ADKhunter1

For my first traditional bow, what # should I be looking for?

I'll be hunting whitetails...larger animals in Northern NY...175-200Lbs not uncommon.

What would be the all-around minimum draw weight for that type of hunting?

Dick4bows

If you use sharp 2 blade broadheads, anything that you can shoot accurately 45# & up. If your just starting traditional shooting, I'd stay at the low end to start. Dick

john nail

"what poundage" is kind of old hat anymore. Be more concerned with how fast your bow shoots a heavy (say, 500+ grains)arrow. If you can get a 500 gr arrow above 150fps, and you have a razor sharp broadhead, it will kill any whitetail deer anywhere.

An old selfbow of 65lbs would do it, and a new, high quality recurve of 45lbs would do it. So you see, it has a lot to do with design .
I shoot reflex/deflex longbows, and they will all shoot 550+gr arrows above 165fps. Some are 50lbs some are 52lbs, ect.
Confused.....?

Your life is made of time, not money.

LBR

I agree with Dick and John--pretty much any modern recurve or deflex/reflex longbow 45# or more will produce the energy needed to do the job. You have to do your part by being prepared--get a bow that you can handle, make sure your arrows are flying straight, make sure your broadheads are sharp, and know/stay within your limits.

Good luck!

Chad

Long Bows Rule!

BTM

Also depends on your draw length. If you draw 26" you won't get as much horsepower as some gorilla pulling 31" or whatever.

Never trust a bow under 40 (inches).

LBR

BTM made a good point--one that I didn't even think about. 45@30 will shoot faster/harder than 45@26--better cast on the longer draw.

Chad (only draws 30.5" on his longbow--not a gorilla--on recurves, just pass me a bannana!)

Long Bows Rule!