Dropping Bow poundage,back issues

[Chub]

Hello ,
        Dropping from mid 50s to mid 40s for all around trad shooting .this issue is bothersome for hunting.45lb lee with 1916s and a 145 head the zwickeys and field points are grouping nicley out to 25yrds.i had some nitemare thoughts of going back to wheeleys or worse a crossbow nothanks.its lifes midfortions to getting older.all the years of sports.weightlifting.construction is my occupation.ive got disc issues in back and a split vertibrae witch i was born with and did not know till i was in my early 20s now in my mid 40s doc says no surgerys yet to young.my cousin has same issues had the surgery and walks with a cane to this day.i guess 45lbs is still ok for hunting just need close shots .i guess im looking for assurance . thanks Bruce

[Crash]

Plenty of poundage, I have killed 8 or more deer and some big hogs with bows in the mid 40's.  Well tuned arrow of sufficient weight with a sharp cut on contact broadhead.  Most of my arrows are sticking in the dirt on the other side of the animal.

[The Whittler]

I think you will find quite a few people have dropped down in bow weight for 1 reason or another. You do what you have to so you can still keep on shooting.

Nothing wrong with your poundage, there has been a lot of animals killed with low poundage. The name of the game is have fun and enjoy.

[Brad Arnett]

Grab a cup of coffee and take a look at this thread, it ought to give you all the assurance you need. I have also dropped in bow weight due to elbow issues. I shot a 60# Wes Wallace Mentor for the last 14 years and just this season I dropped to a 50# Centaur Carbon Elite longbow and am enjoying pain free shooting and loving it!

  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=112539

[David Mitchell]

Chub, in the 60s and 70s when I really got into hunting with bow and arrow, the weight you are moving to was the most common weight most guys were using.  Fifty pound bows were regarded as on the heavy side.  Bows in the mid-40s were common as dirt back then.  The compound device changed guys' perception of what weight was desired/needed.  When people began shooting compounds that in the early days were 35%, then 50% let-off, guys figured, "Hey, I can shoot a 70# bow now and  only hold 35#!"  That expectation moved over into the traditional realm when those guys (us guys    ) moved into or back into the trad style bows.  You will be fine with your choice--lots of those who went before us did.  

[Friend]

Overcoming the mindset, which many may share, will likely be the most challenging hurdle.

[Big Ed]

Make confident close shoots and you will have just as much enjoyment with the lighter weight!!

[Chub]

Hey Brad i sat and read that post and i think it was awsome.I guess that nomatter what weight bow we use its all about the shot.     CHUB

[e alexander]

Just this weekend I won a bow. It was a 39 pound, 64" longbow made by Mike Miller of Crooked Stik.  Not exactly what I would have ordered, but a great shooter.  I have to admit, it's fun to shoot, and suprizingly quick. I'm thinking hard about hunting with it this year. I have no doubt that it will do it's job if I do mine.

[MikeEvans]

Don't fret over the lower poundage, I started hunting with trad last year and harvested my first deer with a 42lb. bow. I will still get the job done if your shot is true and you use quality broadheads.