point ... I hope ... Ya'll have a good day ...

[koger]

Here is my two cents worth. I am nearly 50, have shot a bow since the age of10. I have always kept a trad bow or two, but shot compounds mostly during the 80's and 90's and up til 2004, partly because I ran a shop, part of the business. I always enjoyed shooting a trad bow more. 4 years ago I put up my compuonds and built a #60 self bow, took 2 deer that year and never looked back. Now I was shooting trad in the early 70's and most people I know in KY and Ind. shot #55 and under for hunting. I felt like I needed #60-65 when leaving wheel bows, and I shot alright, for about 40 shots then form fell apart.16 years ago I had a bad accident and have severe arthritis in all my joints as a result, and had to back down to #55 and under to shoot without pain. My groups and shooting improved immensly. Last year due to shoulder pain, I shot a 1974 BW, #46 and 400 gr. set up. I had 2 complet pass throughs, and a double rib and shoulder blade on another deer. None ran out of site. I had shoulder surgery,extensive repair on my right shoulder, I am RH shooter, this march and have spent all spring and summer rehabing. I am back up to #50, will never shoot anything heavier, stupid to do so in my case. I am a burly guy, still in good shape, do 2-3 miles a day walking, 3-5 times a week, this is with a brace on from a bad accident,on my right leg. I am not a wimp, but as my doctor said I am strong enought to cripple myself, back and shoulder. I plan on keeping my bow shooting continuing . We as hunters and archers dont need to look down on others, or question there methods as we dont live their lives. Each to his own unless it affects others.This post has gotten way out of context, focused on EGO, which stands for EDGING GOD OUT, something I dont do in my life. I think George Stout hit it on the head in his posts.

[Mo. Huntin]

Wow! I think this thread is exactly on track, It started out slamming people for shooting 45# bows and people who are not REAL  trad shooters and are to lazy to put forth the effort that REAL trad shooters do.  Thanks, way to really make this site shine.

[Ybuck]

Originally posted by longbowman:
I honestly believe that the majority of people shoot the light stuff because our society is an "instant" society.  People want something and they want it now.  When they see all the pretty traditional stuff and see the compound shooters flocking towards it they want it too but they want it NOW.  They end up with the only things they can come close to pulling back and then say well this new super flex, deflex reflex carbon master zinger is just as good as a heavy bow rather than put the time and effort into building themselves up to hunting weight bows.  JMO.

give me a break.

[reddogge]

Just to give a little insight in my intial experiences, my first real hunting bow in '67 was 43# and it killed deer fine.  My two hunting companions shot bows in the 40-45# range.  I moved up to 50# to get a little more omph in the shot and flatter trajectory and stayed there.  I never could seem to draw heavy weights as my triceps cramp up so the 50s were the right number for me even as a young man.

I believe Fred Bear shot 65# into his later years mainly for two reasons.  First he came from a generation of longbows and heavy weights to get the performance they needed.  Second, he could pull the weight as he was strong and wiry.

I think this has been a pretty civil and educational discussion I might add.

[joe skipp]

In the late 60's when I started, my Browning was 46# and I used Forgewoods with Bear Razorheads and took deer. Many bowhunters during this time never shot over 50#, used Cedar arrows and Razorheads.

I jumped up to 55# in the mid 70's because I planned on travelling for western game. Today, the longbow I use is 53#, my recurves are 57# and 58# and I now shoot aluminum with some barrel tapered Ash. As long as I can handle the weights (I'll be 57 on the 16th), I will stay with this poundage.

However there will come a time for me to drop down and shooting 45-50# again won't bother me. I'll probably switch over to Carbon arrows but stay with my Zwickey Eskimo 2 Blade. Its all about being comfortable and good shot placement.

[cliff77]

Cuff surgery rehab started me with 40#, which was tough. As the arm got stronger the weight increased, and the fun of the longbow took over. Even though my recurves are faster, there's just more satisfaction for me with a 6 foot longbow. To get a similar trajectory I use 75#, which took some time to become comfortable with.
Anyway, the result for me has been a recovered shoulder and a lot of enjoyment at 61yrs old.
Some of my friends are in the 40 to 50# range and enjoying themselves too, which seems to me to be the whole idea of what we do this for. When my bow becomes too hard to pull I'll go lighter, because I intend to enjoy myself as long as I can.

[onewhohasfun]

Got a rude awakening on my first Idaho elk hunt. After a week of hard hunting, little sleep, minimal camp cooking and a 5 hr. climb to 9000 ft. I just couldn't pull her back. As I remember I lost 15 lbs. body weight  on that trip. Dropped 10 lbs of draw weight soon thereafter.

[nightowl1]

I shoot 46-54 pounds and i don't consider them to be the minimum to kill anything. They are MORE than enough so it just depends on how much MORE than enough you think you need. I have a feeling am about #10 heavier than the minimum it takes... so in no way am i on the fringe

plus could care less what anyone says about my setup...

it has nothing to do with strength as I am a personal trainer and exercise physiologist.

This is like one of those "is this traditional debates", so back off and have fun... if you feel a certain way then great aply it to your hunting or shooting style but that doesn't mean it should be applied to everyone.

I shoot a light pound bow with a sight pin but i feel I am just as traditional as the next guy because I make everything myself except the bow ( not that talented) so have fun

[RaybowTx]

Ok.  yall have set me straight.  I guess I'm just strong and wiry and can pull the weight just like Fred as he was strong and wiry just like me.  I didn't realize.  I didn't mean to pick on anyone.  I just didn't realize how strong I am and how accurate my shooting really is with heavy weight 60# bows.  
But.... Margin for error in a good kill increases as the kinetic energy decreases.  Kinetic energy is as fact as water is wet.  So my point in view of light weight bows and light weight arrows without all things being as close to perfect as can be is correct.  I have just ruffled some feathers of some that may have all their ducks in a row with light weight bows. Its the others who don't have their ducks in a row that concern me.  Esp. some that even promote it.
Some of yall that like light weight bows have not really defended the sport and ethical comitments by stating when a person should not hunt deer with a bow when physical limitations are at question. When?  How low is low?  How light is light?  This is not a comparable sport to fly fishing where now persons catch fish on '00' weight rods with 1.5# line.  This is a sport that an honest clean kill is responsible and the dedication to such is what we should all strive to be.  In light of archery and the history that has been layed before us should not be disreguarded as old times and folk lure.  We hunt on the backs of the ol'timers and what they did to start the acceptance of archery as being an efficient way to responsibly take game.  They paid the dues.  And for some reason Bear, Hill, Pearson, Pope, Young, and all the others omited in their writtings about how technology had limited them and that heavy bows, heavy arrows were the only way for success.
Remember that success stories are all we will hear about.  We will not hear of the wounded and lost game.

Ray.......

[James Wrenn]

I hunt with lighter bows but do not consider what I use marginal for the game I hunt at all.I shoot two holes with the largest broadheads through the animals I hunt.How can that be consider marginal when I could shoot little broadheads with even less weight?I am not sure why it bothers people that some of use have no trouble killing the same animals with a little less than it takes them to do it with.      

[rainman]

I don't recall anyone saying light weight bows and light weight arrows would kill as heavy bows and heavy arrows.  We also did not hear of a lot of the failures of Bear and Pearson.  Only their successes because they were selling their products.  Learn more about Archery history before you start talking about it.

Dan

[Jedimaster]

I refuse to "take a side".  I shoot what I shoot because I like it and it is effective for me.  It's probably a little asinine to have these discussions anyway.  The only people that may benefit are the inexperienced, as the accomplished hunter doesn't need someone else's opinion to build confidence in his bow or skill.  Try as I may though, I just can't believe that this is all about the benevolence of the masters as they lead future generations in the right path.  It's the need for validation that keeps these topics going.  Insecurity causes folks to get their backs up against the wall.  If you've got to prove your point to someone else to feel good than you probably haven't proved it to yourself yet.

One other thing, I've tryed to remember, in all these years, ever having a discussion about wounded and lost game where the conclusion was "just too little bow".  I've never heard or seen it.  Honestly.  Where are the statistics for all the game crippled and lost by bows under a certain weight?  Provide numbers for too little, or too much, bow having a correlation to lost game. I'll look at those cold hard facts.  

The biggest inadequacy and failure of archery equipment is between the archer's two ears, not in his muscle strength or lack thereof.

[CaptJack]

TradBowyer - I'm from the same time period as George. There were lots of very fast recurves in the 60s- in particular the Groves. The only recurves I know that are truly faster than the 60s bows are Palmer's double carbon limbs. But there have been many fast recurves from all the way back to the 50s.

for the record: I shoot a 1991 46# Partners TD (built by Mike Palmer & Bob Lee) but at my 30½" draw it's 53# and I also shoot a 2005 45# Quinn Stallion that's 53# at my draw. They are the two bows I shoot every day - with the same arrows and both bows shoot around 185fps with full length 2018s & 2117s (both over 600grns)