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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: rolltidehunter on April 26, 2011, 03:13:00 PM
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Hey guys i am going elk hunting this fall. This will be my first trip out to elk hunt. i will be going out with my dad. he has elk hunted all his life and has a P&Y record book bull under his belt. (with compound). But i will be hunting with my recurve. i need some advise on arrow weight for my set up. i have been checking out many similar post about this topic and i need some more info. my set up for whitetails is 53&26 with a 500 grain arrow.( well i pulled my bow on a bow scale it its more like 55lbs) this more than does the job for whitetails.... but i realize elk are alot bigger.
i would like to stick with this bow and not buy new limbs. but i will if needed.
what is the recomemded arrow weight you would use on elk with this bow?
:) guys not trying to be a butt:)... but please respond if you have actually killed a elk:) and what your experiences have shown :)
thanks John
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Ok, the bow and arrow are OK. I use a heavier arrow (600gr.) on a bow about the same weight. The key is something you didn't include. Broadhead! You want to maximize your penetration with a quality head that is beyond sharp.
I guess I qualify, got a few under my belt. LOL
Mike
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thanks Wingnut!! :)
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Your bow is good. Like Mike said a heavier arrow would be a good idea. Chosing the right broadhead is important. Sharp is more important. Get close and put it in the right spot.
I hope I qualify :)
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I've killed several with a compound prior to switching last year. Last year my set up included: 52# @ 28 longbow, 29 inch Port Orford Cedar arrow weighing at 520 grains,2 blade eclipse (125 grains). I arrowed a small 5X5 bull at 30 yards quartering away and needed only one arrow; recovery of the animal was less than 50 yards. The arrow itself penetrated approximately 22-23''. I think as long as your shot selection is good and your broadhead is sharp you will do fine.
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thanks Mt-dew10
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Ditto with the guys out West.Listen to'em,they live with'em.
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Not wanting to hyjack the thread but this makes me feel GREAT about my upcoming trip. I am also going after elk for the first time this September with a BW recurve. My set up is 51#s at 25.5" with about 570 grain total arrow weight. Broadhead will be an old Bear greenie razorhead (with small but sharp bleeder blades), 100 grain steel adapter glued in head and a 50 grain brass insert. Heritage 150's cut at about 28" (still tinkering with the setup). Sounds like I am right there in the ballpark. I will be keeping my shots inside 30 yards.
If I could add to the post, I would be interested in knowing what everyone's setup for getting around 600 grain total arrow weight is? Do ya'll think it is worth it to add the bleeders?
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John.. sounds good to me. I have used 55# bows with 500+ arrows and sharp cut on contact BHs.
Magnus 2, 4 and lately woodsmen......
Joe
PS 4 months, 4 days until Elk Season.
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thanks joe!
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John, where are you going elk hunting? Just curious.
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I say stay with what is working for you.It will do for Elk.I use 51# @ 31", 508grn arrow.It works on really big bulls,just look on my website. :) Good luck and have a great trip.Dont forget,we all like pic's.
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I use a 640 grain carbon arrow out of a 54 lb R/D longbow at 26 inch draw. Took a slightly quartering away 5x5 at 23 yards with this set up and it worked very well.
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John,
My group all shoot the same make longbow at around 55#. Most are shooting Axis 400s with brass insert and around 200 grain broadhead. To date, all hits have been complete pass throughs with easy recoveries. I think you are fine with your set up. Have a great hunt.
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x2 on everything said above...
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You have plenty of bow for hunting Elk.
The last bull that I killed was 2 years ago here in Arizona. For that hunt I used my Asbell era Bighorn recurve pulling about 56 pounds. The arrow was a 2018 aluminum with a Zwickey Delta for a total weight of 592 grains. I was hunting from the ground and the range of the shot was 8 steps. I hit that bull a little higher then I intended, but still penetrated both lungs. The arrow did not pass through.
Practice with the gear that you have and use a super sharp broadhead of your choice. Luckily I have another Elk tag this year. If your hunting in Arizona I'll be the guy using a longbow.
Good luck, Jim
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Sharp broad head in the lungs = dead elk. Even in the lighter draw weights...
If you are still worried about penetration you could always set up a heavier, high FOC arrow and stick a long narrow 2 blade broad head on the end for a little peace of mind.
A lot of people have already said it though. A sharp head is a dead elk if you place it well.
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John, the only arrows that will work for you are mine (in my quiver)...and for them to work properly you'll have to take me and my bow too. :)
Good luck!
Cool vids - you and Ammonds look like you had a great time.
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I'd say you are pretty good, but if you were to increase your arrow weight 75 grains or maybe a tad more you would be doing yourself a favor
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The only elk I killed with a bow was my OLD Damon Howatt #50@28" with a 575 grain arrow (2018) and a 2 blade Zwickey...damn good steaks were had. Your setup should be fine...hit the sweet spot.
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Originally posted by awbowman:
If I could add to the post, I would be interested in knowing what everyone's setup for getting around 600 grain total arrow weight is? Do ya'll think it is worth it to add the bleeders?
I make mine up with a full length 23/64ths POC, 190 gr broadhead, 3 fletch with 6" parabolics (burned) and a plain classic nock. Those come in at 650 grains.
This year I'm going to go with the same arrow only tapered. Right now am trying to decide how I'll put a bit of weight forward to retain the overall weight after tapering.
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I used a 53# at 28 1/2" and a 630 grain arrow to take my elk. I used a Grizzly 160 broadhead.
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I have killed elk with my recurve 60@31 with around 575gr arrow and I killed my 2010 bull with a longbow 57@31 with around a 500gr arrow (a little lighter than I would have preferred but what tuned the best) and both performed well. Good luck....Shawn
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Most people in northern Arizona use a F150 set up. F250 work great also. Stay away from the VW's and BMWs. Poor recovery odds. :biglaugh:
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:laughing: With a grill guard too!
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A New Englander proved that a MAXIMA was an adequate set up for Yellowstone Elk not in the too distance past....
:scared:
Shoot straight, Shinken
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I think your setup is fine. If it were me I would bump the arrow weight up a bit.Normally I'm one of the magnum bow guys when hunting anything over 600 pounds,however this year I'll be using a 56# black widow with easton FMJ's 400's 100 gr brass inserts & 125 gr Magnus stinger and yeilds a 656 gr arrow.
Should be bad medicine for any elk that may wander a bit to close. Shoot them in the lower third and light the grill.
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thanks for all the onfo guys.