Anyone shoot trad gear

[Toby]

It's been a while since I posted. I will be using a recurve this fall in my elk hunting. I'd like to hear what set ups other traditional archers are using for elk. Draw weight, draw length, arrow weight, broad head, arrow type, etc.
Thanks
Toby

[G Posik]

I am shooting a 56" recurve. 72# @29" draw. I shoot Easton FMJ's in the 300 spine with 100 gr inserts and 210 gr Silver flame 2 blade broad heads. Total arrow weight comes in right at 710 gr. I have 100% confidence in this bow and set up. This is pretty much all I hunt with. I will varmint hunt or pig hunt with a rifle, but really love the stick and string. I am very comfortable to 40 yards with this bow on pretty much any critter.

Glenn

[Toby]

That sounds like a very lethal combination. Have you had success on elk with a recurve previously?

[ferris bugler]

I shoot a 56# at 28" Black Widow recurve. I used to shoot Carbon Express Heritage with a Stos 2 blade broad head but have since switched to wood. The Carbon express was deadly. My setup now is a laminated birch arrow with a Wensel Woodsman 3 blade. The spine is 85-90 pounds and it weights around 750 grains. I have yet to shoot an elk with it.

[under H2O hunter]

One of my buddies loves his stick and string.

[Ben Nicholson]

The two bows I've used for elk are my Checkmate recurve (50#), and my Dwyer longbow (57#). Arrows have either been Goldtips or 2016 aluminum. The only broad heads I've used are Magnus 2 blades. Works well for me.

[Toby]

H2O that is a beautiful bull.

I really like 3 blade broad heads like Woodsman Elites, I'm an get them very sharp. Just not sure with my 50# recurve if I would be better with a 2 blades.

[Ben Nicholson]

I shoot woodsmans for deer and turkey here in Iowa, but out west chasing elk I only use 2 blades.

[under H2O hunter]

Toby, Thanks he shot this bull back in 2011 on public ground in a OTC unit the last day of the season at 22 yards after calling it in. He ended up breaking his arm on the pack out which sucked. But he was able to grit it out with the pain. I was really surprised at how clean the bull was. His coat was beautiful and clean.

[stykbow67]

Yep, I shoot a hybrid style Longbow that I made myself 56# @ 27"" 60" long, Easton MFX carbons tipped with 175gr Wensel Woodsmens.

Steve

[ElkNut1]

Yes sir for several years my son & I elk hunted with them & took 1/2 dozen bulls, he shot a Brackenbury recurve wood arrows & I used a longbow with both aluminum & carbon arrows. Arrows for us both were in the 500 grain range fully put together. Our draw weights were 56# & 60#

Here's a couple bulls we took!

ElkNut1

[Toby]

Stykbow, I have 175 woodsman Elites that I really like, I shoot about 52#'s at 28.5" ILF recurve. Do you think I am ok with that head.

Paul, beautiful Bulls, thanks for posting. I'm interested in your thought on a bh for my set up.
Thanks
Toby

[ElkNut1]

The top bull by my son was killed with a 125 grain Scirocco 2 blade with bleeders. (4-blade) The lower bull, mine, was taken with a 3-blade SnufferSS 125 grain. The 2nd bull shown here was taken with a Woodsman Elite 125 grain, complete pass-through with a 500 grain total weight arrow!

Toby, I wouldn't hesitate for a second in shooting a 500 grain arrow with your draw weight & length. Personally I like multi bladed heads, more blood & penetration isn't sacrificed as much as some think! All of the bulls we've taken are with multi blade heads. I like carbons, I load up the front end with a 75 grain brass insert & a 125 grain head for 200 grains up front & still a total arrow weight of 500 grains when shooting the beman classics .500 spine. We've taken plenty though with just 125 grain heads with nothing special up front. There were 3 of us hunting with Trad gear when we hunted together, 4 bulls were taken with cedar shafts & 125 grain heads. This 1st bull is one here & the Woodsman Elite head did its job!

ElkNut1

[Toby]

Paul,

Awesome pics and bulls. And, super information about the bows, arrows, bh's, etc. gives me confidence in the setup I am putting together.

Toby

[stykbow67]

You bet it is! as long as your getting good arrow flight. I know of guys that are using upwards of 200+ gr on the front end to,get the total arrow weight were it needs to be (8-10gpi) what your shooting should be a great combo.

Steve

[Toby]

Steve, I agree 100% about arrow flight, makes a huge difference.
I think it is really neat that you are hunting with a bow you made yourself, any chance you could post a pic sometime?

Toby

[Rizzy]

I built a #45 boardbow and used it this past season. I used 2 blade buzzcuts with 460gr arrows. I didn't shoot anything, but had a lot of fun getting close to Bulls. I feel like the bugle seasons are made for stickbows. It just feels right

[Kleinpm]

I hunt with self bows (one piece of wood, no laminations) I that make from various woods. My go to bow the last few years has been a 55 lb at 26 inch D bow (longbow with a slight bend in the handle) made from osage. I have bows I have made from Ipe, serviceberry, hickory, oak, maple, and chokecherry. I have yet to kill anything with but rabbits but that is my fault not the bow!
I shoot bamboo arrows made from tomato stakes I buy at big box stores in the spring, goose feather fletching from geese I shoot in the winter (with a shotgun) and arrowheads that I make from a local source of stone. I may switch back to steel broadheads this year because I have a hard time keeping stone sharp all season and I would like to not worry about it.

Patrick

[Toby]

Kelnpm

I'm impressed with your dedication to DIY, very special
Toby

[rudyc]

Been hunting with traditional bows since before they were "traditional". They have always done their part if I do mine. Mostly selfbows of Osage now, although I was shooting a bamboo / maple bow for a few years and killed a few deer and a couple of moose with it.
No elk yet, but I did take a dandy Aspen in 2013 when I got a deflection off an unseen branch and missed a 6 point bull. My bow weight is in the lows 50's at my draw length with a 625 grain arrow and 2 blade Journeyman or Wensel Woodsman 3 blade up front.

[Toby]

rudyc

Nice pics, thanks for sharing.

Toby

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

Yep. I shoot a Toelke Whip (Montana Bows). 68lb at my 32" draw. My arrows are roughly 740 grains, with 350 tied up in a brass insert and 265 grain broadhead/adapter combo. But I'd shoot 50 lb's and 500 grain arrows with no worries if I couldn't handle the heavier poundage.

Razor sharp broadheads go a long ways in the elk killing business. I use Simmons Tree Sharks, but would probably use 4 blade Zwickeys or Magnus Stingers if I shot 50 lbs.

[Toby]

Trumkin

Thanks for the info. Beautiful bull in your pic.

Toby