is 40# enough?

[Lee Lobbestael]

I killed a deer this year with a 42# self bow and got a pass through on a quartering away shot. Its all about the sharp broadhead, and tuned arrow! A poorly tuned arrow out of a fifty pound bow will perform much worse than a well tuned arrow out of a 40# bow

[pcappy08]

yes, at that draw weight i would recommend a good sharp 2 blade

[James on laptop]

Or a good sharp 3 blade.    

I shot through a little buck this year with no problem useing the VAP Terminator,425gn arrow and a bamboo osage bow that really comes out around 38lbs at my 26" draw.You should have no problem at all with a glass bow because my wood bows are pretty slow compared to glass.

[shadman]

No problem!

I hunt with women that use 40 pound and a little less draw weight. The most important thing you can do is to make sure that he gets perfect arrow flight. It is very easy to get arrows that are too stiff. Some bows and shooters can shoot a variety of aluminum arrows and get good flight. Other bows are real fussy for spine, for those I almost always find that wood shafts get the best results and the best penetration. Nothing penetrates worse than a clumsy flying arrow, heavier weights are great, but only if they are flying good.  I have seen too many pass thru's with lighter weight bows to ever criticize anyone for using a bow that is easy for them to shoot.

[JEFF B]

i will second that  pavan  

[Sheepshooter]

I took a kid out hunting a few years ago. I put him in a tree and told him I'd pick him up in a couple of hours. When I got back the little twerp had a young 5 point elk on the ground. On his first day of bowhunting, ever! He was shooting a 40 lb bow (at his draw) and he got a passthrough on that elk. He had practised hard all summer and was a really good shot. He hit that elk perfect too!

[Renaissance Man]

Good arrow flight, very sharp two bladed broadhead and you will be golden.
One of the nicest fellows I have ever met was a fellow who one the recurve division at one of the first Denton Hill shoots, he was in his late 70's, his son won the longbow and his grandson was shooting with them.
he sat down with me at my Renaissance Archery booth and talked awhile. He shot a 43 lb. bear recurve. Hunted everything with it and had been doing so for thirty years.
Deer, bear and I believe some big game hunts with it also.
Same bow, same arrows and broadheads.
I would have no doubt about your fathers hunting with a 40 pounder.

[Herb Calvin]

Ohio isn't real clear. The rule and law folder sayss 40# but nothing said and draw.

[T-Bone]

On peteward.com Shanon Kuzik killed a very nice bull moose with a 40# Wright archery recurve with a 500 grain arrow and a two blade magnus.  I believe it was a 15 yard shot and the arrow got complete penetration and stopped in the off-side shoulder.  Pete ward also said that Shanon was actually drawing only 27" and was pulling maybe 38#'s.  His 500 grain arrows were traveling around 140 fps with that bow.  Pictures of that bull are shown on peteward.com under Rodney Wright archery.

[jcprintz]

It sure will work. I killed my first deer with a bow in 1969 using a 42# Pearson recurve and a Bear Razorhead.

[fixer]

Just keep'em sharp.

[Renaissance Man]

It as always comes down to this, the broadhead does the deed, I would not be comfortable hunting with a bow less than 40lbs because I think your arrow will not have enough mass to transfer energy even with a good sharp broadhead.
I just ordered a longbow that will be 45 @ 28 and i draw 28 and a half to 29 depending on the grip.
I would be more than comfortable hunting that bow for anything in the U.S
For years I hunted with a 45lb at my draw length Howatt Hunter and a longbow of the same weight due to a neck injury and take deer was not even an issue.

[Pinelander]

Three years ago, I did a short-draw on a very large whitetail buck. At 26" draw, the 36 pound-driven 420 gr. 2014 aluminum broke a rib on entrance and went through his chest... the deer was dead in less 15 seconds.

[yukon chuck]

Shot placement and very sharp broadheads are the prime considerations regardless of bow weight. With a 40# bow you certainly have enough power to kill efficiently, but shot placement and sharp broadheads are more important than ever. Also, thought must be given to reducing your "maximum effective range" to help you accomplish the goal of proper shot placement. Reducing max distance may result in a reduction in chance for error. Good luck.

[jomama]

absolutely.