speed kills?????????
 

I got thinking more about the "I'm tired" thread.
I can't recall one single time the having a faster bow would have made the difference on a shot at a deer.
I can remember many times that being a better " hunting situation shooter" would have made the difference.

How about the rest of you?

I would like to add that if I were to turn my bow down 10# I don't think that I would Kill any less eithor. I currently hunt at 60#

Your thoughts?

RE: speed kills?????????
 

After tearing the tendons in my wrist last fall I turned my old Hoyt down to 53# and shot completely thru a bucks near shoulder and into the ground on the other side. And I did all that without a 2 blade rage or a butt out tool.[:-]

RE: speed kills?????????
 

I agree that more speed wouldn't havemade a difference in any hunting situation that I have been in. Myhunting rigshoots about 260 fps (27 inch draw) which by today's standards is probably on the slower side. But it gets the job done. The most important things to me are how smooth the bowdraws, accuracy, and quietness. I have shot some of the newer "speed bows" and didn't like how they felt drawing back. Just my oppinion.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

For the most part, you are probably right. But for the most part, I do not exclusively hunt deer. I'll take speed and poundage any day of the week. I have had too many animals out run slow bows. When the animal is small and on the ball in open terrian, say a steenbok for example, speed can sperate the "haves" from the "have nots".

Would you use a VW in a drag race? There's always the right tool for the job, eh?

RE: speed kills?????????
 

Yeah - I have my bow shooting @ 238 FPS @ 69 pounds without a problem.
I'll probably turn it down to 62 lbs. this year, as I had an experience will sitting in 22 degree weather for 5 1/2 hours...
I tried pulling my bow back as a test to warm up, and couldn't do it, I was frozen solid like bear crap in the tundra!
Shot selection is key bottom line.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

The steenbok's around here are way to fast for bow hunters, some say the Shadow is all a good rifle man can expect a shot at.;)

RE: speed kills?????????
 

And that's exactly why I love you!

RE: speed kills?????????
 

Apparently You have never seen me drive:D

RE: speed kills?????????
 

This year I am using an 80# Hoyt Katera to hunt with. I have had people ridicule me, claim speed doesn't kill animals because of KE, blah, blah, blah.

Here is my point, I want to shoot a 410-450 grain arrow and not have a lot of drop from 20-40 yards. Speed and the correct arrow setup will take the arch out of my shot and I will still have enough KE to take down a Rhino or Giraffe. Oh, and for the record I can pull back this setup without my pancreas hurting or whatever other jacked up claim I'll hear next.

I for one have shot my 440 gr. arrows at 258 fps for too long. I have had a couple of deer jump the string at 20 yards or less and had to track them longer than I'd like since I only clipped one lung or hit the liver when the turned on me. Does speed kill? Yes, if your arrow gets there faster you stand a greater chance of reducing the animal reacting to the sound of the bow. A 300 grain arrow can go through a deer as can a 500 grain arrow, I want a setup that will blow through the shoulder but still be whizzing over 300fps.

VIVA LE SPEED!!

RE: speed kills?????????
 

Wow Jim, I didn't know you were such an expert on Steenbok! I would love to view your trophy room someday!:)

RE: speed kills?????????
 

You'd love my bowling trophy's.;)

RE: speed kills?????????
 

To hell with his, I want to see yours!!!!!!!!!!!!;)

RE: speed kills?????????
 

lol....You are alright:D

Did you get them with a fast or slow ball?

RE: speed kills?????????
 

I don't doubt you raceway. And speed is fine. But my question was How many times has that speed made the difference? And how many times has your skill made the difference? I guess my main point is that we should focus on our skills more than relying on technology to make the difference. I think we are all guilty on relying on tech. to make up for our shortcomings instead of focusing on honing our skills.

My intent was not to put down people who have fast bows or shoot high poundage. I don't want this to turn into one of those threads.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

In compliance with the orginal thread, I have never been in a circumstance where more speed would have made a difference. I have been in more than a few situations, where more patience would have been deadly.

And I don't even now what a steenbok is.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

Sorry if I took it a little to serious. It seems like half this forum slams the other half for what or how they shoot their bow. I see more speed as an advantage, less drop and a better chance at connecting on a misjudged yardage. Will I ever be a competitive shooter? Heck no, I'm not the best archer by any means but I usually seal the deal and put food in the freezer and bone on the wall.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

I am not sure those are fair questions. I mean really, who honestly knows? With so many varibles involved, is there a definite answer-with 100% certainty?

A good archery combines both skill and technology to his advantage. I doubt you'll ever see an astronaut flying a school bus to the moon. And chances are, you'll never see a WWII fighter aircraft going head to head with a modern day jet. Both skilled pilots are obviously going to use their equipment to its fullest potential, but honestly, who do you think is going to win the dogfight?

RE: speed kills?????????
 

I agree with Magic. Shot placement or even being able to get into position for the shot is more important, I believe. Speed is important to a certain degree, but my Vectrix at 63#only shoots my 501gr (heavy)arrow at 250fps (slow by todays standards), but I get 69 1/2 ft/lbs of KE. That's what does my killing. I shot at 3 deer, a 7pt, and 2 doe last year killing all 3 with pass throughs. One of them, a big doe was 30yrds out!I would have to see a deer jump my string at 20yrds or closer to believe it!
A deer that can do that was already on edge, caught odor and or movement.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

While speed is never the most important trait I Look for in a Bow. It definitely is an advantage. I can think of at least 3 animals where it probably made the difference for me (pre rangefinder days;))

If I find a group of bows that are all close in noise, smoothness, and shootability, I'll take the fastest one of the bunch.

Dan

RE: speed kills?????????
 

Order "The Grind" from WKP. Todd puts the shot on the heart and the slow motion shows the buck drop a good 6-8 inches and take a high lung shot. I will be putting arount 89# of KE with my new rig with a 410-440gr. arrow but should be hitting 300-310fps according to MECHDOC's calculations. I'll take the faster shooting arrow anyday and some KE to boot.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

Raceway,

Do what if right for you...seriously. Don't worry too much what others say.

Two days ago I left the Eastern Cape of South Africa. I was there hunting exclusively with a bow. I was told by everyone I'd be lucky if I shot one animal with a bow. The terrian was steep, rocky, vast, open, and water was extremely abundant (sitting at waterhole was not an option). Despite the naysayers, I came home with eight new species of wildlife under my belt. The slow bows cased their equipment and pulled out rifles (they spent too much money to come home empty handed). I, therefore, know exactly what you're talking about. Hunt for you and find that equipment that works best for you! When you have all the confidence in the world, you'll thumb your nose at those who ridicule you. Best of luck to you my friend.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

How close was the deer, and was it on alert in any way?I won't go back and forth with this, and I won't say it never happens either. It has never happened to me though. And yes, raceway, that's an awesome combo you've got going for you. Like I asked before, what do you have like 5 man cards shooting that rig?:D:D:D

RE: speed kills?????????
 

It looked like a 20 yard shot. The deer broadside and looking the opposite way, it surprised the heck out of me. Todd was also shooting what looked like a Bowtech Ally so he wasn't exactly shooting a slow setup from what I could see. Order the video and check it out, you won't be dissapointed!

RE: speed kills?????????
 

Sounds like you had a great time on the trip, congrats on the hunts!

RE: speed kills?????????
 

With almost all my bowhunting over the years having been done with a recurve or longbow, I bet you can guess my answer. You get three tries and the first two don't count. ;)

RE: speed kills?????????
 

Thanks Raceway,

When you're ready to put that rig to the test above timberline and on something, let's say, the size of an elk, look me up. You'll be happy you selected speed and poundage.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

Sure thing, a 350" 6x6 or bigger is on my wish list. I'd also like to get an 80" or bigger Antelope and hit that 200" Mule Deer mark. Dang, now I realized how much I have left to accomplish;) I'd love to have some more Elk in the freezer, you got me thinking now.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

tech. isnt a neccesity, trad. bowhunters dont use technology, and they stillkillanimals. But i do see what your saying by having both skill and tech. that it gives you a advantage, but it isnt a neccesity.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

Does speed matter in this case?
Guy with slow bow estimates deer at 22 yds, Deer is really 27 yds and he misses low.
Same guy with fast bow estimates deer at 22 yds, deer is really 27 yds but he hits it in the heart and kills it.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

My point was that I believe we all need to work on our shooting skills - which includes distance judging - good example!

RE: speed kills?????????
 

I don't think speed matters as much as a number of other things, but if someone wants more speed then who am I to stand in their way? It isnot like I am shooting their bowor anything.
rybohunter; I don't think that speed matters in the case you mentioned. I just think the guy should have figured out the range correctly. Just my take on it though. To each their own.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

You know what Magic? I think anyone with half a brain should have gotten the gist of what you were saying. I think some just like to tweek things.;):D:D

RE: speed kills?????????
 

I think speed can be an asset in certain situations, but it can also be a hinderence because most very fast bows are more difficult to shoot well. Speed lures in many new archers into buying bows their neophyte hands are not ready for yet....so it that case I'd say that speed kills a new bow hunters opportunities rather frequently.

I don't think having more speed hurts, but its really about balance. You have to shoot a bow at a poundage that you can shoot well, with an arrow heavy enough to get the job done. Personally I like my hunting bow to be under the 280fps mark, even though I shoot a bow that is capable of speeds in excess of 320 fps. I shoot a very heavy arrow.... the trade is that the bow is very quiet and I can see my arrow in flight and know exactly where it strikes the animal, which is very important information to have before you take up a blood trail.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

Only 100 days until Bow season here in Illinois:D[:-]

RE: speed kills?????????
 

i think speed has to do with the erge to alwas have the best of the best. when Accuracy and stealth has more to do withhunting than how fast the arrow will get to the target

RE: speed kills?????????
 

I'm at 297 myself, but thats not what I was wanting with a new bow as much as the 82 lbs. of kinetic energy I get at the business end of the deal.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

RE: speed kills?????????
 

Great example rybo.

For the past two years I've been hunting with 500 grain arrows moving at 260 fps. Most of the deer I kill are 20 yards or less, due to the thick cover so speed doesn't matter.

However, I do have some stands that overlook food plots where longer shots (25 -30 yards) are possible. For these stands, I use my 360 grain arrows that fly 295 fps.

I get about 2 inches less drop at 30 yards with the lighter arrows, and that could be the difference between a heart shot and a grazed belly.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

So deerhunter,

Let's say Jim sneaks up on his bowling pins and throws a perfectly aligned shot. However the ball only rolls atone foot per second. According to you, and since the pins are stationary, he scores a strike, right? Please say yes.

Now. let's allow the pins the ability to move out of the way. Under the same conditions as stated above, will he still throw a strike? Please say I don't know...maybe.

So I ask you then, how can you honestly say speed doesn't matter as much?

In my opinion, speed, stealth, accuracy and a number of other factors are equally important and very much linked to one another. What good is speed if you do not have accuracy? What good is accuracy if you do not have speed? What good is stealth if you have neither speed or accuracy? If you change one, then you must compensate somewhere else. If you slow the bow down, for example, then you may be forced to get closer and thus your hunt may requires more stealth (depending on the animal being hunted). It's that simple really.

It's funny, archery hunting is a game of consistency. But really, there's nothing consistant about it other than it consistantly changes.There are just too many variables.

RE: speed kills?????????
 

I think thosewho keep bringing up over debated topicsand fail to realize there are always 2 legitimate sides, should expect thier posts to be "tweaked"

FWIW, My hunting style and general hunting opinion lends itself to speed being a minimal factor in my hunting setups.