45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

One of the members of our hunting group is a youth hunter; and is going to try shooting a 45 lb. bow this fall for elk. What arrow weight and what broadhead would you recommend for shooting inside of 40 yards - for a bow of this pull weight. I'm advising a cut-on-contact head (G5 Montec) and a properly spined(Easton 500) arrow of about 400 grains total weight. Others are saying expandable. Any suggestions?

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

I don't know who would be telling you expandable... I don't think a 45 lb. bow would generate adequate KE to deploy the blades on such a large animal.

Stick with a heavier arrow and a good cut on contact head and he'll be fine. I'd keep the shots as close as possible, too.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

I agree on the cut on contact head. With only shooting 45lbs. I would be afraid of using the expandables, I would want to get as much penetration as possible. Alot of people like the magnus stringers, I have never used them I just know that guys seem to really like them. I prefer muzzy and am sure they could do the job very well evn though they are not a cut on contact style head.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

I'd say no on the expandable. A good cut on contact broadhead.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

I shot this 1200 lb. Elk with my 40 lb.BowTech Equalizer at just about 20 yards. Easton 500 Carbon Excel arrow, wght: 7.3, and a 75 grain Muzzy broadhead. All it took was one arrow (double-lunged him). Shot placement is really the MOST important.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Now that is one nice elk!! good job!


and for the broadhead, i would stick with a cut on contact like others said...let us know how it goes also!

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Enough said AnnaMarie........That's a beautiful bull. I'm a big muzzy fan, and wouldn't suggest an expandible. Any reputablefixedblade broad head in the vitals at 20 yds will do the trick.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

get the fred bear tip and youll be fine!! or muzzy

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

''MONSTER''bull!!! but on broadheads with a small bow use 2 blades its the only way to go I had a raffle at sprorting show where we brought a kid to this field and he had a two blade about 40 ib bow it made full penetetration but I am almost 100% sure that by fall he can pull 55 ibs back if he shoots a lot!

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Thanks for the input. Are the majority of you of the opinion that the Muzzy will penetrate (on elk) as well as the G5 Montec? I personally have a lot of confidence in the Muzzy,but will be trying the Montec this season. They just fly better out of my bow. But I also understood that the Muzzy is not really a COC head, and that the Montec is a better penetrator - particularly in a low poundage bow.

Anna Marie: Did you get a pass though on that 1200 pound elk shot with the 75 grain Muzzy? I'm looking at the charts . . . your total arrow weight appears to be around 325 grains. Thx. Roskoe

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Annamarie, the drule about wrecked my laptop. Wow, what a bull!!
envy, envy.

But, like she said shot placement like any animal is KEY!

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Personally, I'd go with a Magnus Stinger 4-blade. They're much sharper than the Montecs and much easier to sharpen as well. I definitely wouldn't advise the mech's and do your best to keep his shots under 30 yards. Good luck!!

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

That is one nice bull...but I gotta ask. Was it fair chase or fenced?
Stick with a cut on contact head. I am going to be using Slick Tricks this year for elk.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Not a complete pass through. Thebroadhead was sicking out about a 1/2inch on the other side. When he was gutted the arrow was broken in 3 pieces but the damage done with that little thing was amazing. It is my true opinion that anything can be killed, no matter the poundage, if the shot is right. I have to practice a lot on accuracy becuase my shoulder problems and draw length limit me to a lighter poundage and less oomph in my bow.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Yeah it's a nice elk but it does look pretty big to be fair chase bull [>:]
If it was fair chase WHOOHO MAN!!!!thats a freikin whoppppppppper


okay I gotta tell ya something about montecs they ''WHISTLE'' like a dog that got stung by a bald face hornet made me gut shoot a yote

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Cut on contact head and quality shot placement at 45 lbs on elk is key. Stay away from bone with that set up. I've seen certain broadheads curl on a ribbone of an elk.

Anna, Big bull you killed there in the velvet, obviously a summer hunt? Bulls here shed around mid August? I'm curious as to what state a person can hunt bulls that early?

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

This bull was taken in Texas on 1400 acres of free range. He had been shot at and missed by two rifle hunters previously. I had seen him while hunting for axis does, and the man informed me there were a nice group of elk that stayed around the area. I went back four times before I got a shot on him. He is considered an exotic in Texas but he was definitely not an easy hunt by far. He was very hard to get in range.

Sadly this place is now highfenced , beacause it was bought by a business man. It was one of my favorite places to hunt, because it had a nice herd of axis and lots of whitetails. They run all kinds of exotic ram and antelope hunts out of it now. Atleast I get to say I got one of the last exotic/free rangin elk out there.

It was shot in august, since they are not originally from Texas, they are considered exotics there. I only know of a few places though in Texas with free range elk. alot are highfenced.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

So, how was the animal free range when it was only on 1400 acres? As far as I know, there is NO WILD population of Elk in Texas. In the Complete Book of Elk Hunting written by Sam Curtis, and endorsed by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, there is no mention of ANY wild population of elk in Texas. Specifically, if you reference page 13, you will see that none of the subspecies fall in the state of Texas. Now, if this is the case, then the hunt must have been fenced, because I highly doubt Texas is going to let people just ship in elk and set them loose, particularly with CWD being such an issue now. Now, kudos to you for taking down that massive bull. He really is a dandy, but please dont make claims to free range and such, because it is pretty obvious to the general public here that this animal was not free range and the hunt obviously had to be fenced. I am sorry to hijack thisthread, but I think this issue needs to be addressedso that the public here is aware. Mods, if this postis out of line, please let me know and I will repost it under a different thread.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

1400 acres were LOW FENCED. NOT HIGH FENCED. Also, My family had 80 acres of FREE RANGE, NOT HIGHFENCE, and we had a beautiful herd of about 50 axis that were regular visitors. Axis are not natives of Texas just as elk are not. When I would sit on my stand on our 80 acres I saw an Aoudad, and 3 Blackbuck, and countless Axis. There are free ranging exotics all over texas, how did they get to be free range?? I don't doubt they escaped from highfenced private ranches, and reproduced along the way. Another point, I regularly hunt in Comfort, Texas on a FREE RANGE place. The man has an abundance of sika's, whom are not natives, and are considered exotic. The man never bought these, but after a flood way back he had all kinds of animals make a new home out of his land. Escaped animals from private ranches, probably so, but they are not confined to a certain area and repopulated themselves. Please don't make claims about my hunt being highfenced when you do not know and were not there. I understand where you are coming from, and if it is not your opinion of a fair chase than so be it, you are entitled to your own opinion. I was there though, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't just a waltz up to the animal and stick him thing. These elk had the opportuinty to go elsewhee if they pleased, there was NO HIGHFENCE.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

It doesn't matter if that bull was in a high-fence,low-fence,free range or even tied up to a tree! The original topic to this thread was if a 45# bow was enough for elk and what was a good set-up. AnnaMarie proved that a it was enough-that even a 40# bow could punch 2 holes in a 1200# animal at 20yds. Nice bull,Anna!!

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

I agree. This elk is trophy and worthy of all benfits therein. This fence height thing is a moot point. The 75 grain Muzzy did make it through the elk. It has a 1" cutting diameter. I'm wondering if the 100 grain version, with a 1 3/16" cutting diameter, would have made it through the off side hide. Probably not with this light of an arrow. But the results speak for themselves . . . . . how far did the elk go before tipping over? Thx. Roskoe

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Post deleted because this is taking away from the original posters question..please see my thread on this page.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The montec is a good choice for him. Otherexcelent heads would include slicktrick standard, Steel force, Magnus stingers, Eastman first cut 90, G5 striker, Wacem, Rocky Mt. ironhead, NAP Razorcaps, Simmons sharks, Wasp sharpshooter.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Sorry if we got off topic there, i just always need to get wrong claims straightened out.

The elk I'd say went about 50ish yards, he had no clue what hit him though. I knew I had made a good shot when the water fall of blood came after the hit. It took him a good while to die, so after I shot I crouched down behind a tree and watched him through binoculars. I agree with the others about the distance thing though, with a light poundage, the most important thing for me was not making a shot over 30 yards. Over that distance I know the arrow would not have had the same effect.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

What a massive animal. Dont mind what others have said about it being fair chase/non fair chase. Most people hear Texas and automatically assume that it must be high fenced. You know what they say about assuming, it only makes an ass out of you and me.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Anna that is one great bull and you did an awsome job with your bow set up. You worked hard for that elk and earned every bit of it sounds like. Congrats on a job well done.

As for the orginal topic. Obvisouly 45 lbs is enough to take down a elk.Heavy arrows, good sharp cut on impact broadheads, and a well placed arrow is the key to sucess with this outfit.Like others said, I would limit the shot range. Myself I would probably go to 25 yards max.Don't know that I would feel comfortable on a elk at 30 yards.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

This thread gives me a warm feeling, why? Simple, I am heading to ID in Sept with my wife, who will be toating her 27 inch draw, 47lb CSS Compound spitting out 400 gr arrows front ended by a 100 grain 2 blade stinger. I have had nagging feelings if this would work, logic says yes, but now I 've seen another example of it working.

Nice bull!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

I agree with Big Bulls on the suggestions he made. I would lean toward a 2 blade design with the lower draw weight, but as Anna showed if you put the shot in the boiler room it's gonna be lights out.

Anna, congrats on the bull. For the record, 1,400 acres is bigger than any tract of land that I hunt, so I realize that it's not an easy task to track down game on that much land.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Thank you all for your comments. I did not realize by posting my picture herethat i would be annoyed with pm's from campo sending me what fair chase and articles about elk poaching, and spark a debate on the topic, this was not my intent.

This was simply to show that small bows can do big damage, and that a hunter is not limited to the type of animals they shoot by a small poundage.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Fair chase isnt with elk that are illegally transported from Montana

Texas Couple Convicted of Poaching in Montana

Just how far will Montana game wardens go to investigate a poaching case? In this

particular case, the answer is over 1,500 miles.

Two FWP game wardens from southwest Montana went to the Lone Star State to pursue a

couple suspected of hunting elk and deer without valid licenses on a private ranch near

Twin Bridges over at least six years.

William "Doug" Hudson was recently convicted of hunting deer and elk without valid

licenses, transfer of licenses, over-limit of elk, and unlawful possession and transportation

of big game animals. Faye Hudson was convicted of hunting white-tailed deer without

valid licenses and waste of game.

Based on a call to Montana's poaching hotline, TIP-MONT, game warden Shane Brozovich

investigated and found that William Hudson of Early, Texas, had been coming to Montana

to hunt since 1982, but had not purchased any licenses since 2000. His wife, Faye Hudson,

had hunted with him during the 2005 and 2006 seasons without licenses.

"The call to TIP-MONT was a critical piece that enabled me to start this investigation,"

said Brozovich. "We know this type of illegal activity is taking place here and we're

working on putting an end to it."

As the investigation unfolded, Brozovich learned that the couple was illegally using the

resident hunting licenses of the former ranch owner, Sylvester Seidensticker, who still

resided on the ranch. Seidensticker was charged with transferring his hunting licenses to

William and Faye Hudson.

Brozovich and Regional Investigator Chad Murphy traveled to Texas in January and

assisted a Texas Parks and Wildlife warden in executing a search warrant at t he Hudson

residence. The wardens interviewed the couple and gathered evidence at the residence and

at a nearby warehouse.

The wardens confiscated a trophy 6x6 bull elk rack, 11 non-trophy bull elk racks, 13 mule

deer and white-tailed buck deer racks, and one big horn sheep ram head, which William

Hudson found while hunting in Montana.

While in Texas, the Montana game wardens issued citations and collected $22,530 in bond

for fines and restitution. The restitution for the trophy bull elk alone cost them $8,000.

In addition to the fines and restitution, the couple also lost their hunting privileges in

Montana and 23 other states that are part of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

William Hudson lost his privileges for 10 years and Faye Hudson lost hers for 4 years.

"Even though William Hudson got away with this for numerous years, the case is a great

example of how committed FWP is to catching poachers," said Murphy. "We will go to

great lengths to protect the wildlife resources of the state."

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Campo, please get a life, stop sending me pm's of this poaching nature.

For anyone who is interested, my elk was not "illegally" transported from Montana, or any state for that matter.

Sorry if this is off topic again for this thread, some people just don't know when to quit.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

I do have a life. I read you post this morning, smelt something fishy, asked you who the owner was, you told me, "Seidensticker's in Comfort" via PM. I did some research, looked up the owner, then typed his name into google, and this came up. True, I could have spent my day in a better way, but when you are sitting at home with a sinus infection, there isnt a whole heck of a lot you can do. I did some research, and this is what came up.I just feel the public has the right to be informed. Oh, and by the way, I was not the first one to bring up whether this elk was "ethical" or not.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

You asked me to give you a place in Texas where exotics are free range, so i did. Second, your research is wrong. This man is 80 years old and his wife is dead, jerk. Has been for 5 years. Do you have any idea of how many Seidensticker's reside in Texas. You disgust me, and this is pure silliness.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

AnnaMarie,

That is a beautiful animal, and I would be proud to take him in the ethical, legal way that you obviously did.


Bo

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

From the article:

:D;)[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Seriously, Campo you have proven your point that you disagree with that method of hunting, legal or otherwise. At this point though, your message is being lost because you are preaching. I respect your view, but I nor anyone else on this forum needs it jammed down our throat.[:'(][/align]

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Anna, that is a great bull and I think you answered the question quite well as to weather a 40# bow will get the job done.

Try to ignore the mentally challenged,unfortunatelymost of themwill not go away after making their point and feel the need to beat a dead horse.

Paul

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

I don't know why but some people change half the people on this post are totally opposite of what they were 8 months ago I asked a question about if high fence texas hunts were fair fun ect.... everyone BSED me and F ING me off and I got booted off my old log-in I researched on google and yeah they arent as sporting as fair chase but hey I understand I would shoot high fenced game I hunt if I got a free high fenced hunt I would do it BUT I SURE THE HECK WOULDT TAKE CREDIT FOR A TROPHY BECAUSE ITS BEEN FED DRUGS ALL ITS LIFE.

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Holy smokes Campo, I will be hunting elk, red deer, chamois and tahr in New Zealand in a few weeks. I'll be doing it outside a preserve and in New Zealand's National Forest. Would you pleasecheck your book for me buddy. Are Elk native to New Zealand? I sure wouldn't want to hunt them if they're not.

Really man, You need to get out more!

AnnaMarie, that's an awesome bull! Be proud of it-I know you are! Pay no attention to those that have never been there...like Campo. We have elk, among other things, up here in Colorado if you care to chase them.My sister and Iwould gladly show you the ropes!

RE: 45 lb. Compound for Elk Hunting?
 

Thanks iamyourhuckleberry, Colorado is on my list of places to hunt! Best of luck to you in New Zealand (i'm so jealous!)!! It sounds amazing!!!! Please post pictures if you are successful!!!