Set up question

[Rodriguez7]

How's it going, new here and first post. So last year I bought a new recurve, a black widow psa111. I have an elk hunt this year and want to make sure my set up is proper. 54 lb limbs at 28", I'm currently pulling right around 27. I'm using carbon arrows, 32 inch with 3 rivers inserts, and 175 grain 2 blade hunor attilas. Total weight is around 640 grains. Pushing around 155-160 through the chrono. I do have some 175 3 blade woodsman, but from what I have read 2 blade may be better for my set up. Arrows fly straight, and hit straight. How does this look, will I be ok out to around 35 yards? Thanks for any help

[longbow fanatic 1]

Your set-up sounds solid for elk. Beside the total arrow grain weight of 640, you might also calculate your FOC. My preference, if I were setting up my bow for elk, would be an FOC of 12-14%. As far as the 35 yard shot distance, that's a personal decision each of us have to make. Your call on that one.

[nhbuck1]

just like fanatic one said, Sounds solid to me.
shoot straight
kyle

If your arrow is tuned well, you should have no problems killing an elk with that setup...........as long as you can put the arrow in the right place!

Bisch

[Rodriguez7]

Still somewhat green on certain things, what's foc? Thanks for the responses. Also what does everyone think about the hunor attilas?  I ordered some stinger buzz cuts in 2 blade just to try also. I have some penetration tests I'm going to try with each.

[ISP 5353]

FOC = Forward of center.  Just make sure the broadhead is as sharp as you can get it and you should be fine!  Good luck!

[longbow fanatic 1]

Here is the FOC calculator:

 http://archerycalculator.com/arrow-front-of-center-foc-calculator/

[smokin joe]

As far as broadheads are concerned, use whatever you can get the sharpest. There is nothing wrong with either a two blade or a three blade. As long as your broadhead is really sharp it will get the job done. Good luck.

[Rodriguez7]

Thanks for the help. Now it's just practice from here on out. There is some wide open spaces, and long shots where I'm going.

[Orion]

Just because the space is wide open doesn't mean you have to take long shots.  An elk has a pretty big kill zone, but I don't know of many trad shooters who are consistent at 35 yards, and I've been at this for more than 50 years.  I've killed several elk in the wide open spaces of the West, and all but one have been 20 yards or less.

As others have noted, your set up is adequate.  Good luck.

[Hankem]

If you are going to shoot long yardage, and practice at 40-50 yards, 35 yards is a piece of cake.... but if you spend all your time shooting 20 yards, then you better hunt at 20 yards...

Your rig sounds solid.... get your arrows tuned and flying good and do a bunch of shooting....

 Good luck on your hunt.

[Rodriguez7]

Cool, thanks for the replies, I'm going off of what happened last year, we never brought in anything closer than 50 yards on that hunt. Elk just weren't coming in. We'll see what happens this year.

[SKITCH]

Originally posted by Hankem:
If you are going to shoot long yardage, and practice at 40-50 yards, 35 yards is a piece of cake.... but if you spend all your time shooting 20 yards, then you better hunt at 20 yards...
.

I'm curious how many here actually agree with this statement.  ???

Seems to me if you want to take shots that far out....maybe you are using the wrong weapon.  You might be better served with something that involves wheels or gunpowder.  The challenge and thrill of the traditional bow is getting in close and figuring out how to do that.  Many times that results in a unfilled tag for a lot of people still figuring it out.  Guess to many it's more about the thrill of the hunt.  

Hope to hear a few opinions.

[Pryor]

I have killed a couple elk with my compound.  With it my max range is 40 yards, and practice at 60 religiously.  Both elk I shot were under 20 yards on water holes.  Last year I was hunting with my Long bow and fell asleep on a water hole.  Woke up to a cow and calf at 3 yards or less.  You should have seen our faces!!!  I also had a nice bull at 8 yards that my friend had called in for me, The oak brush was so thick I could barley see him.

[CoachBGriff]

I'm with Skitch a bit on this one.

I know there are guys out there who can make 35 yard shots with trad gear, but if you are wanting to take longer shots, you have the wrong weapon.

If your goal is to kill an elk with a tradbow, your goal should be to get as close as possible.

If you goal is to kill an elk at longer distances, there are plenty of weapons that will do that an much greater distances than tradbows.

Again, I have no problem with shooting stuff at any distance someone is comfortable at.  I just feel like the whole point of shooting a tradbow is to see how close you can get... not how far you can stretch it.

Good luck!  You have a "killer" setup!

[Rodriguez7]

I understand all this, and my goal is of course to get as close as possible, I'm just going off experience from last year, spot and stalk type hunting. I did call in 1 bull to around 15 yards, but all I had was a head shot. That was in thick brush, so it can be done if the conditions are right.  He's the only bull the whole hunt that came in under 50 yards. Late rut. I have never sat on water, and really don't think I would be patient enough to try. I find it boring to sit and wait. I have always been a spot and stalk type, just this terrain didn't quite allow it last year. The question was more along the lines of whether it was possible or not. I will try to keep it under 30, but I will be practicing religiously out to 40 yards.