40 lb Draw enough for Whitetails?

F

Frostyfingers

Joined
Aug 27, 2008
Messages
854
This may not be the best forum for this, but I respect you guys and value your opinions, so here goes...

A family friend wants to get into bow hunting for Whitetail deer. The only problem is, she's small, and want to use a recurve rather than a compound bow. I explained to her that it would be easier for her to use a compound, but she wants to go old-school... so is a small recurve, with about a 40 lb draw weight, enough for deer? Or does she need to go compound? OR does she need to start working out? :D
 
My old achery instructor felt 40# was more than enough for the thin skinned game. Accuracy is what counts no matter what is being hunted....well that and following game laws :) If she shoots a 40# well and it's legal, go for it!
 
More than enough if she gets good with it.

In the traditional archer magazine a few years back there was a piece on an old guy down in Ark, that killed 200 deer in his day with a 35 pound recurve. Had the paperwork and photo's to prove it.

A few years back, Stacy Grosscups son in law was with him at the fairgrounds in Frederick Maryland, and they gave a little seminar on instictive shooting. He had an old Ben Pearson 40 pound that he used. Killed lots of game with it.

It all dependes on the person behind the tool. Some people will use bigger/more powerfull/expensive gear to make up for their own incompetance.
 
When I took my NYS archery certification course way back in the stone ages ('78) the accepted minimum draw wt was 40 lbs.

Arrow placement is everything.
Keep the ranges short :)
 
anything over #35 is aceptable here in NYS for deer and black bear....accuracy and sharp arrows make the difference... lso you'll have to be a bit closer than someone shooting at #60
 
It depends on:

1. Is it legal? Check with state and local game laws. Here in Colorado 35 lbs. is legal minimum for a hunting bow.

2. Is the bow properly tuned and will it be shot with matched arrows and well sharpened, properly mounted broadheads? As simple as a stickbow is, it still needs to be tuned. Arrows need to be matched to the bow and the shooter's style. Broadhead selection is critical. Go to a good pro shop that specializes in traditional gear. Modern recurves are very efficient. Make sure she has a good bow.

3. Is your friend in good shape? Is she getting everything she can out of her bow? Draw weight is measured at 28 inches. Deduct (or add) 5 lbs per inch of variance. For example, I shoot a 40 pound bow (it actually scales at 43 pounds) but I draw 29 1/4 inches so I am shooting closer to 50 pounds. I practiced a lot to get a good draw. I have shot with guys pulling bows over 70 pounds. I notice that they do not pull to a full draw. They release at about a 3/4 draw and then keep their hands moving back to the ear, thinking that they are still drawing. My arrows go just as deep into the 3D targets as theirs do.

4. Does your friend know deer anatomy? When a broadhead severs a major artery, the deer does not know (or care) whether it was shot from a 40# bow or a 90# bow. The deer is dead. Shot placement is everything.

There is a growing consensus among trad. archers that it is more important to shoot a weight that you are comfortable with and can get accurate shot placement with well tuned gear than it is to pull a heavy bow. Maybe it is because we are all getting older. I like to think that it is because we are getting smarter.

Go to www.stickbow.com and click on the leatherwall forum. This question is asked there all the time. The search engine should work for guests or just register, it is free. Lots of posts indicate that you can get a pass-through with a 40 pound bow. In the golden age of traditional archery (1960's) 40 pounds was fairly standard for a hunting bow.

Shoot safe and good hunting.
 
first, you need to check your state laws and see what it requires, for draw weight, when hunting with with a bow... as riley said, 35# is acceptable in NYS... states vary...

there are a lot of folks that hunt deer and other game with lightweight bows.. it all comes down to shot placement.. be sure of your shot... a heavier arrow and a nice sharp bradhead also help..:thumbup:
 
I agree with the previous statements. I've used a #40 to kill a few Whitetails. As a matter of fact, one of the bigger bucks was taken by a #40 recruve.

It all depends on the shot placement. A #100 bow with a bad shot is a whole lot worse than an accurate #35 shot.
 
In this state Washington 45# is the minimum draw weight. Check with your local game dept. and find out what is the acceptable minimum weihgt. Then have her train with that weight bow extensively. Lots of practice and more practice, which is fun to boot.
 
I've read somewhere that most Native American bows were in the 35-45# range - and that's what they depended on for their necessary food!
 
In our state the bow must be 40 Lb. or more. Be sure and check your state and any states than you may hunt in. I used a 40 lb when I bow hunted for deer.
 
Ted Nugent's wife Shemane once took a Zebra on their "Spirit of the Wild" show with a 40lb draw.

Should be enough for an American Whitetail deer.
 
Ebbtide said:
When I took my NYS archery certification course way back in the stone ages ('78) the accepted minimum draw wt was 40 lbs.

Arrow placement is everything.
Keep the ranges short :)
Click to expand...

I have to take that course soon. I already have my Sportsman License, but want to get the bowhunting certification also. Do they require you to bring a bow to the course? I need to check the NYS DEC site again...
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
Ted Nugent's wife Shemane once took a Zebra on their "Spirit of the Wild" show with a 40lb draw.

Should be enough for an American Whitetail deer.
Click to expand...

To add to this, Shermane was not an outdoorsy type 'til she met Ted. She did the weather and traffic on a Detroit radio station that Ted would visit on occasion. Thats where they met.

I'm sure she had spent a good amount of time practicing before that hunt.

Its a mantra on another forum I frequent but, BA/UU/R (Buy Ammo/Use Up/ Repeat). With a 40# and plenty of practice, she'll be fine.
 
K Williams said:
I have to take that course soon. I already have my Sportsman License, but want to get the bowhunting certification also. Do they require you to bring a bow to the course? I need to check the NYS DEC site again...
Click to expand...

Not when I went 30 years ago :)

Could be very different now.
Once you nail down a location to take the class, they'll tell you what you need.

Check with your local archery/gun shop on where to take the class.
They'd probably keep track of that and be able to make a recommendation.
I'd hazard a guess and say that it'd be a July/August/September thing, but that's just a guess.
 
Even a 40lb would have been overkill for Native Americans - stalking, accuracy and correct placement far more important than sheer power.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top