lbs for elk

[Jerry Ragle]

i am new to tradgang so first i would like to say hello to everyone. now i would like to ask you elk hunters outthere what is the least lbs you would use for elk.

[MJB]

WELCOME Jerry      

[ductape]

Welcome to the gang!! You have come to the right place, wish I could help you with your question but thats beyond me.

 

[DeerSpotter]

Welcomed Jerry,

First off I will clarify, I have never hunted Elk !

But from what I have learned from others here, everything is about shot placement and the skill to be accurate in placing that shot at your working yardage.

What that means is, if you're good out to 20 yd. then use your discipline more than your hope.

Most of the guys on here I have seen guys talk about Elk, is 50 lbs. and up.  I have seen some guys say they have taken a elk with a 45 # bow, but these gentlemen had been hunting for years with traditional equipment.

I think shot placement is the most important thing, and getting in as close as you can.  The other thing that I've heard about Elk, it kind of freak you out in the yardage, compared to the size of the deer, you have a tendency to think the Elk are closer than what they are because they are larger size.  Also, Elk are tougher than Whitetail, larger boned, Hunt wisely, and wisely choose your equipment, broadheads, Arrow weight.

I'm sure you have plenty of people on here to help you that has actually hunted Elk.

Pastor Carl

[Dave2old]

Carl -- There are a lot of "depends" involved. But generally, if you want to be safe and also to shoot accurately out to 20 yards without excessive trajectory, I would recommend whatever it takes to shoot a minimum 650 grains of arrow (Dr. Ashby's minimum recommendation for big-big game) at 150fps. The weight is for penetration, the speed is the slowest that works for me for consistent accuracy out to 20 yards. The only two full pass-throughs I've ever gotten on elk both were with 740-grain arrows, two-blade heads, and 160fps. Both were shot at under 15 yards perfectly broadside, one hit one rib and the other got ribs in and out, and neither animal made it out of my sight before dropping dead. Twenty or so others, using lighter arrows, around 550 grains, and/or three-blades with 64# bows, failed to get full penetration and half-shaft was the norm. All but one required tracking and a few were never recovered, which is a heartbreaker I never want again. Of all elements I would say a heavy arrow -- along with all of Ashby's other recommendatons, including single-bevel two-blade heads, extreme forward balance of arrows, etc. -- that's far more important than speed. Again, what speed gives you in a given weight arrow is flatter trajectory thus more accuracy at longer ranges. And bow weight no longer translates to speed. I have selfbows that draw 65# and shoot only 140, and I have a Lightning longbow that draws 54# and shoots the same arrow 180+. Good luck. dave

[Jerry Ragle]

thanks for the info guys. (this is a great website)

[Elk Chaser]

Jerry,
Welcome
Listen to Dave2old,
I have been hunting Elk for 3 years and I will be using a 730 to 750 gr arrow with a 70 # bow ACS CX
I have to Chrono it but I would say close to 180
hope this helps.
One other thing once you hunt Elk all other animals take a back seat in my opionion
Bill

[Jerry Ragle]

thanks elk chaser will do.

[Doug Treat]

I have a shoulder problem so all my traditional archery elk have been taken with less than 50#.  One big cow I shot with an old bow @ 50# was shot @ 40 yds. so the arrow was probably going less than 140 fps by then.  The 630 gr. ash arrow went through the chest and broke a hole in the off-side scapula.  Shoot a HEAVY arrow and it won't matter how fast it's going, that is if you're OK with the rainbow trajectory.  I have gotten full penetration on elk with 600 gr. arrow but I wouldn't shoot an elk with less than that.

[Lost Arra]

Elk Chaser is on the money!
>>One other thing once you hunt Elk all other animals take a back seat in my opinion<<

         

I sleep in my tent once a month just getting ready!

[Bowmania]

This year I'll shoot 51 at 28 longbow and a CX Maxima 450 grs with a 160 STOS.  Three years ago two friends shot bulls of 325 and 340 with the same set up.  You don't need a heavy arrow if you don't hit 'em in a bad spot.  Those bulls were shot on the same trip on the same day.  Both had complete penetration at 22 and 36 yds.

This doesn't pertain to your question but my elk kills were with a 62 lb longbow drawn to 30 for 68 lbs and 525 grain arrows.  Shoulder problems has me shooting the lighter weight.

Bowmania

[Cedarfeeder]

Well said Doug.

[Whitetail Chaser]

I will be hunting elk this season with a 53# recurve (Black Widow or Silvertip).  My arrows weigh 610 grains with a Zwickey eskimo on the business end.  I will be hunting only cows and spikes due to the regs in my area.  I have absolute confidence in my setup even though I have never killed an elk before.

Brett

[overbo]

62lbs Habu Vyperkahn @26'' w/ 560gr carbon tipped w/ a 200gr Ace 2 blade.Went thru the shoulder blade broke the rib under the blade and burried under the skin on the opposite side.Shot distance 30yrds

[scriv]

This exact question came up in a discussion at a local archery shop years ago.  As unusual as it was most guys there shot traditional gear even though the shop was one of the few places you could buy wheels properly tuned.  The owner was an experienced elk hunter and guide. His answer was "well, you should have at least 40#".  Thought I would pass that along.

[beachbowhunter]

I plan to lose as many pounds as I can before my next elk hunt  

[Herdbull]

Jerry , There is good advise on here about elk set-ups. I have talked to many folks who also chime in with Dave2old and say that they have taken many elk with arrow weights less than 600 gr, but have not acheived two exit holes until they used arrow weights above 700 gr. I am not telling you what you should shoot, but arrow weight seems to be an important factor in killing a large animal quickly. A humane endpoint should be our goal. My arrows are 730 gr. and travel about 170 fps. I have taken bull moose and elk. Mike

[Jerry Ragle]

thanks for the reply mike im going to start working on my arrows soon.