Elk bow/arrow set-up??

[glob3006]

I just received my new bow on monday!!!!! It is a Reflex Grizzly 50- 60# draw weight and a 27" draw length. I understand that a bow performs best when at or near peak draw weight. I am a small guy and don't believe I could get to a 70# draw weight by hunting season. I believe that 60#s is enough to hunt elk with.
So with that in mind I am looking for your input on arrow set up (Broadhead,arrow weight,arrow type,etc.)
I have some my idea's (Gold tip arrows,Thunderhead/ Muzzy heads)

Remember I almost exclusively hunt ELK!!!
What do YOU guy's/gal's think???????

[Elkcrazy8]

With a 60 lb bow and a 27 in draw you are going to have to check out the KE you will be generating and get the best bang for the buck, or bull in this case. Luckily most elk are killed within 20 yards and a flat shooting bow is not a must, but good penetration is. I would find the combination that would give you the highest foot pounds of energy and then look at some good cut to the tip broadheads. Muzzies are great broadheads( I use them) but they will asorb a great deal of energy(if you have some to spare) penetrating into the hide. With your setup a cut to the tip would slice right through the hide and start doing it's job. I have used Modoc, Zwicky, and Phantoms in the past and killed elk with all of them. I would definatly go with a cut to the tip broadhead in your case. As far as arrows I would go heavier if you can. You should find that a heavier arrow will give you better penetration than the lighter one.

[idahoelkinstructor]

Their was a lady who went through our archery education program here in Idaho back a couple of years ago. She was only shooting a 42 pound bow. That same year after she took the class she killed a very nice 340 class bull elk with one arrow. So yes a 60 pound bow will work great. I agree with Elkcrazy8 on the broadhead selection, a cut on contact will work the best for you. As a archery education instructor we have many kids and women who take our class each year. The number one worry/concern is that they can't pull enough weight to effectivly kill an elk. I always like to show them the picture of this lady's bull and other pics that students have brought in. Just remember a well placed sharp broadhead is deadly, very deadly at close range. Good luck

[glob3006]

So...........How much KE is acceptable (50-60-70-??) What about arrow wt........... Carbon or Aluminum.

Is this in a sense saying that a . 270 is "acceptable" for Elk if that's all you can handle?????

What about bows from twenty years ago.......Same issue????


Also does a release lengthen my draw length???????

Just some questions I have.......I have been getting REAL AND USEFUL information on this site for years, on all of my new indevers (is that a word?) Don't fail me now!!!!! I cannot go into a hunting season unknowing and unprepared!!!

GLOB!

[Elkcrazy8]

First of all I would try to get at least 60 lbs of KE for elk. The bows of old worked and killed many animals. Just look at Fred Bear, Pope and young and last but definatly not least, Ishi. All of these hunters had one common denominator. They all shot cut to the tip heads. These will definately give you the absolute best penetration. If that bow is all you can handle that is fine. A realease should not effect your draw length that much. That is something that you will have to find out to get that constant anchor and comfort zone. Minor adjustments can be made to most releases so you can find that sweet spot. There are a wide variety of arrows on the market. You can get heavier carbons these days so that will be a matter of preference. I like to shoot the carbon express terminator selects. They have a decent straightness and are a heavier arrow. There is good site to help you with arrow selection. It is Steve Jacksons archery. On there you can come up with a variety of arrows and get the weight and FOC calculated for you. Be careful not to get too heavy though, you want to find that arrow that will give you the perfect balance of weight and speed. A friend of mine shoots about the same setup as you and uses the easton axis arrows. With a 100 grain cut to the tip broadhead he weighs in just over 400 grains. This proved fatal for an elk last year for him. I would however try to get around the 450 mark. This will give you a little more KE and also provide a little more stability.

[elknut1]

Not sure about exact K-Energies! I never figure them into the equation when elk hunting. The legal draw wt limit for ID and a few other states is 40lb draw at 28" draw length. They've done the homework for you as far as minimum requirements for elk sized animals. Some states also have a 400grn minimum total arrow wt. as well.

A 20 year old bow is very adequate for harvesting elk. It doesn't matter if you choose alumunum or carbon arrows, both will work fine when spined correctly. I like carbon because they don't bend or break easily such as aluminum, they're more durable by far. I like using Gold Tips 7595, they're 26"-1/2 long and weigh aprox. 425grn. with broadhead.

The bow I still shoot today was new in 91, and it still performs perfectly, I shoot it at 70-74lbs. I use a Magnus Stinger BH. I also use a release for shooting and it really hasn't messed with my draw length any. It could though, but nothing you can't easily adjust to, or your bow too.

Of course todays newer bows are great, you can't go wrong with any of them. If you're shooting 60lbs, you won't have any trouble harvesting elk to 40yds with proper arrow setup & a tuned bow & heads. My son took a 6-point bull with a 40lb bow at 13, 2 years ago a friend of mine harvested at 4x5 bull with a 60lb bow that was much older than mine. So yes you can harvest animals with many different setups, just be accurate and confident with your choice. Of course this comes with much practice, and it's funnnnnn!!!!

So in conclusion, a 60lb bow with arrow wts of 400+ grns and a good quality broadhead with a release is a good combo you can be confident with out to 40yds easily! ElkNut1

[BareBack Jack]

Goldtip has a spot on their site to determin KE,I went there and with a 400 gr arrow and at least 240 fps you should have ample KE for killing elk.

[glob3006]

Thanks guy's...Excellent info.!!!!

I finally got a chance to shoot my very first arrow(s) EVER!!!!!!!! The guy's at hunter's friend did a great job setting this thing up. Or maybe I'm just lucky!! It's only set at 52#s and it's a struggle How do you guy's shoot 70#????? Any exercises you would recommend???

Thanks for the tip on the gold tips BBJ

Much appreciated!!!!!!

GLOB!!!!!!!!!!!

[Elkcrazy8]

glob3006, I have been shooting since I was old enough to stand up on my own. So it seems pretty natural as I have been shooting that poundage for a long time. As you shoot you will build yourself up. It is like a weight lifter. He will break the muscles down and they will rebuild stronger. I am pleased to see that we have another bowhunter among us. It is a feeling like no other when you have that first elk laying in front of you.

[glob3006]

Thanks for the welcome!!!!!!!!

If not for my early success's with my rifle and muzzleloader I may not have evolved to a bow this soon. It's a great opprotunity to really put what I have learned to the test!!!!!!!!

ALSO............This thread is just another reason for an ELK thread!!!!!!!!!!!