Discovery

[Petrichor]

So I just got my bear Au Sable and finally got to shooting it.  I had always wanted a flat bow but never really shot one I liked.  First I have to say this one is a pleasure to shoot and has no hand shock at all.  It is as free of shock as my recurve.  

Beside being perhaps the sweetest bow I have ever shot, I have made a discovery beside the fact that I may now be on a longbow kick, always having been a recurve guy. My recurve is a 55 lb at 28" so when I decided to get a flat bow for the first time I didn't want to double up on weights I thought you know get something else.  Originally when I ordered the Patriot I got a missed weight in 65 pounds.  I am totally able to pull and hold it back for an accurate shot no problem. But when it went in for warranty service and I was told they don't purposely make it in that weight and of course getting the Au Sable as a replacement instead I had a choice to make.  What weight do I want?  

The easy answer would have been same as I have in the grizzly that way I have the same arrows.  But something inside me was like what if I want to shoot small game??? 55lbs is over kill for squirrels..... maybe lol.  After a long good think on the matter I settled with 45lbs and the discovery I made is that even though I am capable of shooting a very heavy bow... I don't have to. And that is a freeing thing, seeing an arrow zip out of this bamboo core 45 lb bow is incredible and I do not doubt what it could take down.  Can I just dare to say it is refreshing shooting such a light bow?????...... I mean it is still plenty of bow, but it is sooooo comfortable.  I can shoot the 55 lb all day without tiring, sure.  But I can shoot the 45b without effort.  It is a discovery to me that I do not have to be shooting the heaviest tackle I can handle to be happy and enjoy myself in archery.
 
That is a freeing thought.  I feel like I just learned an important lesson and grew as an archer.  I hope this helps somebody else out.  Put your brawn aside for a moment and pick up some light tackle.

Anyways shoot straight and often.
Dave

[A.S.]

Dave, your joints will thank you in years to come!

[Biathlonman]

I usually shoot low 50s but have recently picked up a couple bows in the high 40s.  Still plenty of zip to feel comfortable hunting with them but so easy.  They have shown me that I need to work on my release though, the heavier bows do seem to pull the string of my fingers cleaner.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Guys Kill Big Game with 40-45 lbs bows all day long.

I like to find the happy medium. Typically, I shoot 47-50 lbs all summer long, then go up in weight for hunting season a few pounds.  When it gets cold out, I may go back down to the summer weight so its easier for cold muscles to pull.

As far as squirrels.  They are tough but your 45 lb bow will be as sufficient as your old 65lber.

[Petrichor]

Yes indeed.

[Jock Whisky]

When I started this game back in the early '60s, the recommended draw weight for whitetails was 40 to 45 pounds. They worked just fine.

[Petrichor]

Well... Pretty much all I will be hunting is white tail, squirrel, hog and turkey.  Should be good.. IF not I always have my 55b recurve.... but this longbow shoots so sweet it is hard to put down....

Have fun with it!

Bisch