ArrowMike

I found this interesting after the 60# - 70#bow debate. I read article today by Dwight Schuh(editor of Bowhunter Magazine) on his Yukon moose hunt Aug/Sept 2007. His choice of equipment is a Mathews Switchback @ 55Lbs. This just shows what a well placed shot will do.
Now I not saying that you should not shoot 70#, I’m saying that you don’t have to. And should not feel like less of a hunter because you don’t have a heavy weight bow. A 45# well placed shot works better then a bad 70# shot or miss. Feel good about what you shoot and don’t over bow your self.

jmbuckhunter

I am not advising others to overbow either. But I would advise to shoot as much poundage as you can COMFORTABLY AND ACCURATELY SHOOT. Lets face it not all shots are going to be perfect and I will take every advantage I can get when going after these critters on their turf. More pounds is just a little bit of insurance for those shots that might not reach the vitals otherwise. And a pass thru will give you a better blood trail than the arrow sticking in the hole or just an entrance hole.

Right now I am comfortable with shooting 70#, but I may have to drop that some as I get older and cannot comfortably shoot that weight.

Not bashing, just giving my opinion and reasoning.

Sportsfann

Well said imbuckhunter!

ArrowMike

I agree more poundage is extra insurance as long as you can shoot it comfortably and accurately.

The other day I watched a guy spray arrow all over a target. He draws pointing toward the sky and looks like a wrestling match. After less then 12 shots could not break the cam over. After talking with him for awhile, it turns out that he believes that he need the speed to kill a deer (shooting 70#). Another guy was having problems with his rt/lt shooting. He did not use a peep, so I told him if he got a peep this should help him. He said yeah, but they slow your bow down. So I told him yes you may lose a few 3 fps but I don’t think that it would affect his 70# maxed 29” draw trykon. Luckily the second guy after thinking about it for awhile and watching me drill Xs on my 5 spot with my 60# bow. Decided that shooting better was worth the few fps lost. This is why I posted this, because there are a lot of people that get bad advice about shooting that dose not help them. My point is that your 1st priority should be accuracy. With out accuracy nothing else matters!!!

davepjr71

I'm all for using the highest poundage you can draw and shoot comfortably. However, when I see guys draw for the sky it bothers me.

If they want to shoot heavier weight the first thing they should do is either hit the gym, buy some free weights, or start doing a ton of push-ups and towel resistant exercises.

Start off by shooting at the lower weight and then turn the bow up a turn every few weeks if they shoot a lot.

If you can't hold on target to shoot well then you should turn it down. If you can keep it up.

Roskoe

I like to challenge someone with a high poundage bow to point the bow directly at the target and draw it back in slow motion - like 6 or 7 seconds to get it back - as if an animal was looking your way and there was no "wait for him to go behind a tree so I can draw unseen" option. A lot of folks shooting 70 lb. bows can't do it.

A couple of weeks ago, I was playing around with some light arrows. I normally shoot carbon arrows that weigh a total of about 400 grains with 100 grain points. I tried some carbons that weighed only 320 grains total weight. They shot great. And my speed went up about 25 fps. The increase in trajectory was barely noticable until you got past 40 yards. At 60 yards, however, thefaster arrow shot about 6" higher. Not much to hang your hat on here for hunting situations. You would have to go up in pull weight at least 10 pounds to get this much velocity increase. And I wouldn't shoot past 40 without using the rangefinder anyway.

TFOX

Remember that even if you are comfortable and accurate with the heavier poundage.You will wear your shoulder out over time with it,especially if you shoot alot.


I suggest we shoot more moderate setups so we can enjoy this sport longer with less pain.

Roskoe

Words of Wisdom . . . . . . .

davepjr71

You wear out your shoulder from overdeveloping certain muscles and ignoring the other muscles that support that joint. This applies to every motion that develops muscles.

If you over develop 1 muscle and ignore the muscle that counters it you are going to tear something. The stronger muscle will try to contract as far as it can. If the opposing muscle is not strong enough the bone will try to move out of the socket and you get an injury. It's that simple.

I have bad shoulders from genetics.If I work all of my muscle groups that support my shoulders they feel great. When I ignore certain muscles they hurt.

Shooting my bow at 70#'s doesn't bother them and I can draw back slow if needed while still on target.

Make your body happy and exercise.

Roskoe

Wait till you get to age 55 . . . . .