Tactical Topic: Compound Draw Weight (Whitetail)

[neonomad]

The longer I hunt the more I think it’s the ability to draw early and hang out there for awhile.

 

[BTaylor]

A 50# stickbow will put an arrow through most critters in North America on a pretty consistent basis. So it really comes down, imo, to what kind of shots you expect. If you expect to take 40-50 yard shot or further on a regular basis then more draw weight and the right arrow setup are going to be important. If you hunt close and or in really cold weather, light and easy to hold are going to win the day.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I started with 70 pounds, shoulders didn't like that too much after a few years. Dropped to 60 and shot a lot of deer with that draw weight. Several years ago I bought a backup bow at 70 pounds and had the shop replace the limbs with 50 pound max and I turned it down to 44 pounds. I've killed several deer with that 44 pound bow and I really can't tell the difference in effectiveness. The 44 pound bow is easy to draw, even when I am cold or in a weird contorted position, and I can hold it at full draw as long as I want. So, currently I have a 60 and 44 pound compound bow tuned to the same arrow set up. I just swap the quiver and use whichever I want. If I could go back to the beginning I would just shoot about 55 pounds and not stress my shoulder.

 

[Archerichards]

Age 67.
Just dialed my bow back from 68 to 60lbs. My shoulders thanked me. And who knows, maybe I can stay in the game for another ten years or so. That would mean quite a lot more to me than the bragging rights that come from shooting a heavier draw weight.

 

[MattMan81]

In a compound bow, it seems technology has come so far that draw weight isn't as big of a factor. Mine is 70 but my scale says 68. I can draw it easy enough at the moment. I thought I remembered someone saying your bow gets the most out of it with the limbs maxed out. If I was going to go purchase a new bow right now I would really consider a 60lb max. Seems as you get older shoulders and stuff fail. I don't need to injury my self doing something fun.
Would be curious to see FPS difference in a 500grain arrow between a 60lb limb versus 70lb limb on the same bow. Has anyone done this?

But if I have been sitting all afternoon, half asleep, and drowsy from waking up at 4. The last thing I need to ln the moment of truth is to struggle a little to get my bow back or waiting a few extra moments for the perfect shot and not getting fatigued. So for me I'm in the lower weight options. If I was hunting out west and shooting a little further I would be on the heavier train.

 

[Nutterbuster]

Both. Hence why I shoot crossguns

 

[bigmike23]

I prefer a 300lb draw weight on my Nitro 505 with a arrow at 485 fps and never have to draw

 

[woodsdog2]

Actually another choice in the poll should be, draw the heaviest weight you can comfortably handle and consistently group arrows in various body positions and especially in your saddle set up. Otherwise, hands down, you need to be able to draw that bow smoothly and not have anxiety in your shot. Heavy weight causes more harm than good overall if you cannot handle it. And, you’re probably doing your shoulder a great disservice into later life.

 

[Maverick1]

Irrelevant. Compound bow, using 85% letoff from the draw weight results in a 1.5lbs difference in holding weight at full draw. Simple mathematics.

 

[Horn]

And the draw force curve combined with your draw length make a huge difference in what pulling the weight is actually like

 

[BowhunterXC]

The technology in compound bows will allow for less Draw Weight, while still obtaining good arrow speeds for 3D and hunting.

I'll take the heavier arrows and less Draw Weight, because all hunting shots are inside 25 yards. I want a pass thru!!! 2 holes leaking blood are better than 1.

My Elite HNTR33 is set at 58# of Draw Weight with my 29" Draw Length. I use Gold Tip Hunter XT 300 spine at 27" with a 100 gr. brass insert, 200 gr. broadhead and 3" vanes. TAW 575 gr. with 25% FOC. Easy to draw, pass thru shots and the deer fall within sight.

My 17" Satori riser with medium Uukha Yangi limbs at 45#. I use a Gold Tip Traditional 400 spine at 29" with a 100 gr. brass insert, 200 gr. broadhead and 4" feathers. TAW 600 gr. with a 19.7% FOC. Smooth draw, quiet shot and short blood trails.

"Fast is fine, but accuracy is final." - Wyatt Earp

 

[neonomad]

Irrelevant. Compound bow, using 85% letoff from the draw weight results in a 1.5lbs difference in holding weight at full draw. Simple mathematics.

View attachment 126812

Drawing 75 lbs vs 60 guarantee I can draw 60 in more awkward situations and hold the weight longer before the shakes kick in. I currently hunt at 65 lbs

 

[Maverick1]

Drawing 75 lbs vs 60 guarantee I can draw 60 in more awkward situations and hold the weight longer before the shakes kick in. I currently hunt at 65 lbs

Start thread with poll seeking input. Then disagree with input. Non sequitur.

 

[thedutchtouch]

In my limited experience it's extremely bow dependent. And also archer dependent. I am more comfortable holding my elite omnia at full draw for a long time than I was holding my bear cruzer we've though the draw weight is higher. Part due to bow differences, part due to archer/arm differences and more years of practice under my belt. I am much worse holding my recurves at full draw (not to mention accuracy and well... Everything) because I am much less practiced with them (even though each summer I tell myself "this year is the year!")

I'd say whatever setup makes you more accurate, or maintains your ability to be accurate... Is deadlier. Bow weight is secondary, as any legal bow is deadly if you're accurate. Same on mechanicals vs fixed blade etc, all of it is secondary to accuracy and patience waiting for the right shot instead of trying to "blow through the shoulder" (another different debate, there's merits to heavy arrows and fixed blades etc... but they are all secondary to accuracy IMHO)

Or whatever answer helps you justify a new toy. But this ain't the support thread.

 

[woodsdog2]

Irrelevant. Compound bow, using 85% letoff from the draw weight results in a 1.5lbs difference in holding weight at full draw. Simple mathematics.

View attachment 126812

This math doesn’t account for the initial force required to draw back 75 lbs. vs 60 lbs. I agree with this analysis once at full draw. But getting over the initial hump to get to full draw can be the more difficult issue.

 

[BowhunterXC]

I watched a video by Levi Morgan, who has several archery championships to his credit. He was saying there's no reason to shoot an arrow that's over 500 grains for hunting. He prefers a low 400 grain arrow and is not a fan of high FOC or heavy hunting arrows. His reasoning is that it doesn't take a heavy arrow setup to kill whitetail deer. However.....he goes on to talk about his bow setup and he mentions that he's shooting an 80# Draw Weight and a 31" Draw Length.

I would have to disagree with is entire setup, because it doesn't take an 80# Draw Weight to kill whitetails. An 80# Draw Weight with a 31" Draw Length would allow a person to blow thru any animal, at reasonable hunting distances.
I don't know anyone in my immediate area that shoots an 80# Draw Weight, very few that shoot 75#, but I do know lot of people that shoot between 55# and 65#.

I like the statement from @thedutchtouch "I'd say whatever setup makes you more accurate, or maintains your ability to be accurate... Is deadlier."

 

[DroptineKrazy]

I used to shoot an Oregon bow that was given to me by a good friend that used it for a Muskox hunt. It was an 70 to 80 lb. model. I shot it at 74 lbs. because that is where it shot the best for me. I killed a lot of critters with that bow, from woodchucks to moose, but one time after sitting in the cold for about four hours in late November I had a nice little 8 pointer that I lost an opportunity on because I wasn't able to draw back my bow when I needed to. Of course, I did eventually get drawn but too late to make the shot.
I shoot 63lbs. now with a 585ish grain arrow with a 150 gr. head giving me plenty of foc and plenty of accuracy and plenty of penetration to kill anything in North America. You don't need either 80 lbs. or a 385 grain arrow to shoot any animal that is within "Bow range"

 

[Center Punch]

I started with 70 pounds, shoulders didn't like that too much after a few years. Dropped to 60 and shot a lot of deer with that draw weight. Several years ago I bought a backup bow at 70 pounds and had the shop replace the limbs with 50 pound max and I turned it down to 44 pounds. I've killed several deer with that 44 pound bow and I really can't tell the difference in effectiveness. The 44 pound bow is easy to draw, even when I am cold or in a weird contorted position, and I can hold it at full draw as long as I want. So, currently I have a 60 and 44 pound compound bow tuned to the same arrow set up. I just swap the quiver and use whichever I want. If I could go back to the beginning I would just shoot about 55 pounds and not stress my shoulder.

Thanks for this post!
Can you clarify on the "I really can't tell the difference in effectiveness" statement?

What kind of penetration are you getting?
On average, how far are the deer going before piling up?
Plenty of tracking blood?

Thanks!

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Thanks for this post!
Can you clarify on the "I really can't tell the difference in effectiveness" statement?

What kind of penetration are you getting?
On average, how far are the deer going before piling up?
Plenty of tracking blood?

Thanks!

A few years back I shot a buck at about 18 yards with my 44 pound bow with a quartering slightly too through the right shoulder shot and the arrow exited out behind the left leg. I was about 20 feet up a tree. That was with a 585 grain arrow tipped with a 3 to 1 ratio Grizzly single bevel broadhead. The broadhead was hair popping razor sharp. The arrow was about 24% FOC. The buck didn't react too much to the hit, even though I heard an audible "crack" when the arrow hit his shoulder. The buck bounded a few strides, then trotted about 20 yards and looked back. It stood about 10 seconds (that felt like an eternity, lol) and tipped over.

If I had been shooting my 60 pound draw weight bow, the same arrow would have just gotten to him a few milliseconds earlier, but I am sure it would have resulted in the same outcome. So, if I can reliably shoot through a buck's shoulder and get an offside exit with a 44 pound bow, then 60 pounds and the same arrow will do a little more, but not necessary be more deadly, since dead is dead.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Thanks for this post!
Can you clarify on the "I really can't tell the difference in effectiveness" statement?

What kind of penetration are you getting?
On average, how far are the deer going before piling up?
Plenty of tracking blood?

Thanks!

This was a doe from this past seaosn. I shot her as she was walking away from me down though the top of the back between the legs. I was using the 44 pound bow and the same arrow setup. I was about 25 feet above her and about 16 yards distant. The arrow's impact resulted in a "crack" sound upon impact and she dropped in her shadow. I gave her another through the heart to finish her but it was not really necessary. I just don't want them to linger.

When I climbed down and inspected the doe, the broadhead was sticking out her brisket/neck about 6 inches. Once again, a great result with a 44 pound bow and that arrow setup. If I had been using the 60 pound draw bow it would have ended the same, I am sure.