Hunting with a 38 # longbow is it enough? Now with video clip!

[Margly]

Hi!
I have a Firefly longbow 38@drawlength.

Do you think it is heavy enough for hunting deer?

What if you hit the scapula? will it penetrate properly or stop in the bone?

I`m using a 544 grain arrow, Easton FMJ 500 spine, full length with 100 grain insert and a 125 grain silverflame upfront.

I will test this on a  fresh scapula from a Norwegian deer and see what happens..
Here is a pic a Norwegian deer:

 

So what do you think? will it be enough power to do the job?

           

Margly

[maxplan]

I'd say for deer whitetail size and animals under no problem. I don't know what a silver flame is but I would be sure to have a cut on contact 2 blade thats close to 3x1. Your arrow weight and design seems good.

[wingnut]

Dang with red deer I'd like to have a bit more bow.  They are the size of a spike bull elk or so.

Mike

[Margly]

The Silverflames are two blades, here is a pic:
 

[Looper]

38# at what draw length? Longer is definitely better in this case.  Those Norwegian Red Deer are pretty good sized, similar to an elk. I'd avoid the scapula if at all possible and wait for a broadside shot to put one through the ribs. A razor sharp silver flame should be sufficient.

Is there any particular reason you'd want to shoot a red deer with a 38# bow? Not that it wouldn't do the job, but your margin for error is dramatically reduced.

[Margly]

Originally posted by wingnut:
Dang with red deer I'd like to have a bit more bow.  They are the size of a spike bull elk or so.

Mike

Nathan aka buejeger and I is going to test it out today on the scapulas from these deers, going to be interesting:)

[Mike/Columbia Basin]

I doubt that you could penetrate the scapula with that set up unless you are real close.

[Margly]

BTW the average weight for the Norwegian deer is for a bull ca- 265-335# A doe is 175-265, but they do kill bulls in my area as big as 530#

So they are quite big  
(nice meat also  :D )

[Bonebuster]

I would consider that too light.

I consider 35-38 lbs MINIMAL for even thin skinned whitetails, WITHOUT dealing with any bones except ribs.

[Margly]

Originally posted by looper:
38# at what draw length? Longer is definitely better in this case.  Those Norwegian Red Deer are pretty good sized, similar to an elk. I'd avoid the scapula if at all possible and wait for a broadside shot to put one through the ribs. A razor sharp silver flame should be sufficient.

Is there any particular reason you'd want to shoot a red deer with a 38# bow? Not that it wouldn't do the job, but your margin for error is dramatically reduced.

I have no need to shoot a deer with a 38# bow.

Here is my thought:

There is a lot of people unable to pull the heavy bows and, I`m wondering if a direct hit on the scapula with a low weight bow will do the job.
Maybe you don`t need a really heavy bow?

BTW I`m pulling ca 31"

Nathan aka Buejeger is pulling 29" and will test with his 42@29 Black Douglas Hex V.

Margly

[Night Wing]

I have two 66" recurve bows and one of them is a 37# @ 30" and it shoots a very heavy 32" BOP 2114 aluminum arrow weighing 550 grains which equates to a 14.86 GPP (grains per pound) arrow. The arrow is tipped with a STOS 160 grain 2 blade broadhead. I don't take a shot over 20 yards and I wait for a broadside shot where the arrow will get a complete pass through taking out both lungs. This setup will easily kill a whitetail deer.

Even though a red deer is a big deer, it's still a thin skinned animal. With you shooting 38# with a 544 grain arrow, this equates to a 14.31 GPP (grains per pound arrow). Keep the shot 20 yards and under and wait for a broadside lung shot and you should have no problems killing a red deer with your setup.

[Margly]

Originally posted by Mike/Columbia Basin:
I doubt that you could penetrate the scapula with that set up unless you are real close.

I will do the test from my max hunting distance ca 20 yards  

[Margly]

BTW I will also post video of the testing so it might be interesting:)

Margly

[Bowwild]

I look forward to the results. I would expect to have a lot of trouble with the scapula even with bows 10-15 pounds heavier -- and even more if the ridge is struck.

What a beautiful beast you have access too!

[Margly]

Originally posted by Bowwild:
I look forward to the results. I would expect to have a lot of trouble with the scapula even with bows 10-15 pounds heavier -- and even more if the ridge is struck.

What a beautiful beast you have access too!

Yes they are beautiful  
And the best part it is a lot of them around here, the bad part they ain't allowed to hunt with a bow  :(

[Ragnarok Forge]

Margly,

I have hunted elk my entire life and I suspect your red deer are going to be to heavily boned for a penetration of the scapula at that arrow weight.  That broadhead is pretty large which won't help with penetration.  If you want to simulate that shot properly you need something to represent the hide and a couple inches of meat as well as the scapula for your testing.

38 lbs will kill anything in the northern hemisphere, as long as you put the arrow in the boiler room ( soft tissue hit .  American indians killed millions of animals including grizzlies with light bows for millenia.   I suspect that a hit on a thick part of a rib would stop that arrow from that bow.

[Margly]

Originally posted by Ragnarok Forge:
Margly,

I have hunted elk my entire life and I suspect your red deer are going to be to heavily boned for a penetration of the scapula at that arrow weight.  That broadhead is pretty large which won't help with penetration.  If you want to simulate that shot properly you need something to represent the hide and a couple inches of meat as well as the scapula for your testing.

38 lbs will kill anything in the northern hemisphere, as long as you put the arrow in the boiler room ( soft tissue hit .  American indians killed millions of animals including grizzlies with light bows for millenia.   I suspect that a hit on a thick part of a rib would stop that arrow from that bow.

I just have the scapula, no hide or meat to hang around it, but it will give me a hint of the power needed.

When I have done this test I and see the result I might take a skin from a deer and test with that in the front.

I think not the hide or some meat will stop the arrow but the scapula might, It`s going to be interesting.

Margly

[StanM]

Watching this one closely as I've dropped bow weight considerably due to shoulder injury.  Thanks for taking the time to video and post your results.

[RC]

I think hitting the scapula is bad even if your shooting 50-55 pounds. Everyone on here will probably tell you that 50-55 is enough.If I get where 35 pounds is all I can shoot I`ll shoot a 500 grain arrow with a two blade head and go hunting. A scapula won`t change my mind. If the ability to put the arrow in "softer" spots goes away then I`ll probably pick up a musket.RC

[Bjorn]

You really need something in front of that scapula, like Ragnarok Forge said. You don't have steaks in Norway?