To do it ethically I wouldn't go lower than 40 and that is the law here. Now to actually get the job done I would say the bare minimum would be 33 -35 and then you may and you may not kill it but wound it depending on where you hit it
You definitely need to be right around 100lbs... Really though 40-45lbs is adequate, many states have minimum requirements so check your regs.
PA law is 35. I shoot at 40, which I feel is a good draw weight for up to 20 yards. Hoping to bump up to 45 before season opener.
Son had a passthrough at 23 yards with 38# @ 24" draw length on a medium size doe. Poundage doesn't kill. The key to low poundage is cut on contact heads, tune and shot placement. At 40# and 23" draw length, he had a passthrough on a small spike buck at 17 yards and the arrow stuck in a tree after.
Legally 35 here in NC. I don't really think draw weight is as important as arrow set up, distance and placement. Heck, even a 25lb recurve sticks in a target pretty good at 15yd. Put a cut on contact head on it and it would probably get the job done. It may not be a pass through or as quick a kill as we would like but, I bet it would die.
This will be my wifes first year bowhunting. She is shooting 42 pounds right now and im confident she can kill a deer out to 25 yards. But she is determined to get to 50 pounds
Depends how high your stands is, cut on contact heads are very important. My poundage is 55 and I still use cut on contact Broad heads.
