Who Draws Less Than 70#

[ElkNut1]

Real curious here to guys/gals draw wts? I'm pulling 67# at present with an Elite 32. How about you more or less?

ElkNut1

[idahoghost]

65

[WapitiTalk1]

67 on my Alpine. Back in the day I had my old Darton Viper cranked to 75ish shooting fence posts (Easton aluminum 2219s). Don't need that poundage anymore with the new carbons IMO

[zpd307]

64ish here.... still plenty of speed here compared to my old bow......

[Swede]

I dropped a couple pounds over the winter on my bow draw weight. I'm pulling 65#.

[under H2O hunter]

67 for me, 40 for my girlfriend, 60 for my son.

[dapper]

60# for me

[Rizzy]

I'm shooting self bows and I've never touched a compound or been fitted so I don't really know what my max draw is yet. I built a pyramid bow that is in the mid 60s and it's too much. I'm currently working on a lighter one.....

[LckyTylr]

I might have to lower my weight this year. I separated my shoulder (stage 3). I rehabbed quite well and had no issues last year, shot my bow at 70# as always, I actually shot a lot over the summer. A month ago, I fell asleep in my recliner with my daughter in my arms. When I woke up, that shoulder was dead asleep for about 30 minutes. Once it finally started to get some feeling, I was left with an unshakable "needle-stick" burn in the joint every time my elbow goes above my shoulder.

I'm 27 . . . and falling apart already. I guess the Old Timers are right, those early years of fun will haunt you. Normally, I'd have been shooting for a month already, I'm getting nervous.

[rudyc]

51#' longbow for me
Shot through a couple of moose, a black bear and several deer with it. Have yet to hit an elk.
Did not get a pass through on an Aspen last year!!@@##

[Wyo67]

#63.. Could probably pull more, but I can pull it back easily and not have to go through a "wind-up" motion in the woods to prepare for a shot.

[toasty tiger]

70 - Matthews Creed XS - Shot a PSE at 70 prior to that -

[twinkieman]

61 lbs., Bowtech Insanity. With the speed and kinetic energy all of the new age bows possess, this is plenty. Used to shoot 90 plus in the old days with an overdraw for far less speed, and kinetic energy.

[elkmtngear]

65 lbs Elite Pure

I ripped up my shoulder years ago trying to shoot a 70 pound bow after an injury.

My last 5 elk were killed shooting 62 pounds, but I find I can easily get away with 65 with the Elite.

[BRazz]

My 65# Bear is cranked all the way up - I think it pulls close to 68-70. Not tough to draw but plent of speed.

I liken draw weight to rifle cartridges - a big rifle can put down an elk but it's not worth a hoot if you can't shoot it well (I shoot a 270 Win).

[zpd307]

I might have to lower my weight this year. I separated my shoulder (stage 3). I rehabbed quite well and had no issues last year, shot my bow at 70# as always, I actually shot a lot over the summer. A month ago, I fell asleep in my recliner with my daughter in my arms. When I woke up, that shoulder was dead asleep for about 30 minutes. Once it finally started to get some feeling, I was left with an unshakable "needle-stick" burn in the joint every time my elbow goes above my shoulder.

I'm 27 . . . and falling apart already. I guess the Old Timers are right, those early years of fun will haunt you. Normally, I'd have been shooting for a month already, I'm getting nervous.

wait until youre 38

[twinkieman]

I might have to lower my weight this year. I separated my shoulder (stage 3). I rehabbed quite well and had no issues last year, shot my bow at 70# as always, I actually shot a lot over the summer. A month ago, I fell asleep in my recliner with my daughter in my arms. When I woke up, that shoulder was dead asleep for about 30 minutes. Once it finally started to get some feeling, I was left with an unshakable "needle-stick" burn in the joint every time my elbow goes above my shoulder.

I'm 27 . . . and falling apart already. I guess the Old Timers are right, those early years of fun will haunt you. Normally, I'd have been shooting for a month already, I'm getting nervous.

wait until youre 38 [/q


uote 38 wait until your in your mid 50's

[ElkNut1]

Wait till you're 60, Tyler I don't feel sorry for you a bit!! (big grin) Lots of aches & pains but Lord willing I have a few years left in me! Thanks for the comments so far, I see there's quite a few pre 70# shooters, very nice!

ElkNut1

[nrocchio]

I shoot 60. I moved it up to 65, but didn't feel as comfortable. After trying it out for a few weeks I backed it back down.

[Duck-Slayer]

My Heli-m is maxed out, it's a 70# bow... 68-70 ish...
Matt

[ishy]

60#. I did 80 for a while back in my younger speed crazed days, and did fine until the last few targets at shoots. But with todays bows as fast as they are I went to 60 and shoot better than I did at 70. Still have plenty of umph and have blown through a moose at 53 yards.

[Olydog09]

67 on my Alpine. Back in the day I had my old Darton Viper cranked to 75ish shooting fence posts (Easton aluminum 2219s). Don't need that poundage anymore with the new carbons IMO

I loved the old Dartons. I still have my first bow an 80lb Darton Excel. I had a Viper and another model Darton of around the same vinrtage as well as a 3800 and a 3500. I used to shoot 2315's and 2513's out of the old school Dartons.

Now I am shooting a Bowtech Invasion maxed at 62lbs.

[NoWiser]

My Answer is at about 60 right now. After my practice session last night I'm considering cranking her up to about 65 pounds as I can very easily draw it. The only negative I can see is if I'd be forced to hold my draw for a very long time. The benefit is obviously a little better speed. Is it worth it?

[Glacier Country]

I Am shooting 66 lbs out of my Elite pulse. My backup is a Bowtech Equalizer @27 inches that only goes to 60 lbs. I shot a bull with the backup 2 years ago before I got the elite. So 60 lbs will work just fine. Back in the day I used to shoot gorilla weight as well 90 lbs PSE.

[pointysticks]

#63.. Could probably pull more, but I can pull it back easily and not have to go through a "wind-up" motion in the woods to prepare for a shot.

hahaha..that's a pretty good description.

back on topic..i am pulling 67..66 on my last bow. very comfy with it. i can draw and let down (the let down is fairly)..smooth.

my next bow? 60!! and it will be a lefty.

[BrentLaBere]

Cranked up as high as the bear truth can go. Not sure of the exact weight.68-70 maybe

[beard collector]

I shoot a Mathews Z7 that has 60lb. limbs that are maxed out.

[8seconds]

51 on Bob Lee recurve.

[stringunner]

65#

[poisonarrow]

I shoot and Elite Answer 70#

[Lefty]

I shoot a switchback.
The first four years I had it at 43#, killed a cow just fine. Last year after my shoulder I started at 37#, bumped it back to 43# after the first week.
Ive been shooting 60# since mid May. Maybe, just maybe Ill try for 65 # plus

If Momma keeps making money Im going for a bow with little more let off next year

[8upbowhunter]

Mathews Switchback @ 70#, before that I shot a PSE Carrol Intruder with aluminum arrows at 79# for 14 years.

[TheBuzz]

50# here, and can't be happier...Have a little tennis elbow and at 57 years young, the new poundage feels good...Still shooting 268 fps and nearly 60 # kinetic...and accurately.

Bowtech Destroyer 350... Crackerized

[LongShot]

68 lb w/ an old Hoyt XT2000.

And just wait until you're 64.

[planebow]

63# on my Z7

[tdirks]

60 lbs. on my Prime Shift. 61 years old here and mornings are painful! Didn't noticed much till I passed 50 then it really started downhill!

[luvelkhunt]

65# limbs on my hoyt g3 ce.

[zpd307]

68 lb w/ an old Hoyt XT2000.

And just wait until you're 64.

I know I know, I am not as old as some of you geezers but I am still young enough that I think I still remember how I felt when I was in my 20s....

[Toby]

62#'s on my Eliet Energy 32. I draw 28", about average I guess. Draw length is a big factor. Long draw guys can get away with a lot less draw weight.

I will take my longbow as a backup, pull 46#'s at 28".

[bownarrow]

58 lbs down from 65 with a Bowtech insanity. Neck injury doing P90x 2 years ago. 48 years old in a couple months, shooting FMJ's at 435 grains-and feel arrow speed and penetration are fine. Shot a large bull last year angled from just in front of the hind quarter lodging in the front opposite shoulder. Seems to kill them just as dead. Love the lower weight and comfortable pull.

[ishy]

Speaking of windups I shot a shoot with this old duffer (no offense intended to any of you, I love old duffers) and his son. Each target he would wind up, point his bow up, down, left, right, and back through all several times before getting over the hump. Then he would have his son grab his hips and point him towards the target. It was pretty cool that he was still out trying. I was glad to be shooting with him, it was probably the safest place on the whole course that day.

[dfwbowhunter]

I shoot 68# with a Mathews z7 Xtreme. I went with lower weight for winter clothes, cold muscles, and so I can hold it longer.

[razorback]

LckyTylr-Shattered left elbow at 28 had it reconstructed twice. It's deformed with limited range of motion and my left arm is a lot smaller than my right (right handed). Had to shoot a cross bow for a couple of years and then started shooting left handed. Shot 70+ both left and right handed but I'm 42 now and think back to when I was growing up. I shot a SLOW Bear WT Hunter with fingers and it passed through deer just fine. I just shoot 62 now. Never elk hunted but I do know one thing, a well placed arrow with a sharp broad head will kill anything quick and clean. I used to think it was a shame to hunt with anything less than 70lb but since I went to 62, I actually shoot better!

[blackwolf]

56# with my Mathews DXT.

[LongShot]

Speaking of windups I shot a shoot with this old duffer (no offense intended to any of you, I love old duffers) and his son. Each target he would wind up, point his bow up, down, left, right, and back through all several times before getting over the hump. Then he would have his son grab his hips and point him towards the target. It was pretty cool that he was still out trying. I was glad to be shooting with him, it was probably the safest place on the whole course that day.

None taken. Nobody knows they're old duffers like old duffers.

[welka]

Shoulder is shot and used to only be able to pull back 55#. Went to the Winns Free flight release and now can pull back 64# comfortably and that's plenty.

[dreamhunter]

I shoot my mathews at 65-66. I want to be able to hold it longer if needed and when practicing I don't want fatigue to set in.

[elkoholic]

70# bowtech insanity cranked to the max

[elk-n-walleye]

I bumped up to 62lbs and I practice a bunch anytime I visit home(my bow and rifle stay in WY while I'm at school in AZ). No issues with wind up so I will likely increase draw weight next year again since I'll have the opportunity to practice more than I can now.

[one_elk]

60# here

[Conrad8899]

63 lbs Hoyt alpha burner

[ElkNut1]

Yes, I agree a hunter should be able to hold & be in control of his bow at full draw for 1 minute & still make the shot at 40yds or under. Too, during practice sessions we should be able to shoot 40-50 shots without terrible fatigue & spraying shots everywhere towards the end of session.

ElkNut1

[Kleinpm]

59 pounds at 26 inches - osage self bow. I have about 8 others I have made but for some reason this one just feels like an extension of myself.

Patrick

[JJ Overkill]

everyone knows im shooting a 80#er as my primary bow, but my back up is a 60#er, once Im done with my 80#er obsession im getting a 65# bow. with my draw length im still getting great speed with a good arrow weight .

[bullbuck]

My 2 sons have PSE Drive Lite both are in there 20's over 6ft forest fire fighters and pull 70lbs
Me over 60 5'10 shoot a Mathews Chill 58lbs


Best Regards
BB

[CrazyElkHunter]

I feel like a lite weight to most of the answers, but at 62 years old, and after 3 knee and 2 shoulder surgeries,
I have been shooting around
57 lbs the last 10 years.
I took over 20 elk with the 65 to 75 lb bows back in the day. The last 10 years I haven taken 7 elk at the 57lb weight with no problem. Almost all of them were mature bulls. My best bull was at 59 yards with complete pass thru and he only went 20 yards. Shot placement, good equipment, sharp broad heads, good judgment will fill the freezer without the gorilla arms. Try pulling your 70lb bow, with a jacket and back pack on a frosty morning. Been there done that.
I like to think the new 50 lb bows are equivalent to the old 60 lb bows, and the 60's are the old 70's.
Just an old elk hunters 2 cents worth.
This 6x5 bull was shot with a 57lb PSE Bow Madness at 35 yards coming into a wallow.
Complete pass thru and only went 45 yards

[8seconds]

Yes, I agree a hunter should be able to hold & be in control of his bow at full draw for 1 minute & still make the shot at 40yds or under. Too, during practice sessions we should be able to shoot 40-50 shots without terrible fatigue & spraying shots everywhere towards the end of session.

ElkNut1

Good point; i'm just under that #. Need to work on that.

[brun]

Alpine Silverado 60#

[Infamous]

I'm shooting an E-32 between 65 and 67lbs.

[N5J]

Hoyt Carbon Element set at #58. After 2 shoulder surgeries and a recent neck surgery I feel #58 pounds is as good as I'll get.

N5J

[Coveyleader]

57, slow but still gets it done.

[sojurner 65]

Elite Answer 54 lbs, 66 years old!