To be on the safe side, I' d say 50# max (at your draw length), although 45# would probably be more comfortable. 45# is plenty for deer, and will take care of hogs as long as you don' t hit the " sheild" . It' s always better to hit the boiler room with a lighter poundage than miss or gut-shoot because the bow is too heavy. Arrows that fly perfectly and super sharp broadheads will get the job done.

No need to apologize--shoot, we all had to start somewhere. A good read (short, simple, and to the point) is Byron Ferguson' s " Become the Arrow" . What he says about quality wood shafting no longer applies (you can get it from several places now), but over-all it' s a great book and will help get you on your way. His style may not work the best for you, but it will give you a foundation to work on.

Good luck!

Chad