anybody hunt with 45 lbs or less

[Hatrick]

RC, 2 pass throughs now with my 40# recurve and one with my 43# longbow. I wanted both to be 48-50# but I ain't no bowyer so I ended up lighter than I wanted. Both actually shoot very good. Believe it or not, 2016's out of my recurve with 3 blade razorcaps. 1916's out of the longbow (not center shot) with 2 blade Ribteks. Both arrows at 485 - 500 grains. My shoulders love em.

[Longbowwally]

I normally shoot 50 - 55 lbs but this year shot most of my 3D's with a 44# Crow Creek 3 piece longbow, mainly because I can't shoot a lot of arrows comfortably with my heavier bows - and decided to pig hunt with it. I shot one pig, about 80 - 90 lbs. with it this year. I used the CE Heritage 150's, cut 29" with a 160 grain STOS. Those arrows weighed around 540 grains.  The arrow zipped through the pig and shattered the leg bone on the opposite side. I was impressed with that performance.
One thing I've found is the lower weight bows don't come off the fingers as good as the 50 - 55 pounders, but once you get used to them its no problem.
RC - sounds like your buddy John has proven how effective a 45 lb. bow can be....I don't think you'll have any problem shooting out to 25 yards with the lighter weight...I have found that beyond 30 yards or so my arrows drop a lot - because I'm shooting over 12 grains per pound with the CE 150's, but for hunting ranges that's not a problem. By the way - what broadhead does your buddy John shoot?

[RC]

Longbowwally, John shoots the 220 grain phantom with the bleeder. He also shoots Simmons landsharks without the bleeders. Last year he killed five deer and 23 pigs on public land. this year he`s killed one deer and 9 pigs. All with the same setup.RC

[Guru]

Robert as much experience as you have and as good a hunter as you are,I doubt you'll skip a beat bud.....you'll just keep putting critters down        

[Grizzly]

You mentioned the aftereffects bothering you.  Not sure just what you meant.  With me, I was feeling the vibrations in my upper spine and lower neck.  Much shooting and It would tighten me up and get pretty uncomfortable.  To alleviate this I now shoot a couple of aluminum riser Warfs.  They soak up or eliminate? most of the vibration before it gets to me and I can shoot alot more comfortably.  The DAS and Daala bows would do the same thing for you.  My favorite for hunting and 3d has been an old Hoyt TD-3 riser that Bob Gordon warfed which makes for a light 62 or 63" recurve since it is a magnesium riser.  It shoots the same arrows at the same speed as a 44# Fedora Jr Big East I have and the Warf is set at 42# max and can be backed off from there.  Took two does with it this year and one with an old 41# Bear Grizzly with 1816's and Ace 125gr heads.  Complete pass through.  The Warf uses light weight carbons, full length, Ace or Magnus II at about 145 gr for about a 400 gr arrow.  At 42# it's close to point on at 30 yards, giving a nice, natural sight picture up close.

[Grizzly]

The Big East at 44# likes 1916 for 3d and 2016 or even 2018's carry the 145 gr 2 blade broadheads nicely.  My draw is a little over 28".

[Sixby]

Most people on this thread have been very reasonable and hunting the game you should be hunting with the bows you are shooting. Thanks for not advocating elephant with 35 lbs and heavy arrows. I know the pygmies prolly do it butttttttttttt . I think they use poison and track them for days. Anyway good thread. Keep em sharp and heavy. Happy New Year , Steve

[JBiorn]

All I know is I have a 45# laminated osage longbow coming from Solstice Longbows. I have every intention of using it for these big south hills muleys. And when it proves itself there, I will go for elk with it. A well-tuned arrow and a sharp broadhead should be more than adequate.

[joel smith]

Robert, some of us old farts shot 40-45# recurves for years (late sixties, early seventies) with arrows that sometimes weren't all that heavy. Best of my memory we got pass-thrus most of the time if we waited for broadsides and shot true. now that was all deer, didn't have any hogs around my neck of the woods in those days.

Ken Beck of Black Widow bows killed a big 6x6 bull elk a couple years back with a 51# recurve

[Biggie Hoffman]

I dunno.....sounds like you're setting us up for some excuses....

I probably killed the 1st 100 or so deer with a 45# Pearson Colt. I'm sure it will work for you too :-)If you need ome more lessons...come on up.

[RC]

Biggie, That settles it. If you can do it I should`nt have a problem .No worries,RC