We are frequently asked our advice regarding
some aspect of our sport. While we are not the sole authority on any
subject, we don't shy away from offering our advise or suggestions. We
encourage our visitors to use our hunting forums
to get a wide range of opinions. But we thought we would throw out our own
advise on some of the questions we are asked. If you would like us to
respond to a question, send it to us at questions@bowhuntinginfo.com.
We can't promise to publish your question, but we will give every question an
honest look.
Question: I
am 63 yrs. old, retired. Hunt muzzle and gun. Have time and money
and want to start bow (whitetail) with my son.
I am 6' tall , 200 lbs. and in good health. Have some arthritis, but am
active, but no weight lifter.
I have been looking at bows and am concerned about draw weight and how big or
small a bow to get.
My bow hunting would be pretty much recreation and not big time serious.
Any suggestions? I need some help.
Answer:
Good question, and one that your average youngster
would answer with "buy the heaviest bow you can handle". Wrong
answer. Many if not most bowhunters are using too much bow.
If you are going to predominantly hunt Elk, or
Moose, or Musk Ox, or Polar Bear, then you would want a very strong bow.
If you plan to shoot 3-D tournaments, where super fast arrows and flat
trajectory can be the difference between first place and first loser, then a
strong bow is the ticket.
However, if you are a recreational hunter,
primarily hunting whitetail, turkey or even black bear, any good compound in
the 50 pound range will blow a well placed arrow clean through your prey.
A number of women shoot bows in the 45 pound range. And I recently
killed a 4 year old, 900 pound, buffalo bull with a 55 pound recurve
(much slower and less kinetic energy than a similar compound bow), and it was
down in 40 yards and dead in less than five minutes.
The most crucial factor, well two actually, is how
does the bow fit you, and are you comfortable with the draw weight.
Don't get talked into a bow that you struggle with to pull in the hopes that
you will strengthen your arms and back. Accuracy is the most important
factor in archery. A lighter draw weight bow will give you more consistent
shooting, and better accuracy as a result. Also, don't get talked
into a bow, just because of its name. I own and shoot a Mathews, which I
swear by, but that doesn't mean that a Mathews is the bow that will fit you
best.
Look at a number of bows, and do so at a pro shop,
where an archery pro can help fit you properly. It may cost you $50 more
to buy a bow at a pro shop, but you will get far more than $50 back in service
and expertise.
