Bow weight for 70 year olds

[1Canvas]

Pretty amazing thread, and a lot of encouraging posts.

[crow]

 75..........

Groves spitfire 62# and drifter brackenbury 64#/72
Last october, hunt first deer with the brac and if I go for a 2nd deer, I use the groves

[Possum Head]

I'll turn 75 in July. A few years ago I asked Mike Treadway to reduce my Treadway longbow from 56@26 to 46@26. It still shoots as well as it ever did, actually I still shoot the same arrows. I don't shoot as much as I used to but when I was shooting every day I found I had no problem with that weight. If I had continued shooting every day I probably could still shoot the 56#. I have no shoulder, elbow or upper back problems, only lower back problems but that doesn't affect my shooting.
 Lots of old geezers still shooting and some still hunting. 

Amazing Pat, I had no idea a bowyer could pull off a 10lb reduction. Good info!

[[email protected]]

Black Widow 45 and 55#. Keep using your stretch bands that require equal pull weight. Do this on the couch.

[Silent Walker]

I'm fast approaching 69 and still working this out.. I have a 40# 3 recurve, 45# Martin Vision longbow, 55# Bears Paw recurve that I believe I'm going to have a set of 45# limbs made for it.  I do shoot the 40# recurve more though. 

[Greenstyk]

I’m 66 and I still hunt with a 61@28 Wallace Mentor. I’ve found that shooting the bow is the best for me to maintain strength.

[Pat B]

Possum, I was surprised also. I think Mike Treadway was also. 

[mnbwhtr]

I'm 77 in a couple weeks and 6 months out of rotator cuff surgery and back to shooting 55#, working to get back to my 61# Whip.

[Vroomvroom]

Wow. Due to my schedule, etc. I may go months. Up to a year before picking up the bow again. Despite always thinking about them. So each time that happens, my 55 lb seems a bit heavy.  I also like to aim quite a few seconds too. So it gets shaky to hold long.   

And then here you are 77 , at 55 lbs still.   Respect.

[Wudstix]

Creeping up on 67, still can draw all my bows.  The one I have started spending allot of time with is the Moosejaw Razorback.  The MOAB will always be on tap.  One thing I have going for me is that I've been shooting 65#+ since is was 16 years old.
 

[cacciatore]

I am still able to use a 55# all day long, along the way I loose some accuracy but for hunting it’s just perfect. I don’t want too go too lighter for 3D because then it’s difficult to come back

[Vroomvroom]

Ok. I’m not around any other trad archers.  Any archers for that matter so really don’t know the norm.   All day long, by which you mean you can steadily take several shots per hour, all day. Would you say ?
Your drawing the full 55?   Think I’m pulling 53

[Chuck Jones]

I’ve had problems in both shoulders since the mid 1990’s. Had to switch from left hand to right hand a couple times and drop to under 40# once. Have shot the same 45#@28” bow for 20 years now. At 71 yo, due to a change of diet and exercise, I can now shoot as much as I want without pain. I can draw heavier bows, but can’t see why I need to. I get full penetration on the deer and hogs I hunt, so what’s the advantage of a higher weight bow that I might not shoot as accurately? I’m able to hold at full draw for a while, and I actually get to a little over 28” every time. I see so many archers who brag about shooting heavier weight bows and then leave 6” of arrow hanging out, or hit full draw and creep forward 3 inches every time. Better to shoot a weight that is easily handled and allows you to reach and hold full draw at a solid anchor.
Leaving soon for a hog hunt in Texas, and I am sure that my 45# set up is adequate for anything that I get a chance at.

[Rob DiStefano]

I just turned 80 this year.  When I was 70, I bought a 47# recurve that was easy for me to pull, and I thought that would be the last hunting bow I would ever need to buy.  Well, at 80 I can't hold that 47# bow steady enough to consistently hit anything with it, so my new normal is a 40# bow, that I can hold as steady as I used to be able to hold that 47# bow.  Things change guys.  If I make it to 90, I’m sure I’ll look back fondly on the days when I could hold a 40# bow steady enough to hit something with it.  Enjoy it while you can.

Yep, enjoy what you can while you can.

Currently 79 until this December and in the same boat with regards to bow holding weight, down to 40@28 for ease of hold and that translates to much better consistent accuracy than 45@28.  Gotta go with what works best for each of us.

[Wdfox]

I’m 78 and shoot twice nearly every day.  In the morning I shoot 47 pounds at my draw and in the evening I shoot 53 at my draw. Fifteen arrows each round. 

[la chouette rire]

Just curious, If you are 70 years old or older what   
bow weight are you currently shooting?

I am 72 and can shoot 52# or thereabouts. I wouldn’t pick it for a 3D bow but for hunting it’s fine.

I'm 71 and I've been shooting a 46# Hoyt Medallion ILF bow off and on. I shoot more regularly in the warmer weather. My longbow is a 55# Hill but I've not shot it in a long while. I'm thinking about getting a R/D longbow in around 40#.