Is 40# enough for whitetails?

[kagross]

I'm cursed with short arms. I have a 48#@28 Bear Alaskan (1959), but I only draw 26", and on a scale, the bow is 40lbs@26".  Is that enough for whitetails?  I can draw just about any bow made (shoot a 92lb compound w 50% letoff), so I can get a heavier bow if needed. Thing is, I like the old Alaskan, and would like to hunt it if it's enough oomph to take deer.

[Hermon]

Yes sir.  Just make sure your arrows are flying good with a sharp broadhead.

[SS Snuffer]

I've shot thru MANY deer with 42lbs. You will have no problem. Just put it in the right place!

[Jock Whisky]

when I started this game in the early 60's the average hunting bow for deer was 40 - 45 lb. With a cut on contact broadhead it was more than adequate. You're ok

[SS Snuffer]

I've shot thru MANY deer with 42lbs. You will have no problem. Just put it in the right place!

[59Alaskan]

I love those old Alaskans!!  I own 4!

Good luck!  Hope to see a picture or your Halloween Alaskan on a deer this fall!

[kagross]

Originally posted by ceme24:
I love those old Alaskans!!  I own 4!

Good luck!  Hope to see a picture or your Halloween Alaskan on a deer this fall!

Oh, it's not a Halloween Alaskan (it's grey glass), so maybe '58, no emblem, leather grip?
Thanks for the input guys, this is my first venture into Trad hunting (not really, used a recurve 30 years ago,but back then I knew nothing, now I'm old enough to know that I know nothing).

[Jon Stewart]

YUP. I killed one with a 40# longbow and a wood arrow tipped with a stone head that I made. Just put the arrow in the right spot.

[59Alaskan]

Yep, sounds like a 1958.  Fine bow.  Let her do her thing this fall!

[kagross]

Originally posted by Jon Stewart:
YUP. I killed one with a 40# longbow and a wood arrow tipped with a stone head that I made. Just put the arrow in the right spot.

That's awesome!  A stone head isn't legal in PA, but very cool.  Building my first set of woodies to use with this old Alaskan, and I feel like a 45 year old kid waiting for Christmas.

[Crooked Stic]

YESIT IS

Again? YES!

[huskyarcher]

Yessir, sharp broadheads and good angles=  

[bowtough]

By all means!     Go for it dude.

[Son of Rooster]

40lbs is more than enough...

[doubleo]

Yes sir! Just put the arrow where it belongs!

[Mamba]

For sure I started a young kid hunting with. Nirk rebel 40 at 28.  His draw was only 25 ish.  His first deer at age 16 I think was a clean pass through with that bow.  He shot 2 others including  the biggest 10 I have ever seen.  Unfortunately he discovered women, so hunting has taken a backseat.

[Duncan]

Matter of fact I killed my first whitetail with that same bow, 47# @ 28 and my draw is 26". Complete pass through with Easton 2016 cut 29" with Bear Razorheads and parabolic fletch.

[pdk25]

Yes it is, and plenty of deer have been killed with less.  The reference about Indians and buffalo is probably not relevant, unless you will be hunting by horseback with a lot of your friends and tracking the pin-cushioned animal across miles of open prairie.  Just sayin.

[kagross]

Originally posted by pdk25:
Yes it is, and plenty of deer have been killed with less.  The reference about Indians and buffalo is probably not relevant, unless you will be hunting by horseback with a lot of your friends and tracking the pin-cushioned animal across miles of open prairie.  Just sayin.

That's absolutely true, but I guess I'm saying "is a 40lb bow enough to CLEANLY kill deer".
Kalahari bushmen kill Giraffe with anemic 15lb bows with poisoned arrows. Not really a clean kill by today's American standards, but if you need to feed your kids, that's a win.