Shooting a compound and shooting a trad are two totally different animals , don't go over 60# even if you're currently pulling more than that now , you will be overbowed when the lack of let off hits you . I started with a 40# one piece recurve borrowed from a cousin , and that was just over the state's legal minimum of 35# , and it was real work getting adjusted to it . It took over a year before I was confident enough to take it hunting , and even then I wouldn't have taken a shot over 20 yards . I'm currently shooting 50# wth a take down and giving thought to going down 5# with a new set of limbs since 50# is more than I need for whitetails and I don't want to damage myself trying to be a he man . Consult some of the trad elk hunters around you and I doubt you'll find many shooting over 60# . Throw in a good cut on contact broadhead like Magnus Stingers and you could feasibly sneak down to 50-55# without undue risk . Penetration , not poundage , is the real deciding factor .