Let's talk CEDAR and ELK

[plentycoupe]

May be able to use my ACS CX on my elk hunt this fall. Was putting together a carbon setup when something hit me that made me want to use wood again. Probably the pain in the *(^ getting the carbs tuned.

Anyway decided to go back to cedar, 23/64, tapered to 5/16. Probably going to be footed with osage, just need to get the right spine.

Question what are your thoughts on the difference between a 190 and a 125 grain broadhead and overall arrow performance?

Do you still use wood and if so what is your overall arrow weight that you are comfortable shooting at elk? 30yards(if everything is optimal) or less.

Bow is ACS CX 56@28 and I draw 28.

Thanks for your input!

[Orion]

I have been shooting tapered and tapered and footed 11/32 cedars spined at 75-80# with 160 grain STOS points totaling about 675-700 grains out of a 58# Robertson longbow.  Last year, I started shooting a 52# ACS for whitetails and plan to get another at 56-57# for elk.  I plan to use the same arrows for elk that I shot with my Robertson.  Will probably tip some of those arrows with 180 grain Abowyer wapiti broadheads. 75-80# spine should work well out of your ACS at your draw length.  In the unlikely event that they spine a little weak, you can build out the strike plate ever so slightly.  If you go with 23/64 shafts in the 600-650 grain range, 70-75# spine would probably work as well.  Good luck.

[Tater 2]

I shoot 65-70 Tapered Doug Fir 28 1/2"
  with a 160gr broadhead (STOS) 55 to 57 pound longbow. 580-600 grain arrow weight

     Wood Arrows, Longbows, and Bugling Elk it don't get any better than that!

[Bjorn]

ACX CX 49@28 hunting tapered cedar with an extra long Osage footing on an 80-85 cedar(coulda' been stiffer with all the up front weight). ABowyer Brown Bear BH 175gn.
Total 660gn-lots up front. I cut down on the fletch and the arrow maintains lots of oomph downrange.
The shaft was done by Ted at raptorarchery.com
 
Pic shows a grizzly and now it is a factory sharp Abowyer! What a head!
I built out the side of my 53# ACX so both bows will shoot the same arrow.

[snag]

I am making up some 85-90# tapered POC that I hope to put some 100gr Woody Weights on and then top them off with 160gr. STOS heads. I could go heavier with this spine weight. But I think I'll start here and see how it goes.
I have been hunting with 75-80# and 80-85# with just the 160gr STOS heads. But these "heavyweight" shafts are calling for more tip weight! Then I also have some old Sweetland shafts that are around 800gr. total weight with heads.

[overbo]

IMO,I would look into a much tougher type a wood.Seen cedar arros break far to easily for me to shoot elk.I would much rather shoot lam. birch.ALOT tougher than cedar w/ plenty of weight.I do have some fir on the way to see how they fair.Also wouldn't consider any diameter over 11/32's.

[Bjorn]

Snag I'll be interested in how you like those 'woody weights'. Do they take a 'srew-in' or 'glue'on' adapter?

[Walt Francis]

I have killed several elk with 525-550 grain cedar arrows, all from different bows in the 55-60lb range.  Cedar arrows are plenty tuff for elk if they are tuned correctly and you hit where you’re supposed to.  

That being said, I now use footed hex pine shafts from Whispering Wind, mainly because of the increased durability.

[snag]

Bjorn, I bought the glue-ons. I'll let you know what I think. I got the 100gr.

[Tater]

These are some 65-70 Barrel Tapered Cedars
 Aluminum Broadhead adapter 42gr, 168gr Broadhead, total arrow weight 610gr, FOC 19%

    Dave these arrows look familiar?

 
   These arrows were crafted by master arrowsmith Milt Beens, I won them a couple years ago at the CTAS Auction.

   

 

[Raminshooter]

Never be afraid to use cedar on Elk and here is a real life example:  a good freind of mine shoots a self bow with 23/64 cedars at a whopping 151 feet per second...he has killed five elk with this setup.  I don't care what anyone says about arrow material (which is best) because until they come up with different kind of "DEAD" those cedars are working just fine!

[Bjorn]

Raminshooter we don't know the arrow weight and it probably does not matter-that is a good self bow in skilled hands!

[Tater]

Raminshooter,
        How about a little more info on the sefbow set up? I agree Cedars can work fine the higher the spine obviously the stronger the shaft. It could be a 80 pound selfbow shooting a 700gr arrow?