What kind of poundage for Pheasant?

[BobCo 1965]

What do you guys use for pheasant (flushed of course)? It's been a desire of mine to give it a try. My son and I are working on a catapult for practice. Anyway, I thinking about getting about a 40# at 29" (HH or similar)longbow for the task. Opinions welcome.

[formerbutcher]

I would think 40 should enough, i've yet to get one on the wing, but this weekend i'm going to a shoot. 25 hunters 60 birds should be a good time.

[ChuckC]

I think it depends upon what type head you are going to use.  A broadhead needs less power, a blunt or judo needs much more, as they do two different things.
ChuckC

[BobCo 1965]

I'll only be using blunts.

[buck-tamer00]

i took 1 with my cousins 38lb recurve and a muzzy 3 blade,  shot was like 10 feet away.

[macbow]

Just about any bow weight will work. In my experience you mostly get to see arrows fly.

The Judo condor points are good. Try to shoot as close as you can when they get up. If you hit one on the rise you have the best chance.
Ron

[Mike Tomano]

Your choice is fine. Brings lots of flu-flus and have a ball!

TOMANO

[BobCo 1965]

In my experience you mostly get to see arrows fly.

I'm sure you're right, but that one that I knock down will be a trophy indeed.    

[The Talon3]

Pheasant hunting practice.  

[BobCo 1965]

No one else want to comment on weight? I know I there are some people here who hunt pheasant. Please?

[Charlie Lamb]

Ok! You asked.    :D    First of all 40# won't be enough if you are using just blunts. Even with a broadhead I'd want a slim two blade if shooting that weight for pheasant.

I'm not a big fan of blunts for pheasants... even with heavy bows. They can be very tough to bring down and I've seen them carry off plenty of blunts.
Never saw one carry off a broadhead.
 

[BobCo 1965]

Boy, I wouldn't want to be the photographer in that picture.   .

CHarlie, I didn't know they are that tough. I'm hoping to hunt them this year though for the first time. I want to be sure that I'm using the right equipment. Thanks for the advise. MAybe I'll just use my 55# longbow with broadheads then.

You're using fluflu's though correct?

[Frank AK]

55# sounds much better for big birds like that. With 55 you could use judo or kondor points with a flu flu. But I got a hold of some bodkins for ducks and those put a hole in birds let me tell you what.

[Charlie Lamb]

Bob... yep! Flu flu's all the way. It doesn't help much to have a real slow flu flu, so I compromised. I fletched up my bird arrows with 4, 4 inch uncut feathers.
I retained a lot of speed up close and they didn't go so far as to be hard to retrieve.

Just about any broadhead will work, but a smallish two blade is plenty... I was using Bear Razorheads in the picture.

FYI... we sacrificed shooting at the pheasant in the picture for the sake of the picture. The cameraman was in no danger and is alive and well today. He does have a nasty flinch however.    :D

[Shawn Leonard]

If you are hunting with dogs a broadhead is a no no and will not be allowed or should not be allowed by the handler. They can cut a dog on retrieve and also are dangerous to their paws and other hunters. That said I would say 50#s is enough and use a judo or a condor. It depends who is doing the shooting as far as just watching arrows fly. I hunted with a guy who was 5 out of 6 on shots taken on birds. Shawn

[formerbutcher]

I got to hunt Pheasants this last weekend, what a blast. I was using 6 fletch 4" flu flu's with the ace hex blunts, i ended getting one bird let me tell you that put a whole in the bird, i was shooting 50 #'s. I think broadheads are a no no when you'r hunting with a dog. Some guys i was with where using field points and we had a couple of birds fly off with arrows but were albe to track them down later. Have fun it's a blast. John