If your wife is wanting to get involved in bow hunting, 35to 40 lbs will be just fine. Check your state's laws on mininum draw weight for bow hunting. Another thing to is don't let someone try selling you a 1000.00 set up, thats everything included. There are great bows out there in the 300.00 dollar range. Give PSE a look, there fairly decent priced and there an excellent bow!