The right bow weight
 

One year I got the ideal in my head that I had to shoot 70lbs with my bow. I wanted speed. Well I turn the bow to maxs and started shooting in the yard. It was kind of tuff, but got easer as I went on.Owens Jeffery, if you know him is a really good man and when it comes to archery, he has been there all his life teaching and making bows. He told me(Boy if you can,t draw and hold it without strining your guts out you aint gona hit a thing! Well, all I new i wanted a fast bow and i ment to shoot it on 70lbs. the next thing i know ,it was deer season and i was up a tree at day light. Just a little while later, I heard somthing walking in the leaves right under my stand. I looked down and there was a nice 6 point.Never new i was right above him.12 to 15yds to shoot. I leaned over and started to pull the 70lbs bow back! I could not draw the dearn thing back leaning and pulling the string stright back.After 3 trys the panic set in and i raise the bow over my head and pushed and pulled hard as I could.The bow came to full draw. All the movement above the buck and my shadow moving all over him, he jumps a few feet back.I still had a good shot if only I had not panic and rushed the shot. Right by his side in the dirt and off he went.If I would have listen to owens and shot what I could with out all that weight, the 6 point should be mind. The lesson here is shoot a weight thats not a struggle and always pick a spot. Some time the older hunters are trying to help you learn the easy way,they have already learn the hard way.Owens is 82 now and still climing trees, shooting48 to 50 lbs and look out hogs and deer.If you every come to Columbia S.C. stop by Jeffery Archery and see Owens and his son Tom. They are great people to deal with.

RE: The right bow weight
 

I am fully capable of pulling 70# but I know that if I ever need to get a shot off at a deer I wont be able to pull that back without shaking way too much, that is why I have it set at 50# which is plenty of poundage to put a deer down.

RE: The right bow weight
 

GOOD LESSON HA, SHOOT WHAT YOU CAN PULL


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RE: The right bow weight
 

I like to use the chair test before I feel confident taking a particular weight bow into the woods... Isit inan arm chair that is somewhat restrictive and shoot a dozen or so arrows while concentrating on keeping my draw straight and smooth, if I can do that I feel like shooting from a stand will be ok.

RE: The right bow weight
 

Fortunately for me I can draw 72# without a problem.Even though I am only 155# myself.I am a concrete finisher byu trade so i am strong yet skinny.I used to shoot 78 pouinds.Until I was hunting one very cold day and had a huge problem drawing my bow.So I turned it down that night when I got home and was still cold.Drew it a few times to make sure I could draw it sitting without difficulty.So yes I know exactly what you are talking about.my Step son was a prime example of what you are talking about.Even though he is 6'6" and 280# he grew so quickly that he was akward and had trouble drawing back 55# last year.He was a few inches shorter but still weighed in at 250.He was trying to draw my bow with my weight.Needless to say he shook so much he couldnt of drew on a deer if his life deppened on it.He is much stronger now and actually draws my bow easily.He said I dont want my bow to be that hard to pull.He has wized up considerably to knowing his limits and knowing what he can and cant do.He knows he can draw 65# without scaring every deer off that is anywhere close to him.Its all about knowing your limits and living by them.

RE: The right bow weight
 

I shoot 94#. I can draw it very very slow and stop at any time. I showed this to the bow shop that told me 94#s was way to high.I hunt elk most of the time.

I think if you can put on your hunting coat draw your bow very slow aming at the target or deer at the hole draw.I think the bow is of ok weight for you.

RE: The right bow weight
 

My ole' PSE bow has 100lb limbs on it. Back when it was brand new (early 90's) I had been planning to use it for elk and bear. Today I keep it around for conditioning. I have it set at 91# right now and shoot it ever so often to keep my muscles in shape. On my hunting bow I pull 71# with no problem.

RE: The right bow weight
 

I had a problem with my old release and torking the string. So I cranked the bow down as far as I could to keep me from torking the string. Well it did a number on my already bad shoulder so I got a new rlease. Dropping from 88# to 68# is a huge difference.

RE: The right bow weight
 

I thought about getting an 80# bow, but I didn't feel like special ordering. So I just bought a regular 70# off the shelf. I can pull it easily under any conditions. I was always told to sit flat on the floor, legs extended you should be able to draw with ease, or the bow is too much.

RE: The right bow weight
 

Sage advice. Very well put.