Am I being too paranoid about penetration?

[jrnorton4]

Hi all,
Got a question. I am shooting a Double BB Whisper Stix 2 longbow marked 47@28, but it feels a bit lighter. My draw is only 26 inches though, so I figure I am only shooting around 40 lbs.  Got good arrows and Magnus stingers that are pretty sharp. I can shoot the bow fairly accurately, 6 inch, 5 arrow groups at 20 yards. Its not great, i know, but I am still practicing hard with instinctive shooting.
Am I being too paranoid in thinking that I am just going to maim a deer if I shoot one with this setup? Its a really nice bow; it is not ultra fast, but alot of that has to do with me being a short draw length I think. Anchoring at the corner of my mouth, should I try to change to my jawbone? Any advice is apppreciated.

[Duncan]

While nothing can replace good shot placement and a scary sharp broadhead, you have to decide what is an ethical shot distance for you. There are plenty of examples of ethical kills with bows in your draw weight range.
 
 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=112539

I killed my first with a 47# Bear Alaskan at 13 yards with Easton 2016 and a very sharp Bear Razorhead. And my draw was about 26 1/2". Complete pass through. But typically, even today I'm most comfortable inside 15 yards with 20 being the limit for me.

[rolltidehunter]

keep shooting the way are. as your acuracy improves the more confident you will get. you can kill a whitetail with that set up. if you shoot a deer where you are supposed to hit them you will kill it.

[Onehair]

Stay out of the shoulder, keep your shots close and you have no problems with bow weight

[GREATBROWNKNOCKEMDOWN]

I draw to 26 also, shooting 47 lbs. I have shot completely through a big doe with a 2 blade magnus. And penetrated through both side on a really good buck using a 150 grain snuffer. With a two blade you will not have any problem, if your going to shoot a 3 blade, i would say use a blade that is not as wide as a snuffer, like the WW'S.  That is what i switched to this year.  My bowyer told me he shot through a bear with his 40 pound longbow and a two blade.  Your set up will be fine for deer sized game.  Good Luck

[GREATBROWNKNOCKEMDOWN]

Check out the thread a lil further down the page. 40-45 lbs harvest thread. There is all your proof.

[shadman]

No problem with the bow weight. Pretty sharp for the broadhead isn't good enough! Learn how to get them really sharp!

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

I'd say keeping your arrow weight up is key. I've killed some bigger critters with bows in the low 40's and had great penetration with heavy arrows. I only draw 27"s (when I manage to get to full draw) and shoot arrows between 520 and 625 grains. Hope this helps!

[dragonheart]

Originally posted by rolltidehunter:
keep shooting the way are. as your acuracy improves the more confident you will get. you can kill a whitetail with that set up. if you shoot a deer where you are supposed to hit them you will kill it.

In bowhunting we simply do not always hit game animals with absolute precision with every shot, they move, and we have adrenaline going through our veins!  There is always a possibility of wounding an animal, that is just the reality of hunting with any weapon.  

If you really want to know what poundage you are shooting, you will need to weigh the bow at your draw-length.  I have had bows that in reality were 5 pounds less than marked and ones that were dead on in weight.  I would verify the bow by weighing it.  This gives you a benchmark on what you are pulling now.  

People have killed animals with more and less poundage than you are shooting.  40 pounds is really just too light in my experience.  Yes, it has been done, but there is no insurance for when things do not go as planned.  

If you are comfortable shooting that weight, maybe work towards lifting some weights, stretch exercises, etc and slowly build up to a heavier bow.  There have been multiple articles in trad bowhunter about building up to shoot a heavier bow.

[Tajue17]

I'm currently refinishing a recurve that pulls exactly 42# at my draw.   I'm using Wilderness Surewoods with Eclipse 2-blades and 5" fletch that total 535grains and I see no problem at all out to 20-25yds with this set up..  make sure the arrows are tuned, and the broadheads are sharp and I'd also say to keep the fletching low cut or 4" to 5" only because I know the highbacks slow my arrows pretty much.

[JamesV]

My wife has a short draw similar to yours. I think you will be alright with a good arrow placement. Where are you located in Ms?

James

[rolltidehunter]

[rolltidehunter]

Originally posted by rolltidehunter:
 

Originally posted by dragonheart:
 

Originally posted by rolltidehunter:
[qb] keep shooting the way are. as your acuracy improves the more confident you will get. you can kill a whitetail with that set up. if you shoot a deer where you are supposed to hit them you will kill it. [/b]

In bowhunting we simply do not always hit game animals with absolute precision with every shot, they move, and we have adrenaline going through our veins!  There is always a possibility of wounding an animal, that is just the reality of hunting with any weapon.  

If you really want to know what poundage you are shooting, you will need to weigh the bow at your draw-length.  I have had bows that in reality were 5 pounds less than marked and ones that were dead on in weight.  I would verify the bow by weighing it.  This gives you a benchmark on what you are pulling now.  

People have killed animals with more and less poundage than you are shooting.  40 pounds is really just too light in my experience.  Yes, it has been done, but there is no insurance for when things do not go as planned.  

If you are comfortable shooting that weight, maybe work towards lifting some weights, stretch exercises, etc and slowly build up to a heavier bow.  There have been multiple articles in trad bowhunter about building up to shoot a heavier bow. [/b]

right! so more weight will not always the kill animal when it comes to bad hits. this is hunting. yes people make bad shots and yes everyone loses deer due to bad hits including guys that pull alot of weight. its better to be more accurate with less weight than someone being a bad shot b/c they are pulling out of there confort zone

[Plumber]

your fine.keep your shoots close.keep up your pratice. an stop worring about it.you got to have confidance in your set up. no time for floundering when its time to take the shot.you got to belive its a good set up.good luck

[YORNOC]

The fact that you're concerned about it shows you have a good attitude! Good for you and your quarry........good advice given here already.

[Possum Head]

Get those broadheads shave sharp and hit the woods.

[raghorn]

Rather than worry about the tackle set-up study deer anatomy in detail so you know without a doubt correct shot placement. Work on accuracy, and getting the broadhead sharp-sharp-sharp!

[Iowabowhunter]

I would say 40#s is most likely enough weight at reasonable yardages, put it in the boiler room and you will b good to go I would think. Good luck, and keep the heads super sharp!

40 to 42 pounds, sharp heads, 6" groups at 20 yards, unless you are shooting armor plated deer, the only things I would be concerned about 1. Are arrows tracking straight behind your broadheads and shot timing. I am sure you know where the arrow is suppose to go and I would bet that arrow flight is good. Shooting a live deer takes timing and nerve, I have seen lots of good shots that don't shoot so good at live deer, then again I have seen guys that were not such good shots shoot better at a live deer. Shoot at small game first if you want to gain confidence, you have enough power.

[dragonheart]

Then what is too light of a bow weight for a hunting bow?