Would you hunt elk with???

[wtpops]

Ill be out next year with 56# and 600 grains i dont think 52# wth 575 would bother me eather.

[Broken Arrow 1]

Different strokes for different folks. I would definitley hunt them with a bow that weight! its all about arrow tuning.

[Broken Arrow 1]

[arrowflinger1]

My good friend shoots a #54 recurve with a tad under 600 grain arrow and this year marked his 26th bull down and in the freezer.........

[customcrester]

Yes,a 50# bow with a SHARP broadhead will kill anything in north america if you put the arrow where it belongs.I would build an arrow with efoc to help with penetration.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Geez Ron,  If you hit a nerve like you did with this thread, you'll do just fine        


BTW are you going elk hunting soon?

Cahrlie

[ron w]

Charlie, hope to before I get to old....lol!!!

[T-Bone]

Ron,

Your bow is most certainly adequate for elk.  I believe a well tuned 550+ arrow and a scary sharp two blade from your bow is great.  I know several people in Colorado who have had consistent succes with 45# bows.  The owner of Rocky Mountain Specialty Gear here in Denver has a nice 6x6 mounted that was taken by the owner's son with a 46# Chastain recurve and a 500 grain easton shaft.
The key is shot placement--Broadside and quartering away up to 30 yards.  I personally hunt with a 50# bear Montana and a 625 grain tube weighted shaft with a 2 blade magnus stinger.  If you want a good testemonial, do a search for the handle Dougtreat.  He has killed several elk with 47-50# bows with 600 grain arrows.  One of his was taken at fourty yards with full penetration. Like many have already stated, a well tuned arrow with a quality SSSharp  braodhead and good shot placement will take the elk.  Use the bow that you shoot best with.

[ron w]

One of the bows on my rack happens to be a 50# Montana,I draw 29" so that would be 53-54#. I think I should be good to go!!! All my arrows are 500+ to 625,depending what I'm shoot'n.

[cbelcher]

No.  Not enough arrow weight, and it depends on the type of 2-blade head.

[jomama]

no problem,its all about placement.

[mountain trapper]

I shoot a 50# @28'' thunder horn hear stopper long bow with AD Trads cut to 30'' with 175grn Aboyer brown bears heads, w/75grn inserts for a total arrow weight of 630grn w/23% EFOC.  At twenty yards they will completely 800# angus heifer broadside. Does this help answer the question?

[antler chaser]

A friend of mine got a cow elk with just that same set up,20 yards or so and broad side.

[Kris]

“Would you hunt elk with a bow that draws 50-52# and shoots a 575 gr. arrow”.

Yes!  But I can draw more weight comfortably so I would use more and I would use a bit heavier arrow as well (650 grains min.).  If 575 grains is optimum for this bow in all regards, then use it.   As George and Bjorn have suggested the numbers on the side of the bow don't nearly tell the whole story either.  Not all 52# bows shoot the same.  Lots of variables to work with here.  I haven't read all the posts either and I'm sure it has been brought up, but I would definitely adhere to Ashby's suggestions on arrow setup.  I would pay more attention to the arrow setup anymore and not the bow weight as much.  Are you confident with this setup?  Have you shot any other animals with it?  How has it performed?  What does it have going for it?  What’s lacking?  These are important questions you need to ask yourself.  I echo Ragnarok Forge's advice as well.

Good luck

Kris

[jct]

"Unfortunately, in many cases, non residents have more experience hunting elk than residents of western states"
Thats an unusual statement, no offense but I'd like to know where you got that stat from, or is it just opinion.
I've seen 300 win mags not put an elk down. I doubt they were wondering if it was enough.
Shot placement and arrow is everything.
My best bud is going with me this season with a 42# bow and 650 gr arrows and I KNOW if he gets a broadside shot @ 20yds and under his set up will be the elks last day. Not opinion, been there done that. It COMPLETLY depends on the man behind the bow, no question.

[ron w]

Surprised this is still around....thanks for the all the input. I think good to go ,just gotta do my part with arrow placement and a good stalk.....

[just_a_hunter]

Originally posted by ron w:
Surprised this is still around....thanks for the all the input. I think good to go ,just gotta do my part with arrow placement and a good stalk.....

This is the best post on this thread... Good luck! We hope to see you in a hero photo this fall!

Todd

[Gordon martiniuk]

Sure why not! more is allways better but thats lots of weight and will work if you do your part. The hard part is getting the shot or should I say getting close enough for a good shot!