enough for elk?

[T-Bone]

I shoot a longbow that shoots a 500 grain cedar with a 125 grain grizzly at 170 fps. It is a 50# Bear Montana. Does anyone out there use a similar set up for elk? I'm planning on using this for this years elk and deer trip to Colrado.
Thanks.

[txcookie]

GET-R-DONE

[Chuck Mullaley]

Your on the 'low end' for elk, but a well placed arrow with a razor-sharp head will get the job done.  Do whatever it takes to make that 'well placed' shot and don't settle for anything less.

Good hunting!

[SlowBowinMO]

You got the right broadhead, that is good speed out of your Montana too.  I've not hunted elk, I'll refrain from commenting on that.

[j yenney]

The three elk that I've shot have been with a 52# bear super kodiak,and a 2018 arrow, but I have never shot one over 15 yards they just seem to sneak up on you when there in the rut. The biggest trick to hunting elk is being patient and letting them come to you when there in the rut and a (nice montana decoy)!!!

[Tree man]

T-bone, I have no doubt that your set up can get the job done.... but I think that it would be less likely to fail if you were to catch a little bone if you were shooting 650 grain arrows out of that bow.

[shapeshifter]

having taken my share of elk, i agree with chuck mullaney and tree man..... with that bow and draw weight, i would definately increase the arrow weight by atleast 100-150gr. not that your set-up can't do it...... simply for the "what if" factor. like chuck said, absulotely wait for the correct shot and do not take anything else.  good luck on that hunt and i hope to see pics.

gino

[Titan_Bow]

I was thinking the same thing as Tree man. 600-650gr arrow is my preference. You usually have to luck into POC that will end up that heavy. One thing to do is to go up a spine class or two, and then switch to 160 or 190gr heads. Also, if you use gasket laquer, you can dip the shafts more than you would normally to bump up the weight. With 160gr heads, I can usually find POC that will yield at or near 600gr.arrows.   You may also want to consider the switch to a heavier wood.

Just my opinion,
Titan_Bow

[Doug Treat]

I agree, 600+ would be better for elk.  I have shot elk with both light (475gr.) and heavier (590 gr.) arrows and the heavier always have  penetrated better for me. My best penetration was with a 640 gr. ash arrow that went through the chest and punched a hole in the off side scapula on a big cow.  All of these shots were with an old slow 50# recurve.  If you can increase your weight, you will do better than me with your faster bow.  BTW, my recurve shot the 590 gr. @ 155 fps so the 640 gr. was going even slower.  Slow and heavy for elk seems to work best.

[Doug Treat]

Well, I guess fast and heavy would work better :^)

[8elk]

How about a 60# bow with 500-530 grain with 135 gr 2 blade ?

[beaglesandbucks]

Lots of elk have fallen to a lot less.  Just don't let the excitement of the moment cause you to take a marginal shot. No doubt...you have enough bow...and arrow.

[T-Bone]

For me hunting with a heavier bow might not be an option as I have an injured shoulder where 50# is my max. for this year anyway.  I recently read from a website where a handicapped hunter took a trophy size moose with a 41# recurve and a 497 grain arrow.  He got very good penetration with his well paced shot.  The website with this story is test.stalker.html - I guess that I am hoping to see if ant other hunters have had any success with a similar set up.  I think that I will bump up the weight up front to 190 grain grizzlies to give me an arrow weight of about 590 grains. It sounds like heavy arrows are the ticket for lighter bows.

Thanks alot for the teriffic info!!  Please keep it coming.

Tom

[Ray Lyon]

T-bone,

If you're not set on wood arrows and you're getting different arrows anyway, consider the Beman MFX (woodgrain finish) carbon arrow. It's not dificult to have a 600+ grain arrow with these and skinny carbon arrows have great penetration qualities.

I love shooting good cedar arrows, but most of my hunting is with the Beman MFX.

I agree on the above that adding 100-150 grains will increase your penatration.

[pistol pete]

What works real good is going up to the local hardware store and going to the machine screw sec,screw your broadhead into a insert then get a machine screw to thread into the back,all you have to do is cut off the head and you can add fro 50 to 150 grains,gives very good front of center and the wind dosn't hardly affect flight anymor,use them in my Heritage 250's at 29" with a wenzel woodsmen and they weigh 620,and fly like darts.  Pete

[wingnut]

You can also get to 600 gr with a poplar or sitka spruce shaft.  Talk with Ted at Raptor Archery, he'll set you up with the shaft you need.

Mike

[Ken Babicky]

Laminated birch also...I have some 29", 65-70 with 160gr grizzlies that weigh in at about 720gr.