Light bows

[Sam McMichael]

I prefer the heaviest bow I can handle, but as I get older, that weight is dropping. I think 40 - 50# would be the lighter weights I would prefer. I started out at 45#. I know a lot of people have killed a lot of game with bows even less than this.

[KyStickbow]

I shoot a 40# longbow...and I only draw 27". I have killed many deer with that weight. Havent hunted anything bigger....might bump up a few pounds if I did.

[the rifleman]

42 pounds. Sharp 2 blade and well placed shot has yet to let me down.  My form and accuracy increased exponentially when I dropped bow weight awhile back.  All you need for our big farm raised whitetails.  Of course the added bonus is I shoot longer and more often-- to me that's what it's all about.  Of course everyone is built different and to some 60 pounds will fill the bill...  Find what is comfortable for you and have fun.

[9 Shocks]

shot from 43-56lbs and settled on bows around 47-50lbs.  Perfect give and take for me.

[McDave]

For me, I like 40# for targets and 45# for hunting.  I find that if I go much under 40# for targets, I have trouble finding arrows that work well at the distances I need to shoot.  I would love to shoot more than 45# for hunting, but I know at my age that weight offers the best compromise between accuracy and penetration.

[Bill Turner]

I dropped in weight from 55@28, to anywhere from 42@28 to 50@28 two years ago. All will do the job on deer size animals. I probably shoot better in the mid 40 range. With that said, I'll be hunting with my 47# Bear A mag riser, with #3, 45# limbs, making a 47@28" hunting rig this season. The 47@28" weight is not for deer so much, as the occasional hog that might venture my way. I have no doubt that any of my bows will do the job on whitetail deer when coupled with a sharp 2 or 3 blade head on my arrow of choice.  

[Captain*Kirk]

One thing to consider;
It's one thing to hunt with a bow that has enough FPS/KE to give a clean pass-through and humane kill. But all the so-called 'experts' tell you that you need to practice with the same tackle you intend to hunt with.
This is where it gets sticky for me.
I can get off a nice shot with my 55# Sage even in full cold weather gear, but practicing for an hour or more will tear me up. 45# is a compromise between my super-accurate Tamerlane at 35# and my Sage at 55. If you want the higher DW hunting bow, sometimes that means limiting your practice session times and # of shots, or practicing with a lighter bow. I find the 45# to be easy on the body for practice, yet possessing enough KE for a clean kill most of the time.

[tippit]

My 70 year old body likes 40#...but I increased my draw length by an inch thanks to Joel Turner's Target Panic Seminar @ the PBS Banquet this past spring.