45lb Bow

[Fleatrap1]

It has been almost a year since I purchased my new Bear Super Grizzly.  I have learned quite a bit and have much more to learn for sure.  I hope to take a whitetail from the ground with it this season, I've come close but not done it yet!  Now my thoughts are beginning to wander as to my next bow purchase.  

I planned to by a 50# bow originally and wound up with a 45#.  I had never measured my draw and had always assumed it to be 28", I now know however it is more like 26.5"  Knowing this I pull around 40-42# with my Bear and I hope my razor sharp zwicky's will "do the trick" in the near future along with the almost daily practice so I can place the arrow in the right spot on the critter.

This leads to my question.  I really like this bow and I have noticed even when freezing cold and in a compromised position I can draw it back.  Along with the fact that I am no longer young and get reminded daily with new aches and pains, I really must ask.  What # bow should I consider??  I am still thinking 50# @ 28" would be a good choice.  I doubt I ever hunt anything bigger than a whitetail or a big hog with a bow....any thoughts?????

[Wannabe1]

If you are not planning on hunting anything larger than deer, your bow will be fine with a razor sharp head and proper shot placement. Many many kills have been done with 40# - 45# bows.      Some elk kills with 45# bows even.   :D

[Cherokee Scout]

45# is plenty for deer.
Sharp broadhead and lung shot will get you meat in the freezer.

My advice would be to hunt with as much draw weight as you can shoot really well and under adverse conditions. If that is where you are now, then so be it. If you can move up and still shoot it well then move up.

I know for me, if I move up more than 2 or 3 pounds, I start having elbow issues and just can't shoot the bow as well as I want. I shoot right at 50# at my DL.

Bisch

[Fleatrap1]

Originally posted by Bisch:
My advice would be to hunt with as much draw weight as you can shoot really well and under adverse conditions. If that is where you are now, then so be it. If you can move up and still shoot it well then move up.

I know for me, if I move up more than 2 or 3 pounds, I start having elbow issues and just can't shoot the bow as well as I want. I shoot right at 50# at my DL.


I guess that's what I'm getting at.  I have had shoulder and neck pain issues in the past.  I noticed lots of guys tend to go with lighter bows when they have such issues.  My thinking is why even up the #'s if things are working now.  I guess I am just wondering if the payoff of a few more #'s really matters?  40#'s still seems pretty light to me, guess I will know more once I connect my arrow to a deer....
Bisch

[VictoryHunter]

#45 plenty of bow. That's what I use and have no problems with penetration. Make sure your arrows are tuned and shoot sharp heads and you will be in business.

[onemississipp]

Ishi's bows were around that weight.

[michigan bill]

Fred Eichler has said he would not hesitate to use a modern day 40# recurve on elk.  (that's 40# on elk!)
WWFD?  He would use your Grizzly on whitetails for sure.
Bill

[Stone Knife]

I kill all my deer with a bow in the 45# range at my draw, it will more than do the job. It would be totally up to you about going to 50 pounds. As for me I find that even my 48# Hill gets hard to come to full draw in the cold with layers of clothing on.

[ron w]

If you are shooting it well and have confidence....stay where your at!! Take good shots and focus....you'll be fine!!

[Red Beastmaster]

All my bows are 42-47#. I use them for deer and hogs with perfect flying arrows and sharp cut-on-contact two blade broadheads.

[RC]

I always thought I was drawing around 48-50 pounds with my draw till I officially measured my draw length  the other day. I draw and inch less than I thought so I been hunting the last few years with bows around 45 lbs.. they seem to work.RC

[coaster500]

My limited experience and animals taken. Every one of these animals had two holes if not a complete pass through. I use cut on contact heads and spend the time to get them shaving sharp. I would use more draw weight if my shoulders would allow it but they are bone on bone.

42/43#@27....Bear

46/47#@27....Nayala, Blesbuck, Duiker, Warthog, Impala

45#@27....Deer

38/39#@27.... Antelope (pass through)

[tomsm44]

I can't comment on this draw weight from experience, but I saw a post on here last year from a dad who's two kids killed deer with recurves.  One was around 38# and the other was something like 42# and both were complete pass throughs between 10 and 15 yards.  I currently shoot a 53# recurve but am wanting to get a longbow in the near future.  I'll likely go for something in the 45-48# range just to increase the fun factor during a long practice session.  It definitely won't hurt my ability to draw it on a cold rainy day.  Another thing to consider, and one reason for my decision:  which would kill quicker, a 45# rib cage double lung shot, or a 53# shoulder shot or gut shot that went a little left/right due to being hard to draw with cold and cramped shoulders?

[Rustic]

Hello Flea,
JMHO, but if its fixed dont fix it. If you can shoot this bow at different positions then 45# is plenty for a whitetail. Just spend more time with this bow before finding a replacement. Or you could be spending more time on the classifieds than hunting...jmho

[guspup]

I draw your length and have both a 45 and 50# longbow. I have killed deer readily with both.
When I practice with both, I really don't see much difference in arrow flight.
I shoot cedar 55-60 spine with zwickey eskimo 125's.
You are fine with your 45#...... and none of us are getting younger and stronger :-)