Is a 55 lb, 50+ year old bow enough weight for Elk?

[Chuck_Delsandro]

How many have taken large game with a similar weight and age bow? What was your arrow weight and BH type. Please explain .  Any passthrus on elk? Also does anyone hunt with 64" length bows? I have never hunted with anything over 60". Any drawbacks or pluses? Thanks
Chuck

[copicasso]

I hunt with a 1956 60" 49# kodiak, though I have not taken an elk with this bow I am very confident that with the right shot placement  I shouldn't have any problems.

[NancyVTAS]

I hunt mainly with a '56   54# Kodiak that is 64"  Have used a 66" lb also.  Would not hessidate to hunt Elk with an "old bow" as I am 65 ,, Last year I carried a 57#  1952 CUB.. use 145gr STOS and 145gr Grizzleys .  Go get 'em   Dick

[NancyVTAS]

You  probably can see that COpicasso and I think alike, We hunt together!!! So I guess we do!  Dick

[NancyVTAS]

Chuck--- I'm thinking you want that '59 @54# 0n the classifieds, buy it before it kills COpicasso

[Chuck_Delsandro]

Yeah, I would love to have that bow. I hunt with 54 lb BW that I have no doubt will blow through anything but it shoots fast and I doubt that 59k will perform in that manor. I have a 60 lb K hunter that I was planing on using this year but it performs very close to the BW.

[d. ward]

vintage archery tackle and 99% of that was with bear archery tackle bows quivers broadheads broadhead file you know the old story.So yes I hunt with vintage tackle.Passthru's with vintage tackle ? yes sir no problem at all bd

[Chuck_Delsandro]

Thanks guys for your input. I really didn't doubt a older bow could get the job done. Just needed to hear it from those who have.

[cacciatore]

Well this is good for me too,I would like to hunt elk with my K62-55#.

[TOEJAMMER]

66 inch 60 lb 45 year old Jack Howard Gamemaster with Mocroflite 28.5 inch number 11 glass shafts with 135 grain 4 blade Zwickey Deltas.  Scale out at 630 grains by 69 year old.

[NancyVTAS]

Chuck- I shot a 59# BW t/d Longbow thru a chono and it was 3 fps faster then a 59# 1955 Kodiak I shot the same day,,food for thought.  Dick

[grizz]

That is a 55# Grizzly Longbow in the photo with me, enough for a Bison? I have downed two bull elk in the last two years with another 55 pounder, just load it with enough arrow!

[raghorn]

Elk will not tolerate being hunted by a bowhunter using a bow older than 30 years regardless of the draw weight.  

[trubltrubl]

took a 5 point bull elk with a 58# all wood longbow...so a 55 # recurve will certainly do the trick

[wadde]

I think your set up will be just fine. Maybe consider a cut on impact broadhead.

[vintage-bears]

Chuck, Don't hesitate to use it.
It's not the age of the bow we should worry about.
Our broadheads must be scary sharp with good placement.
Do this and ABSOLUTELY expect a pass thru or at least puncture the other side.

Here is a 1968 Super K. #53 cedar arrows, Bear heads.
 


1970 Bear T/D #55 Aluminum shaft, wensel woodsman heads.

 
Both arrows blew clean thru. Not an elk but expect the same. Sharp heads are the key.
Good Luck!......Philip

[Chuck_Delsandro]

VB,
Sound advice!

[damascusdave]

Originally posted by raghorn:
Elk will not tolerate being hunted by a bowhunter using a bow older than 30 years regardless of the draw weight.      

We have trained our Canadian elk far better than that. It is not uncommon for large Canadian bulls to present themselves for shots from bows as old as 34 years.

I have a 55 pound 64 inch 1959 Kodiak in process and I would certainly regard this as an ideal elk bow.

DDave

[Chuck_Delsandro]

Sorry but this bow will never see elk country. Its to nice. I'll be hunting with my 71 KH unless something else comes my way.

[damascusdave]

Chuck, I was shooting ground squirrels with this bow yesterday. These old bows were built for one thing only, to hunt.

As soon as I shot it I started having visions of taking an elk with it. And btw I know this is not the 59 I referred to earlier. I am sure it will be an even better elk bow than the 60.

 

DDave