bow weights for clean hunting

[ductape]

I just picked up bows for my 2 smaller kids, a 25# for my 8 yr old son and a 35# for my 12 year old daughter. My question is how much weight does it take to down a deer or turkey humanly? I plan on taking my daughter hunting this archery season I want to instill good hunting ethics. Any advice would be helpful.

"Thank God for family and traditional bow hunting"

[Hoffman]

I don't know your hunting regulations but here in PA it minimum of #35.

[ductape]

Mo state has no min # regulations. I want to make sure a well placed shot will provide a good clean kill.

[Hoffman]

Well, if the broadheads is scary sharp and the shot is good i guess weight isn't that important. Infact i thing in a magazine i just read a woman shot a 160 class whitetail at 8 yards with a 30# Bear Recurve. Just practice and make wise shot choices. A deer doesn't know if it shot with a 100# or 20# if in the lungs!!

[bowmaker07]

Illinois has a 40# min. so my son couldn't hunt until he was 14. At one time I read of someone taking a deer with 28#! IMO 35# is pushing the limit but as you said,shot placement is the key.

[Bonebuster]

It`s hard to say what the minumum is. Some of it depends on draw length. Those bow weights may be
if the bow is drawn to 28 inches. It`s unlikely that your twelve yr old draws twenty eight inches.

Last October my boy, who is twelve, killed his first traditional deer using a recurve made in the seventies, and he was pulling 39 lbs at his draw length. His arrow was a carbon shaft, with Tusker Concord broadhead(two edge). Total weight of just over 400 grains.

I was VERY concerned about this being enough medicine for deer. He made a textbook shot, slightly quartering away, taking out both lungs.  The arrow did not pass thru, but the broadhead made it out the other side. Short, easy to follow blood trail. My fears were unfounded.

I have no idea of how fast his arrows were, I made my decision of allowing him to hunt with a recurve, by the impact his arrows seemed to have on a 3-d deer target. They hit with a good whallop. He killed a deer the year before using a compound bow that pulled forty pounds. That shot produced very similar penetration.

If your girl can get 35 pounds, and the arrows  seem to hit hard, she should be good to go.

If I was eight yrs old, I would love to tag along.

Take them hunting, WE need them.

I`m sure good hunting ethics will come automatically from you.      

[Deadbolt]

Several years ago a femal killed a monster caribu at 4o yards w/ a 35lb bow.  As long as the broadhead is razor sharp and you make a good shot your golden!

Try to get her shooting well and maybe limit her to 10 or 15 yards if you are to worried.  First deer I shot was with 38lb at my draw and had a pass through at 12 yards.

[Diamond Paul]

As stated above, I would think 35lbs would do it if it is 35 at her draw.  However, as also stated above, draw length makes a huge difference.  I would think that poundage would need something at least 24 to 25" of draw to do it.  Some of the ILF Olympic style bows have the ability to adjust weight up and down within a certain weight range, so you could get one that lets her start at 35 and see if she could work up a bit in weight by hunting season.  Just a thought, good luck, Paul.

[WidowEater]

Its all about shot placement.  High wieght is the x factor though when circumstances are less than perfect.  I would bet with a perfect shot with a perfectly tuned arrow, with a hair popping broadhead, at close range you wouldnt need more than 15 lbs. of pull (that is very light).  Higher pulls make shots through bone possible, longer practical range of fire, and I have found medium weight bows easier to hold steady than ultra light draw bows.  

Use what can be shot 100 times in a practice session.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

What ever the weight @ Your Draw, in the State You are hunting in would tell you... Some Native Tribes here in Jersey & others used 35# & up to hunt with...I do beleave I read it in "Hunting with the Bow & arrow, By: Saxon Pope" ( I could be wrong)That Ishi would build his bows to or close to that weight..Like others have said" Put it in the spot" and it will drop.

[got1touchingcotton]

you need 60lbs and a 650 grain arrow, 450 grains of which must be the point.


let her use 35, inside her comfortable shooting distance