Draw weight?

[stickman]

I will be buying a trad bow as soon as my bum hand heals. I really want to get one bow to do it all. I want to be able to hunt anything up to an elk/nilgai sized animal. I know shot placement/sharp broadhead is paramount but I would think there is an "ethical" minimum draw weight for critters that size. What would the trad TBH brain trust suggest or actually use?

[edwardv]

A 50# bow can kill any animal in North America. My trad bows that I shoot most often are 52# and 56#. I also have a 65# long bow that I play with now and then, but it tends to hurt after a few shots, but it will devastate a hog!

Good luck with what ever you choose.

[bubba1986]

will this be your first trad bow?

[Phillip Fields]

If you're not an experienced Trad shooter I would start with 40 - 45#. More than that will lead to bad habits and/or prolong the learnig curve. After you develope good shooting form you can go up in weight. With a good cut on contact broadhead, a heavy arrow, and well tuned bow you can kill any animal in North America with 50 pounds. That said, I prefer 55-57 lbs, for that little extra cushion. I've not killed elk or nilgai, but I have taken kudu, gemsbok and a bison cow with longbows in this weight range. Out of my 55# longbow I like arrows in the 600 - 650 grain range.

[brent.westbrook]

You need to see what feels comfortable my first recurve was 55#. I now shoot 65#, but I think most shoot less.

[huntinpool]

Get a high end take down with some low40's to practice with and low 50's to hunt with. #50 will kill anything you point it at with the right BH and arrow combo.

[stickman]

I had a 45# recurve and sold it thinking it was not enough. My buddy took it, got a new string and the right arrow broadhead combo and the bow is burying arrows nearly to the fletching in his block target. Lesson learned for sure. I would like to stay under 55# since I have shot heavier but not very accurately.

[bubba1986]

Only advice I can give you is shoot what is comfortable an you can hold at anchor for atleast 4 or 5 seconds. Leave the macho draw weights out of it until you are 100 percent comfortable

[trad"Doc"53]

Look at Bisch on here, he shoots 50#s and has taken several large African plains animals. Just shoot all the bows you can and stick with what is the most comfortable to shoot accurately. This with a razor sharp broadhead will give the results your looking for.

[dmaxshawn]

50 is ample for anything in the lower 48 and most other critters. Get what your comfortable with. A take down is a great choice so you can have a set for 3Dand a set for hunting.

As for one bow that's pretty hard. Most of us here have a different bow for every day of the week.

Best of luck shawn

[DoubleGArchery]

Bisch is hunting Elk now with his 50 pounder.

[Ron]

On the low end I sho0t a 47lb. bow and my higher one is a 52 lb., with a lot of them in the 50 LB. range. They will all kill anything that I've placed the correct shot in.

[stickman]

Thanks guys, I will be getting with Mr. Sarrels in about a month.

[brent.westbrook]

That's what the gs is here for

[bob sarrels]

Lookin forward to hearin from you. We will get you fixed up. Do not get too much bow.