I like to shoot 60# bows which are still WAY over the recommended kinetic energy to kill an Alaskan Brown bear. I hunt big game out of the country and in NM. 40# bows aren't recommended for Brown bearsand I live in a state where we actually have big game. A whitetail deer, especially in Southern states like NC are scrawny. Believe me, in IA our deer are huge compared to yours body wise and a 60# bow is overkill.