What # to use long bow
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Please keep hunting posts to Traditional Bow Hunting. No canned or high fence hunts or stories allowed. Please be respectful of fellow members and helpful to those with questions. Treat others like you like to be treated. There is a Japanese word that I try and model my life after.
GAMAN: patience..dignity..restraint.
Please keep hunting posts to Traditional Bow Hunting. No canned or high fence hunts or stories allowed. Please be respectful of fellow members and helpful to those with questions. Treat others like you like to be treated. There is a Japanese word that I try and model my life after.
GAMAN: patience..dignity..restraint.
Re: What # to use long bow
Here we have a 40# or greater restriction on bows unless some pencil pusher changed things since last I looked. I am shooting 47# right now with the longbow and 50# with the recurve.
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wandering monk
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:31 am
Re: What # to use long bow
if I understand your question, you arent so concerned about legal minimums, but more about whats ethical and fun with a long bow...
40-50 pounds is a minimum in my mind for arrow speed and penetration on big game...30" with a compound isnt at all the same in traditional gear...especially if you are shooting instinctively with a slightly canted bow (both eyes open etc)...
probably your draw will be more like 27-28"...which means if you are under a full 28" any bow stating say 50# is really more like 47-48...
most modern glass backed longbows with a 45-50 pound draw will shoot a wooden hunting arrow 145-160 feet per second w/ a 125 grain broadhead...plenty for big game...and for me lots of fun to shoot at tartgets after supper...lighter bows are for kids and folks not capable of handling a little weight...I would never recomend hunting with a bow under 40# , especially if your draw is only 27-28"...
and the closer to 45-50 is much better...arrows shot from lighter weight bows with hunting shafts drop off pretty bad after 15 yards...and makes accuracy more an issue...on a target there is not a problem with that, but an ethical bowhunter wants much more than that. I want good penetration and as close to a "pass through" as possible ...even when a rib or back shoulder is encountered...
I always consider the 15-25 yard shot the "bread and butter"...and closer is always a good thing...
at whatever point your consistent accuracy can hit a softball target is what I call my "comfort zone"...in the old days a "pie plate" was the standard, but with a small white tail or mulie that always isnt a clean kill...
every person will have a slightly different opinion...but 40 years of bowhunting and making bows and having a shop for a lot of those years you see a lot of scenarios...and some things just are much better than others...
bottom line ...and JMHO...a 40-50 pound bow and good flying arrows , sharp heads...and that coveted double lung shot will always make you happy...
one thing too...especially for the new LB shooter...what is hard this week(because of weight etc) will become a lot easier after consistent practice...muscles get stronger and skill increases...best thing is to find somewhere other trad shooters shoot and just join in...
good luck...t
40-50 pounds is a minimum in my mind for arrow speed and penetration on big game...30" with a compound isnt at all the same in traditional gear...especially if you are shooting instinctively with a slightly canted bow (both eyes open etc)...
probably your draw will be more like 27-28"...which means if you are under a full 28" any bow stating say 50# is really more like 47-48...
most modern glass backed longbows with a 45-50 pound draw will shoot a wooden hunting arrow 145-160 feet per second w/ a 125 grain broadhead...plenty for big game...and for me lots of fun to shoot at tartgets after supper...lighter bows are for kids and folks not capable of handling a little weight...I would never recomend hunting with a bow under 40# , especially if your draw is only 27-28"...
and the closer to 45-50 is much better...arrows shot from lighter weight bows with hunting shafts drop off pretty bad after 15 yards...and makes accuracy more an issue...on a target there is not a problem with that, but an ethical bowhunter wants much more than that. I want good penetration and as close to a "pass through" as possible ...even when a rib or back shoulder is encountered...
I always consider the 15-25 yard shot the "bread and butter"...and closer is always a good thing...
at whatever point your consistent accuracy can hit a softball target is what I call my "comfort zone"...in the old days a "pie plate" was the standard, but with a small white tail or mulie that always isnt a clean kill...
every person will have a slightly different opinion...but 40 years of bowhunting and making bows and having a shop for a lot of those years you see a lot of scenarios...and some things just are much better than others...
bottom line ...and JMHO...a 40-50 pound bow and good flying arrows , sharp heads...and that coveted double lung shot will always make you happy...
one thing too...especially for the new LB shooter...what is hard this week(because of weight etc) will become a lot easier after consistent practice...muscles get stronger and skill increases...best thing is to find somewhere other trad shooters shoot and just join in...
good luck...t