What pound draw weight for all-around whitetails?

[ADKhunter1]

For my first traditional bow, what # should I be looking for?

I'll be hunting whitetails...larger animals in Northern NY...175-200Lbs not uncommon.

What would be the all-around minimum draw weight for that type of hunting?

[Dick4bows]

If you use sharp 2 blade broadheads, anything that you can shoot accurately 45# & up. If your just starting traditional shooting, I'd stay at the low end to start. Dick

[john nail]

"what poundage" is kind of old hat anymore. Be more concerned with how fast your bow shoots a heavy (say, 500+ grains)arrow. If you can get a 500 gr arrow above 150fps, and you have a razor sharp broadhead, it will kill any whitetail deer anywhere.

An old selfbow of 65lbs would do it, and a new, high quality recurve of 45lbs would do it. So you see, it has a lot to do with design .
I shoot reflex/deflex longbows, and they will all shoot 550+gr arrows above 165fps. Some are 50lbs some are 52lbs, ect.
Confused.....?

Your life is made of time, not money.

[LBR]

I agree with Dick and John--pretty much any modern recurve or deflex/reflex longbow 45# or more will produce the energy needed to do the job. You have to do your part by being prepared--get a bow that you can handle, make sure your arrows are flying straight, make sure your broadheads are sharp, and know/stay within your limits.

Good luck!

Chad

Long Bows Rule!

[BTM]

Also depends on your draw length. If you draw 26" you won't get as much horsepower as some gorilla pulling 31" or whatever.

Never trust a bow under 40 (inches).

[LBR]

BTM made a good point--one that I didn't even think about. 45@30 will shoot faster/harder than 45@26--better cast on the longer draw.

Chad (only draws 30.5" on his longbow--not a gorilla--on recurves, just pass me a bannana!)

Long Bows Rule!