Legality & bow draw weight question.

[bihunter]

Her in New Hampshire the law reads that a bow must have a minimum draw weight of 40#. If I have a bow that is marked 40#@28" would I be legal with a draw length of 26"?

[Orion]

That's a good one to ask your local game warden.  IMO, no because you would be drawing closer to 35# at your draw length.

[SDMay]

Here in BC it states minimum poundage at the archers actual draw length.  I would be asking a game warden for sure.

[Aaron Proffitt 2]

Technically , I suppose no .

But in all the times I've been checked , never had a game warden bust out a bow scale and draw check ruler.

Sooooo....

[Sam McMichael]

Back when Georgia had a minimum draw weight, I wondered the same thing. I was told different things by different DNR rangers. One said it had to 40# at the archer's draw length and another said it only had to be rated at 40# at 28 inches. Quite honestly, I never gave it a single thought. My first bow was 45# at 28", but with my 25" draw length it would not meet the 40# mark. All my subsequent bows have been considerably heavier, which rendered the question moot. Georgia no longer has a minimum requirement, so I guess my grandson's Pup at 26# at 26" draw would be legal.

[pavan]

if you get checked, just have a longer arrow and pull it further.

[BAK]

Maybe the real question is whether you're confidant the weight/speed you're launching an arrow will make a clean kill.

[the rifleman]

Start asking questions like that to a game warden and you only open a can of worms.  The law says 40# and nothing more.  The bow is marked 40#.

I still get a kick out of the Northwoods law episode where the game warden tells the guy he shouldn't shoot game at 10 yards with a bow as it takes the arrow about 20 yards to build up speed.

[pavan]

"Everyone knows that arrows shot from compounds don't get up to full speed until they are out over 25" or more."  That is a quote from a compound shooter, when Dick Lesline shot my Schulz Legend through the chrony and got an unusually big number.  The problem was, everyone agreed with him. 

[Bowguy67]

The answer is no. The reality is the game warden wouldn’t know how far you drew and most probably doesn’t begin to know the logistics of trad bows.
Imagine you had a 31” draw. A bow marked 35 at 28” I bet would be problematic but if push came to shove surely legal.

[Mark R]

If that is exactly what it states you would be legal, nothing is said about draw length, assuming what the bow is marked is correct, if it is marked, not all are, and it does indeed draw to 40lbs at some point, does it state within what draw length it gets to 40lbs? Here in Il. it used to say a bow has to draw to a minimum of 40lbs at some point within a 28" draw minimum arrow length is 20" period, it does not say how far you have to draw the bow. Il. has since changed it to a minimum of 30lbs at some point within a 28" draw and minimum arrow length of 20", still nothing about how far the hunter legally has to draw the bow, so if you use a bow pulling at least 30lbs within a 28" draw and with the minimum arrow length of 20" so obviously you cannot pull 20" arrows more than 20" maybe with a compound overdraw rest but not a traditional bow and you only draw the bow say at least 19" so the arrow does not fall off the shelf I don't think ethically that would be sufficient for Deer but you would be legal in Il. go figure 

[Friend]

Consult your local game warden or the game warden in the area you plan to hunt...far better to avoid the gray areas and stay legal...you will enjoy your hunt much more in having peace of mind...

[wingnut]

We get into the letter of the law vs the intent of the law.
The letter says a bow drawing a minimum of 40#.

I intent is that the bowhunter be pulling a minimum of 40# during the draw cycle.

Mike

[Mark R]

Each game warden might have a different opinion on intent of the law but they have to follow what the law states, it would be clear if it stated what the hunters draw weight at there draw length would have to be to legally hunt. I would do what Friend said, Lawyers and litigation is a process to be avoided.

[Aaron Proffitt 2]

Start asking questions like that to a game warden and you only open a can of worms.  The law says 40# and nothing more.  The bow is marked 40#.

I still get a kick out of the Northwoods law episode where the game warden tells the guy he shouldn't shoot game at 10 yards with a bow as it takes the arrow about 20 yards to build up speed.

Exactly .

[aja0]

I am also in NH and would like clarification if you call a warden.
The eregulations only say... "Minimum draw weight for deer is 40 lbs."

[dragonheart]

Shoot a 45# bow and you are covered...

[BAK]

Or you could take a fine tip black sharpie and just mark it #45.

[Mark R]

I just read your regs,  says draw weight for deer is 40lbs nothing about just the bow being 40lbs, I would assume that means the hunter would have to draw 40lbs to be legal for deer, for turkey it says minimum bow and arrow draw weight for turkeys is 30lbs, so again I assume that to mean you must draw 30lbs.JMHO.

[Kingstaken]

Regs read -"draw" weight - so would have to be 40# at your draw length.