Dude I remember you pulling that dang 80lb'er and the way your muscle's twitched. Didn't another member here have a issue pulling that bow back? lol I believe a clause is named after him.
The bow I shoot now I started at 71lbs 4 yrs ago and am now shooting it at 67...it's amazing how much a few lbs can make both in drawing back and holding. Just make sure you can hold the bow level and steady when drawing back. Also make sure you can hold at full draw for a minute without shaking. You only need a well placed shot with a 40 lb bow to kill a deer. The higher poundage means flatter shooting and basically less room between the pins...you still need to make a good estimate of yardage and be able to shoot your bow either way.
some very good info above. I really liked what "big stick" wrote, he took the words right out of my mouth. When you huntyou need to "check" your ego at the door.
I pull #70 but thinking of backing down to #65 just because it's an easier weight to practise with and more enjoyable. That being said, when I practise I try to imagine I'm drawing on a deer or hog and practise being smooth. If your straining and jerking around to get your bow back what's the point.
I hunt with 63-65lb. However, during the off season, I usually max my bow out and shoot all year with 70lb. Then, in September, I drop it back to my hunting weight and make minor adjustments. What this does for me is condition my muscles to pull 70lb. This makes my hunting weight feel that much easier to pull.
I think anyone, who hunts deer, that is pulling more that 60lbs is overkill IMO...Nothing wrong with it, just with modern compounds there's no need for it... We're not in a tough man contest with the whitetails... :D I bought a 60lb bow this year and haven't looked back.
well since 40 lbs is enough to kill a deer, anything above that is reasonable until you reach over 70 lbs, then your getting ridiculous... I can draw back 80 but I shoot 60, simply for the fact that my draw at 60 is silky smooth and quiet. You really dont need to draw a HEAVY bow, just enough to kill a deer (or whatever you are hunting).
go to 0:23 in this video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DxuPSraOW8 if your draw looks like that, its TOOOOOOOO MUUUCHHH
My 70 lb bow is maxed out, but I have never actually tested the weight. I would like to shoot Raceways Katera at the next G2G, just to say I have shot an 84 lb bow
68 pounds is good for your age! Nice job. Just try to think about 15 years from now when you're 30. I've been shooting archery since age 6. I'm now 32. After this many years I'm thinking more in terms of longevity. I'm dialing it at 60 pounds after many years of 65 to 68 pounds. I've shot with a few guys who struggle with upper 50 pound range because all the years of pulling the high weight plus work or athletic injuries. Doesn't help we used to shoot until we couldn't pull our bows back. Bottom line...shoot what's easy to handle 100 shots in a row. It means a lot more when you're still shooting 10's and 12's at 40 yards after your 58th or 60th target of the day. It'll also mean you can most likely stretch that string after sitting in 35 degree half rain and snow for 5 hours during the peak of the rut when your trophy finally steps into range. Isn't about the draw weight IMO. It's about the weight of the deer getting blood on your tailgate. Hope that's not too graphic.
I was pulling back 70lbs for years. Now I have a bad shoulder and a bum elbow. Droped down to 55lbs this year and that works just fine. Pull all the weight you want but you dont need it for whitetails. Ill be thinking about that on tues. when I get my shoulder surgery
Seems that my previous comment has been removed......In any case there's a youtube video fo Ted Nuget getting a new bow of some sort and told the presenter... "Make mine in Camo and the poundage at #45lbs"
