racewayking

Here is my take on this. If you can pull 80 or 90 then why not do it. The thing I would caution you on is your arrows, are you shooting an arrow that is heavy enough for your bow?
I weightlifted for several years and trained with bodybuilders and powerlifters through that time, My bench was a crapload but like most who bench I also worked out my back and everything else.. Two years ago I fractured my elbow and still hunted that season pulling 71lb with the bad elbow. Since the elbow injury I struggle to lift heavy and rarely go to the gym, but have no issues shooting a 71lb bow.
my current plan is to get a Guardian and special order it in 80lb so I can shoot a heavier grain arrow and still get speeds around 300 fps in hunting conditions. I have yet to find weather where I can't pull 71lbs where I live so why not shoot a little heavier and beef up my arrow if I can pull 80lbs with ease?

treboryerf

there are a lot of people shooting around 300fps with a good hunting weight arrow and still only pulling draw weights under 70lbs, and in my opinion a good hunting weight is 450 plus,but thats just my opinion.

smitdog

What a HOSS!!

bigzombee69

I shoot a 80lb guardian with a 500 grain matrix arrow, the bow is quiet and forgiving BUT this winter when it was 10 freakin degrees I could not pull that darn thing to save my a$$. I'm a pretty big guy but you have to find whats comfortable for you in diffrent situations. Inow have a 84lb commander backed off to 76lbs for the freezing temps and my screaming 84lb guardian is for spring and early fall. Just cause you can lift a smallblock out of a car dont mean you can draw that 80+ lb bow and wait for 2-3 minutes for that big buck to turn when its frozen snot city.

racewayking

What speed is the Guradian shooting that 500 grain arrow?

Talon1961

I can shoot 80+ from the ground w/o difficulty. However, from sitting position in a stand, or kneeling, or any of the awkward positions I find myself in while trying to get a shot off at a deer, I find it almost impossible. I currently shoot 73# and it is quite comfortable during hunting situations. I am in the process of setting up a new Guardian at around 65#-haven't yet found the "sweet spot". Both shoot at speeds in excess of 300fps using Maxima Hunter 350's. Plenty fast enough for whitetails in my neck of the woods.

salukipv1

I think if your bow is rated for 80lbs, youll be ok.....but if its 70lbs....watch out!

if youre pulling 82lbs just to tell everyone youre pulling 82lbs.....I think thats a more serious problem....haha.

so ya as long as your bow is rated appropriately, I know sometimes heavier draws require stiffer arrows/strong, ie they would flex to much if they cant handle that speed/draw weight and therefore either be dangerous to shoot, might break, or just more inaccurate.....so sometimes more draw weight jsut means more KE since you may need a heavier arrow.....though Im guessnig you gain some velocity too.

Personally I'd just like to shoot 70lbs well. I know with time I could pull way more, but I dont think I plan to draw/practice enough to get to that point....but who knows maybe in the years to come, though I dont really see a big advantage to it with the exception of dangerous game particularly african, which I never plan to hunt with a bow.

Sliverflicker

If you can point your arrow at a target and draw it stright back without a big bump at the end of your draw cycle, I would say your fine.
However if you start your draw above the tree line, grunt, or fart while drawing your bow, you may need to back her down a little.
I see this all the time, but dont try to tell them they are over bowed, its like your trying to take 2" of pecker away from them.

wis_bow_huntr

Just becasue I can take a 65lb sack of feed in one hand throw over my shoulder and cary it doesnt mean I can draw my 63lb bow back when its
0 to -20 below out....Hell if i sit long enough in the teens it can be hard to draw it back. Drawing a bow is different that wieghtlifting and all that crap.

GMMAT

I agree with this....WHATEVER your poundage.

Drawing in "cold" weather is a factor. I was pulling 71#'s in '06 when I arrowed my 8-pointer....after being on stand for more than 4 hours in the "cold". If you can.....you can. Don't worry what others think.