I am thinking of getting a new bow. My only concern is that I don't like alot of draw weight. Is a 40 to 50 pound bow enough for deer and antelope? Would it be ok for elk if I ever decide to go archery hunting? My current bow goes down to about 56 pounds and it seems to me a bit taxing to draw. Thanks
New bow
- Thread starter NDMuley
- Start date
elkantlers
Well-known member
I think 50lbs is plenty for deer and pronghorn. My wife shoots a Hoyt bow at 40lbs and sent an arrow clear though a Mature Whitetail at 25 yards.
Rob96
Active member
That weight is fine with a cut on contact broadhead.
3855WIN
Well-known member
Listened to a podcast the other day. A hunter said he’d killed 6 elk with a 42 pound bow.
Watch the Ranch Fairy on youtube for heavy arrow build (550 gr+). Watch what he does to pigs with a 45# bow and razor-stropped COC broadheads on a 700gr arrow. And the Hunting Public guys have killed a few deer with the heavier arrows- it's a complete pass-through (except the one that it blew through the humerus and went into the vitals), deer dead within sight, on pretty much all of them.
It's impressive enough that I think I'll be making a switch next year when I get new arrows.
It's impressive enough that I think I'll be making a switch next year when I get new arrows.
GlockZ
Well-known member
I think you'll be fine, here in NJ the minimum peak draw weight for a bow is 35lb to efficiently kill deer. As a few others have posted using a cut on contact broad head would be preferred and most efficient. Personally, I use the Slick Tricks Magnums or Vipers, but there are others that will get the job done as well.
