Bow Poundage for African Game

[**DONOTDELETE**]

What is the least amount of poundage for African game for a longbow? Is 80# enough? Let me know. I am building a bow for someone and it is an 80# L/B. Just want to know.

[Joseph]

I leave in 2 days, using a 64# recurve.  Many peopel here have been and used bows in the high 50's to low 60's.  There was a story in TBM several years ago about hunting with light weight bows and several of the hunters had been to Africa and successfully taken game with bows in the high 40's.  80# would be definetly be more than enough unless hunting cape buffalo.  Joseph

[Windknot]

I'm taking a couple of 50 pounders next year- but I'm not going after any of the big stuff.

[Biggie Hoffman]

Biggest I killed were a Kudu and a waterbuck.
Of 7 animals I shot thru 4 with a 65# longbow and hit opposite shoulders on the others with a 3 blade razorcap and 625gr arrows.
I would have no qualma about using a 50# bow for plains game.

[T-Bell]

I took an Impala, a Cape Eland, a Red Hartebeast and a Zebra with a 58# Recurve. I used 700gr Hickory arrows with Zwickey and Magnus 2 blade BH's and penetration was outstanding. It was more than adequate and I plan to use this setup again and/or my 57# longbow for my 07 trip.

Cheers, and good hunting -

T-Bell

[Mike Taylor]

I leave in 28 days and will be shooting a 65# Recurve with a 600 Grain Arrow.

[Tilzbow]

I leave in one year, 10 days, 3 hours... not that I'm counting...

I'll be taking a 63# Death Adder and 53# Adcock longbow. Maybe I'm off base, but isn't the bow's performance (speed with a heavy arrow, kinetic energy, momemtum, etc.) and broadhead type more important than bow's weight by itself? I haven't rec'd. the Adcock bow yet but I've been told at 53# @ 31" it's gonna shoot a heavy arrow with as much authority as many bows 10# heavier.

[Blackhawk]

My partner and I are headed to South Africa next July where the PH stated in his brochure that the requirements were a 60# bow and 600 grain arrows.  This is for plains game only.

[Kelly]

I believe Sandy Karch killed an Kudo with a 46# bow and 480 grain arrows.

I've seen 50 pound bows that will cast an arrow further than some 80# longbows and I am talking the same weight arrow. It is not so much the bow weight but the arrow weight and sharp cut on contact broadheads mounted on a perfectly flying arrow. Of course, most important is hitting where one wants to with repetition.