Same bow for all game?

[TooManyHobbies]

For those of you that have more than one bow, do you use a different bow for different game? i.e. is a 50#@28 deer hunting bow overkill for rabbits/squirrel? Or do you back off to 35-40# for small game?

[David Mitchell]

No such thing as over-kill  

[frassettor]

Same bow for everything here ,  As far as "overkill" on squirrels...Theres NO such thing...read on...

     http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=082885#000000

[rickshot]

Nope. Typically, I do not spare the horsepower or the arrow. That said, I hunted small game for many years, before deer started populating the area, with lighter equipment and wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. Small game taught me much about shot placement and deserve the credit for placing one thought in my head when at full draw…“end the chase.” Good luck with it. Rick.

[cacciatore]

I change my bow depending of the season and general conditions.For Elk I am around 65# boar hunting 60# tree stand hunting 60# in the beginning of the season and I drop to 55# when it start to become cold.I use 45# for rabbit in the late season mostly for using some old Bear ricurves that I have in that weight.

[reddogge]

I shoot 50# for deer and use 45# for rabbits and 3-D.  I shoot lighter arrows out of the 45# bows and get the same trajectory out of them as 50# with heavier arrows.

[TooManyHobbies]

frassettor, thanks for the link. Very educational.

I shot a deer with a 36 pound longbow once, only because I hurt my elbow shooting a 96 pound bow without warming up first.  I have noticed that those fellows that shoot just one moderate weight bow, 45 to 65 pounds, for all seasons year in and year out, seem to have a knack for making hard shots on game.  If I would have had any sense at all, I would have done the same.

[billy shipp]

I have several bows, but I hunt everything with one bow.....just depends on what bow I'm shooting at the time.

[GREASEMAN]

I have several Bows,But,they're all the same weight +/- 2#.i agree with alot of the other guys,No such thing as overkill!! Dead's dead!

[Gerry]

I use the same bow a 53# Great Northern Super Ghost for all my shooting.

[Rob DiStefano]

my one 55# t/d longbow does it all, no need for other bows ... but other bows sure are nice to have (so i do have a few more).  :D

[Possum2]

I have 3- 2 recurves and 1 longbow I primarily hunt with the longbow just because I haven't killed yet with my longbow.

[ksbowman]

I always shoot the same bow for everything.You'll always know where your arrow will hit that way practicing or hunting.

[razorback]

Just one bow, Bear Grizzly #55, because thats all I've got      

[FerretWYO]

Overkill no such thing.

[Wannabe1]

I have way too many bows! Can't seem to settle on just one to hunt with. Sometimes it just depends on my mood. I am trying real hard to get down to that PERFECT bow for all seasons.

Me thinks it's time for some pre-spring cleaning!  

[dnovo]

I have too many bows. But I shoot the same bow for everything when I am using it. Meaning if I shoot my MOAB this year I shoot it all year long. Next year I may use my Yellowstone. I don't think there is such a thing as overkill, especially on squirrels. I would rather shoot a deer with a lighter bow than a squirrel. Hard to kill!

[Ragnarok Forge]

Beware the man who only owns one bow ( gun ) he probably knows how to use it.  I shoot a 55lb takedown longbow for all hunting, target, and 3D shooting.

[StanM]

I've got a few bows, but I tend to shoot one exclusively heading into Fall.  From Sept. to Dec. it's pretty much a one bow thing, no matter the game.  I do hunt small game quite a bit though in the Winter and Spring.  Great time to try out a new bow.