Min. draw weight for 3 blade head for deer/hogs?

[threeunder]

What is everyone's thoughts on the min. holding weight you need to be shooting to use a 3 blade head like VPA or WW for deer/hogs?

Reading a bunch of previous posts, it seems there are a lot of people who recommend not going to 3 blade until your effective draw weight is about 60 lbs.

Ken

[David Yukon]

Really? I would thing that 45# would be plenty... I guess you should check what is the minimum draw weight in your state for these animals? I would think that a 45# bow, with well tuned, well placed arrow, tipped with a razor sharp BH of your choice would do the trick. Even a lighter draw weight would do the trick to!

[KevO]

I have no problem shooting through mid-western deer with a WW out of a 53 lb. recurve.  I would not be afraid to shoot anything in N. America with this set up.  I use a carbon shaft & use a steel adapter in the broadhead.  Arrows weigh around 530 grains.

[Skipmaster1]

I've shot vpa's, woodsman and snuffer broadheads through a lot of critters with weights between 49 and 60 pounds. Some big bodied pigs and deer too. The VPA is by far my favorite head, by far

[screamin]

Originally posted by David Yukon:
Really? I would thing that 45# would be plenty... I guess you should check what is the minimum draw weight in your state for these animals? I would think that a 45# bow, with well tuned, well placed arrow, tipped with a razor sharp BH of your choice would do the trick. Even a lighter draw weight would do the trick to!

+1

Years ago a custom bowyer told me that he had a lady customer that had killed 6 elk with a 40lbd'er. I wouldn't go that light for elk, but it's nice to know that I could if I had to.

[Tucker]

I shot a 180# whitetail buck broadside through the chest, from 20yds with a 40#@27" r/d longbow, 29" Sitka Spruce shaft (light!), and a regular glue on Wensel Woodsman. The shot centered one rib breaking it in half, the broadhead was sticking about a foot out the other side. 30yard dash and crash.  

Your "mileage" may vary....

[Bjorn]

IMO deer and hogs are completely different targets. If you want to shoot 45-50# shoot a 3 blade for deer and a good 2 blade at the hogs. I would not use a 3 blade on hogs regardless of bow weight, others will have differing opinions.

[LV2HUNT]

Bjorn, I know you have a lot of experience with hogs so I wonder if you could elaborate on your reasoning?

[RedStag5728]

I believe shot placement is more vital than the actual peak bow weight. Afterall, I've heard of kids killing deer with 35# bows. So long as you don't put that arrow IN the shoulder, you will get enough penetration to bring it down. You don't necessarily have to get a full passthrough to bring them down, having the broadhead remain in the cavity is much more damaging while the animal is running.

Hogs have tougher hides than deer so I would agree with Bjorn about going with a 2 blader, you will have less friction of the head going through the body as opposed to 3 blades. With deer, you can kill them with a sharpened stick if you gotta!        

[tarponnut]

I have used mostly 2 blades for hogs but have had good results since switching to Woodsmans.
I shoot between 48 and 50#.More blood on the ground is everything to me with hogs.(We track quite a few, in some nasty places)
Deer are lighter skinned and less heavily boned. I carry Snuffers for them(not that I ever shoot one,though).

[tarponnut]

Having said that, I carry one arrow with a scary sharp Magnus 2 blade (in case a truly big hog comes in).

[fisherick]

I've never hunted hogs, but the last 3 bucks I've shot with a 45# @ 28" recurve bow, 35/55 GT arrows with 50grain insert, four 4" feathers, and a Wensel Woodsman for a total of 480 grains. All three where pass thru to the fletching and dropped within 40 yards.

[Blaino]

woodsman was created for lighter weight bows.

[Swinestalker]

Have not used the Vpa's, however, have taken several hogs with Woodsman Elites and trad bows in the low 40s weight range. One was 370 pounds and got a complete pass through. I do pull 30 inches however.

[Bjorn]

lv2hunt wrote:
Bjorn, I know you have a lot of experience with hogs so I wonder if you could elaborate on your reasoning?

I have not gotten very good penetration on hogs with 3 blade heads; I know shot placement is a key factor, and if you get it in the right spot it is going to work; well hogs are not all the same sometimes there is almost no shield other times it is thick and goes waay down the flanks. Anyway 2 blades offer less resistance and more penetration; so that's my story and I'm sticking to it!  

[awbowman]

I'd be comfortable shooting 3 blades with 45# and above.  Even then, with a good SHARP WW I wouldn't be too worried about going a little less #s and inside 20 yards.

I'm not convinced that there is much penetration difference between a WW and a fairly large 2 blade.

Make sure the tip is a chiseled so as not to curl

[Mike Bolin]

Ken, I have been shooting mostly 50#-55# bows for years. Have had complete pass thrus on black bear, caribou, whitetails and a pig (115#). Sharp as you can get them on a reasonably heavy arrow and hit 'em in the right spot! Good luck! Mike

[RC]

I have a friend that has killed hundreds of pigs and deer with a 45 lb longbow. Using Muzzy three blades ,Simmons ,Phantoms and Woodsmans.He does not have internet so he doesn`t know his bow is not heavy enough....RC

[S.C. Hunter]

Originally posted by RC:
I have a friend that has killed hundreds of pigs and deer with a 45 lb longbow. Using Muzzy three blades ,Simmons ,Phantoms and Woodsmans.He does not have internet so he doesn`t know his bow is not heavy enough....RC

I hear you, if you don't hear it on the internet you'll never know your wrong. I like your thinking.  

[threeunder]

Thanks to everyone for their input.  It just struck me that I have all these WW and VPA broadheads and my heaviest bow is 53# at my draw weight...lol.

The depth of knowledge here on TG is just incredible.

Ken