Draw weight

[Ridgerunner1524]

Hey guys.
My buddy had surgery on his left shoulder about six weeks ago and is hoping he will be able to elk hunt this season. He has two more weeks of PT. What would be the lowest draw weight that he could get by with and still make a good clean kill? He really doesn't want to miss this season.

[montanabrown]

depends all on his setup. you gotta think though people use traditional tackle to take big game animals with every year. theyre not moving that fast or have a.whole lot of kinetic energy. he should pull back whats comfortable and hes accurate with, along with using a sharp broadhead and keeping his shots closer.

[Ridgerunner1524]

I agree. He shot he's last year with his long bow and had no problem. He's just not sure he can handle 70#. He's thinking about using a 50/60 lb carbon element and cranking it down. Do you think if he went all the way down to 50# he would be ok? He's a really good shot. No worries there. Thanks

[Triplebhunters]

Nice bow (carbon element). I have the 2012. There is a few going through the same thing here. I believe mountainmutt has hers at 50 pds. Thinking shes using 125 grain broadheads, also a lot of your TV personalities have theirs around 50. Turn it down!!! Do what you need to get out there and enjoy yourself.
The boss is firing me sept 6th till oct 3rd. Getting pumped.

[planebow]

A couple years ago we had a bowed student (a 13 year old girl that might have went 80 lbs soak and wet) that got a cow elk and a nice buck with a 35# bow. You just need to place the shot in the right spot.

[no limits]

my state has a 40# draw weight limit for whitetail. I think 50 would get it done

[mtnmutt]

Paul, who has elk hunted with trad gear, advised me to build an arrow 8 grains x DW.

My setup
50#
24 DL - my short DL has a huge impact in lowering fps, every 1" of DL adds about 10 fps.
205 fps
total arrow weight around 400 grains
using 125 grain 4 blade buzzcut stingers
FOC around 15%

I limit myself to 25 yards but probably could go to 30yds in ideal conditions. I have not yet hit an elk with my setup but I have complete confidence that a well placed shot will get it done.

My bow goes to 55# but I injured my shoulder in early January, so I stayed at 50# for this season. I have 2 small tears in my bow arm's shoulder. I tried working on the shoulder to get it to hold at full draw for 1 minute but the injury is preventing it. I can at best hold for 30 seconds. He may have more trouble holding at full draw for a minute than pulling it smoothly back. It depends if its his bow arm or draw arm.

PT helped me tremendously and I plan to continue the exercises at least 3 times a week.

Good luck to your friend.