RE: old farts
 

I'm 46 and have major shoulder surgery this summer. I was able to shoot my usual 70lbs by the time the season opened. Once the weather got cold, I found myself having trouble drawing the bow for the first time. I lowered it a couple turns on each limb bolt, adjusted my sights and retuned and I'm still getting pass throughs. I got passthroughs 22 years ago when my bow speed was 173 fps. My youngest son killed a P&Y buck with a 51lbs bow.

The best advice though is to get to a gym and work out, but don't over do it. If you have to lower the weight a bit, don't let it bother you.

RE: old farts
 

Thanks for the replies guys. It seems some of you have had success with lower poundages. I have always heard that a 60 lb bow maxed out will work better than a 70 lb. bow cranked down to the minimum. And yes I'm only 38 and I do exercize, It's just that 2 operations on my left wrist have left so much scar tissue that it only bends about 50% of what it used to. That causes strain in other parts of my arm. No offense, but I wouldn't call this whining and I wasn't looking for a workout My doctor already gave me one.





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RE: old farts
 

Well not sure about the old fart part,i am going to be 34 on the 30th of jan. i race dirt bikes and have been beat up a bit and a bad car wreck 3 years ago,before that i always shot 70 lbs now for deer and turkey i shoot 60 lbs have even shot 50 lbs earlier this year after having surgery on my kidney.with my bow set at 50 lbs i shot a nice big doe from 20 yards double lung shot clean thru.I know in IL you have to have your bow set atleast @ 40 lbs my 10 year old son shot a nice gobbler with his hoyt Banshee set at 40 lbs clean shot right thru at around 17 yards

RE: old farts
 

I am past the 'half century' mark and see no reason at all to be tugging on a 70#er. I get a little sore and stiff at times with60#'s. When the pain frompulling the stringbecomes a problem, cut back on the #'s. It doesn't get any better with time asyou get older.

I went back to a 50-60# bow and it works for me. I actually wish I would have gone there from the start. I see these young guys atthe range struggling and shaking afterjust a few rounds with the 70#ers. Whats the point! Ask the majority and you will find that most are 60-65# shooters.

RE: old farts
 

I remember when 65-80 lb bows were the norm, then the 60-70 lb bows took the stage. I don't consider shooting a 70 lb peak weight bow being "macho"!!!! At 51, I like shooting this poundage (well closer to 68 lbs).
If your in shape, it shouldn't be a problem drawing back that kind of weight. But......if you have shoulder problems, are out of shape, or a lot older, maybe going to a 50-60 lbs bow makes sense for some.

RE: old farts
 

Well, let's put it this way...... HECK YES!!!!! Example, I walked my son's dog all summer. I was up to 4 or 5 miles a day, usually in a couple walks a day. Anyway, deer season started easy. THEN my wife took a little turn for the worse, then got better so we traveled, and now another turn for the worse. I got out of the dog, didn't get out to hunt, became a nurse, chef and couch potatoe all at the same time. I got out the other for the first time in a couple months. I walked up one little old hill and was puffing my guts out. I took another little walk to help Len drag out a deer. I assured him we had to stop every 40 yards going up hill to get his breath.;) We got the deer out to the edge of the woods. Len went for the truck while I snooped around, down hill of course. I heard Len driving back and walked the 200 yards back up hill to the truck. Whew,...... Len needed another rest.;)[&:] Anyway, you get the idea. The problem is not only don't we have the muscle tone we once did, but we don't have the ability to have periods of low activity without suffering.

The new game plan is to get back at the walking and light weights on my weight machine. I have a world class treadmill also for the bad weather days. No way around it, we got to train more for this. Don't do what you did as a kid as your body won't take it and you'll have all these ailments. Walk and use common sense and don't go crazy just because you feel good that day.

RE: old farts
 

I am 47 and in pretty decent condition.I exercise at least 5 days a week.As a result of injuring my shoulder a couple of years a go I am still working my draw weight back up.The last couple of years I have hunted with my bow draw weight at 56 to 58 pounds.I have had many pass throughs on deer at those weights and had a pass through on a bear this fall.I really don't see any hunting limitations,I am not sure why any body would!