How Much Bow Weight To Pass Through A Deer

[@DixieBowhunter-m5g]

Ready to test my new setup with my 40# and my 515 grain arrow. I put some heaver inserts in not to long ago so now I got 275 on the front.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@DixieBowhunter-m5g very nice

[@Terry-n1i]

Enjoyed this video!! Glad I found you on here!! I have always luv shooting traditional bows.. owned 1 Bear compound, and 1 Matthew's, top of line compound. The Matthew's was fun to shoot, I'd have to say, but never once did I use either bow to hunt with.. always used longbow and recurve, mostly longbow. Had chance to get a , Mist bow several years back.. back when I made good money, truck driving. Now that I'm disabled, I can not afford one.. Thanks for your knowledge and tutorials.. I agree with arrow weight!! That arrow don't need travel like a cross now or fancy high weight compound, to get good penetration and-- shot thru!! Heavier arrows in longbow like a rogue Peterbuilt hitting a deer!! Lol. Thanks again

[@cheeselyman]

This will be my first my first season with a trad bow. 50lb black hunter long bow and 700gr aluminum arrows with a 3 blade Vpa

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@cheeselyman very nice!

[@ThirdLawPair]

My first traditional archery kill was with a 50lb Black Hunter. That arrow zipped right through the buck like it wasn't even there and buried itself 12 in into the ground on the other side.

[@toddgammons9400]

I just ordered a black Hunter recurve

[@garrettschienschang7898]

My first was with a Martin jaguar 50lbs 500 grain arrow with a 200 grain bear single bevel 2 blade. Complete pass through at 25 yards missing the ribs

[@tomfilipiak3511]

Attention,accuracy,accuracy,accuracy,and let be say again accuracy,pick your spot,concentrate,follow through!Bow weight,well I shot a 62 lb 62 inch long bow for many,many,many years,at 76 years old,I hurt my shoulder,and switched to a50 lb 62 inch 3 rivers archery diamond deluxe long bow,a really great bow,smooth as silk,I use a cedar arrow,550 grain with a 125 grain Magnus 2 blade broad head!Got a pope and young black bear with that set up,but that was with my 62 pound long bow!The bear was close to 500 lbs!Thomas A.Filipiak

[@jimbigboystoys4077]

Primitive man from the days of old didn’t have the technology we have today. They didn’t have scales, chronographs, carbon arrows or factory, made broadheads, etc. etc. All they had were their self carved bows with strings made from Sinu, and wooden arrows with flint napped stone broadheads. Yet, they continued to take down 2000 pound Buffalo for thousands of years.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@jimbigboystoys4077 very true

[@brickmason4410]

Of course they filled it with arrows.. but I see your point...

[@bneaclab1]

Yeah and they probably lost a good percentage of the animals and humane kills were a lot less common...

[@Kurtdog63]

Totally agree. Arrow system paired with good flight wins the prize. Heavy arrow also more forgiving on less than steller release and makes bow shoot a lot quieter. I experimented with lighter arrows and appreciated the increase in speed, but the heavier arrows had more pluses than minuses for me.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@Kurtdog63 agree 100. Love the benefits of heavy arrows

[@davidguelette7036]

Depends on location of the hit.After abdominal surgery I used my wife's 27 # target bow to take a buck at 25 yards.Complete pass through.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Very true

[@sillybilly44444444]

Like I commented on another one of your videos: I am just getting back into archery since I was a kid and your practical, intuitive explanations about bow/arrow technology have been extremely informative. Thanks for the uploads.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Thank you. Glad you are enjoying them

[@mattedwards4533]

You have found out what works for you and it isn't wierd that it works for all people. Years ago I was going on a hunt in the Texas hill country after hogs. I prefered using a long bow but I wanted to keep the bow on my person during my flight out so I took my #55 Brackenbury Drifter recurve it being a takedown bow.I shot a hog at seventeen yards with a 600 grain wood arrow with a Modoc head. What amazed me was that arrow hit the hog perfect and the yellow fletching disappeared when it hit going through the hog. The hog was only 250ish pounds and I thought I wasn't using enough bow? Was I wrong! You are spot on!

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@mattedwards4533 agree 100% and loved the brackenbury recurve. Had on myself !

[@mattedwards4533]

@@SamkoTradBow I got my Brackenbury years ago along with many other bows, before Jim had his terrible accident. A person would be hard pressed to find a better bow. I am in my eighties now and no longer shoot a bow but I can't resist the urge to watch videos of other people and there love affair with the bow. I was fortunate to win a state shoot with that bow. My good friend Doctor Frasier went with me and came in fourth. Sometimes I think of past hunts and tournaments I participated in and question myself did I really do that?It seems so long ago. You are a good teacher and people should heed your words. It will make them a better archers.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@mattedwards4533 it was jims cover on traditional bowhunter magazine right after he died that made me buy his bow. It was my first custom bow I ever ordered. Loved that bow. so sad what happen to him. Thats awesome you won some shoots with the brackenbury!

[@OldDerelict]

I concur. Over three decades of testing by myself, the Ashby Bowhunting Foundation, and Jim Aken's test with crossbows, all on real animals, has proven, without question, that it is all about the arrow setup, whether you shoot a trad bow, a compound bow, or crossbow.

[@SamkoTradBow]

very true

[@landonstokes4731]

I've been having doubts about my 45# longbow now that I've found out my draw length is shorter than I previously thought. This video gives me confidence to not change up my equipment right before the season starts. Thanks for sharing! Good luck this season.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@landonstokes4731 the power stoke of a long draw is great for people that have it. I only draw 25.5-26 inches. Would have zero worries shooting a 40 pound bow

[@landonstokes4731]

❤​@@SamkoTradBow

[@andrewdumpit3605]

Commercial came on as he said, "that's gnat no. 5, that's the fifth gnat. one more and that's the equivalent of protein from a snickers bar." I laughed during the commercial and literally felt something in my throat. 😅 6:33

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@andrewdumpit3605 😂😂 the gnats are crazy here

[@MarkCherry-te6ue]

I shoot a Roy Hall Navajo Apache @ 42 at 28" with gold tip 500 traditional with 245 grains up front and have never had any problems with pass through out to 25 yards. Well tuned arrows and super sharp Zuwickey heads

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@MarkCherry-te6ue perfect

[@Nathan-m8r]

I really love your videos. Trad bows an hunting with them can be very confusing to me. Keep up the videos

[@larryreese6146]

Same thing. Started out shooting a 70 pound bow, graduated to an 80 pounder. Bow broke and found a 60 pound recurve. Now, due to an accident and age I'm down to a 47 pounder so I'm glad to hear this information. Found a Bear Polar longbow on Ebay. Lots of reflex and a tad bit of recurve, made around 1953, the same year I was born. I think it might work pretty well.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Sounds like a sweet bow! Love the old bows!

[@ABAVP23]

Thanks Jason! I’m enjoying your Patreon course and I’ve learned so much on there man. I really appreciate all you do for the Archery community.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@ABAVP23 thank you. Greatly appreciated

[@romanmax8561]

Great video , I made the mistake of getting a 55lb recurve bow at first. I was never satisfied with my accuracy at that weight. I went down to a 38lb bow and never looked back. I can hold it at full draw much longer, and my accuracy is more than 50% better. What good is power if you don't hit the game animal in the right spot? It makes no difference what you use if you don't hit the vital organs. My state's legal limit is 35lb, which means they know it's lethal at 35lbs, probably less because some guys have a shorter draw length, and the real draw weight is actually less than what it's labeled at. I have seen chronograph tests that someone did with a 35lb bow, and the arrow out to 30 yards doesn't lose much speed or power at all, with a negligible difference in penetration. Ideally, you wouldn't shoot at game from more than about 15 yards away they can move on you a lot when you get to far out .

[@RobertEatonOutdoors]

Great review and analysis on hunting bow weight on hunting big game! Thanks for the video to clarify this issue with a lot of people thinking that you must shoot heavy weight bows to effectively and lethally take deer.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@EatonMyDirtandDeer thank you

[@journeyman7189]

Great information Jason. Especially that 6 gnats equals 1 snickers bar LOL Nate

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@journeyman7189 😂

[@timbo749]

Hey Jason!, you have been an invaluable resource for me, my 1st yr. with a recurve 45lbs pulling about 43, Gold Tip Warrior 500 with lumenok and 100gr insert with a 175-190 gr. Simmons Swamp shark total arrow weight is 531 gr. is my setup ,thanks also to Jeff Phillips .

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@timbo749 awesome! Can't wait to hear how your first year traditional bowhunting goes. Is gonna be an amazing adventure. You will be hooked for life

[@MarkShelby2025]

Another Good one Jason, I don't comment much but I never miss an upload. Thinking of joining the Patreon party , Simply because you're a Michigan Veteran 👍🏻 Like number 63 Edit: we don't know the Poundage of The Bows that Early Man (The Old Ones" ) shot, but a self made Bow, With Sinew String and Knapped Point couldn't have been more than 35 pounds...They did it, or we wouldn't be here today on KZbin. 🏹

[@SamkoTradBow]

@woodslore4672 glad you are enjoying the content! And agree people were harvesting animals with much lighter and simpler equipment for many many years

[@veteranswithoutbenifitsgui9738]

Quit my job in Claxton, got tired of eating gnats. Thanks for the increased output of content Jason, appreciate your efforts to enlighten us.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@veteranswithoutbenifitsgui9738 the gnats are the only thing I hate about ga.

[@JBs-Trad4Critters]

Another big plus is make sure to have your broadheads razor sharp! If you can’t shave with them you might want to sharpen em up a bit! That helps also with pass throughs. Love your stuff Jason!

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@JBs-Trad4Critters great point!

[@daviddriscol8018]

What make arrows do you use? Inserts etc specs

[@SamkoTradBow]

@daviddriscol8018 have a video coming out thos week on it. Bit I use gold tip traditional shafts my own custom made 200 grain inserts (ethics archery now sells 200 grain inserts if you want them). And a 250 grain razor head that's 1.5 inches wide. 3 highnack 4 inch feathers

[@jamesunderdal8976]

My 43 lb blackwidow has zero trouble on pass throughs

[@SamkoTradBow]

Perfect

[@dmouse522]

Just curious...what head, total arrow weight?

[@jamesunderdal8976]

@@dmouse522 175 grain german jeagers on 28 inch black eagle arrows

[@jamesunderdal8976]

@@dmouse522 ive never actually weighed the set up

[@Skelstoolbox]

nice, black widow recurves are the nicest looking bows to my eye. perfect combination of form and function. I love how the riser meets the limbs on them, their signature look. you guys are all running heavy heads, which I probably should be too. I shoot 600 spines with 125 grains up front, mostly because I do a lot of 3D and want flatter trajectories at distance.

[@Coyote5555]

As a newwwB this was extremely helpful!!!

[@SamkoTradBow]

@Coyote5555 glad you enjoyed it. You are gonna love bowhunting

[@george2099]

Great video Jason!

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@george2099 thanks

[@SparkleDonkey]

Good timing on this vid, Jason! This has been on my mind a LOT lately. I bought a new 58 lb recurve in April, that I've been shooting 3-4 days per week, with hopes of hunting elk with it this season. This is up from my trusty 45 lb. But, if I'm honest with myself, I'm just not as consistent with it as I am with my 45 so I think elk are off the menu this year. What I have noticed, though, is that my accuracy and ability to hold the 45 is much improved. Still wondering what I will hunt with this year but I'm leaning to the 45 and build to the 58 for next year.

[@davida.4933]

Whadda' think, elk chest is solid muscle? Get dart like arrow flight with a carbon, cut on impact broadhead, and high FOC 600 gr. or more arrow and you should be fine. Look at the bull I took with hold weight right at 45 lbs.

[@SparkleDonkey]

@@davida.4933 Thanks, it's not really the muscle I'm worried about, it's the bones and I'd like a higher margin of error.

[@tedbryer2512]

I think arrow weight is more important. Heavy arrows, small die. shafts, low profile broad heads, check your FOC, even small profile feathers. This works for me.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@tedbryer2512 great advice. That follows ashby studies to a T

[@spudkidmandudebro]

I made this mistake of getting a 60# @28” Jeffery archery recurve, because I shot a 60# compound. Ridiculously over weight for my shoulders but when I pick up my 50# now it’s an easy draw. I’m curious if I get a black tail this season if I’ll get a pass through. I’m into the single bevel crowd now with 780 grain arrows.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@spudkidmandudebro soooo many variables on getting a pass thru or not. And many of those relate to the animals reaction hit locations etc. But your odds are very good

[@chuckbert3117]

I can sympathize with you, I lived in Fla years ago and I don’t miss the heat, humidity, skeeters, and snakes.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@chuckbert3117 yep brutal summers

[@MultiOhioman]

Always practical and real?

[@SamkoTradBow]

Thanks

[@_1COR15.1-4]

Thanks ❤

[@miragexl007]

Thanks. Curious were to start with arrow. Gonna do recurve with 40 pounds Im guessing..with 30" arrows. Looking at easton legacy. I sure don't want experiment too much because of cost. 500 vs 400, then what point weight? Hmm

[@SamkoTradBow]

Check 3 rivers archery as they have great spine charts for different options and bow weights. You will want to know your draw length and the bow weight. Bows weight is measured at 28 inches and goes up or down about 3 pounds per inch of draw above or below 28

[@SoldierDrew]

I've hunted most my life w)a 50lb-60lb draw weight traditional bow. Never needed anything more powerful than that. I only like flat broad heads, same as you. But I can also drop game w)small stone points on homemade arrows. I use a recurve mostly , not a longbow, but I'd like to try longbow someday. I don't hunt w)firearms since my Army career ended because it's less challenge for me and I prefer the quiet shooting of archery hunting. I've been training Filipino Latosa Escrima since 97 and graduated james black bladesmithing school in 2022. Firearms are for homefefense & defense against tyranny. For hunting game meat a traditional bow is sufficient.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Very nice. Yep bowhunting with a traditional bow is a beautiful way to spend time in the woods

[@JimD-h8s]

I'm new to archery and approaching the five month mark. Granted I shoot every day in short sessions totalling about an hour. So around 150 hours of practice. I'm 5 foot 10, 165 pounds, on thin side of average. For absolute newbies like me, I'd recommend going even lower in weight for a first bow. I started with a 30 pound and then put it down for a week to let my shoulder heal. That was due to terrible posture/technique on my part and that's my point. You're going to make tons of mistakes initially. Technique is EVERYTHING in archery and struggling with a lot weight will only make paying attention to your form harder because the only thought in your head is "I want to let go " plus you'll do less damage to yourself until you figure it out. A decent bow via Amazon is $100 plus, not a huge investment and I've never met an archer who owns just one bow. I now shoot a forty and holding for a 10 count is easy. At this stage I could probably do ok with a 50-55, but I going to improve my skills as much as possible with the forty and then get something a bit heavier if and when I take up hunting. Have a great day everyone.👍

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@JimD-h8s great info and welcome to traditional archery. It's an amazing sport with an amazing community

[@JimD-h8s]

@@SamkoTradBow Agreed. A lot of just plain good people out there chucking arrows. Have an awesome day buddy 👍

[@davidbeasley2853]

I hunt 45# due to shoulder injury. My arrows are tuned to 20yds.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@davidbeasley2853 45 works great

[@alfredpayne1762]

state laws 40# + here in N.H. do shoot 50# but at age 86 wuld like 40# or even less if laws were changed oh well think i will try to get asnother bow arrow weight is the key thing, thanks for sharing

[@bradlauber9097]

My trad bows are all bare shaft tuned. My bows are recurve and hybrid longbows limb design . I now shoot 45 to 50 lbs bows 10 grain per pound plus arrows with 200 to 250grains up front. I pass through Canadian whitetails with my set ups.. limb design I believe plays a factor. I used to shoot 55 to 65 lbs trad bows but when it's cold and snow on the ground I thank a lower poundage bow....

[@SamkoTradBow]

Perfect and great set ups

[@soonerfabrication4044]

So I understand everyone wanting heavier arrows now days, and I get the concept. However, I get complete pass through shooting 45 lbs with a 500 spine , an aluminum 10 gr insert, and a 125gr broadhead. Back in the day thats pretty much what everyone I knew ran. Whats with the trend everyone thinking they need 500 gr upfront to kill a deer?

[@a.j.taylor4401]

Back in the day everyone was shooting aluminum arrows too so they were shooting heavy arrows and didn't know it. They didn't have the foc but they had mass weight.

[@soonerfabrication4044]

@@a.j.taylor4401 yessir you're right about that, however nowadays we're running carbon with the same results. With proper shot placement 125 gets er done no problem. Seems like the same ol debate thats been goin on since I was younger, speed vs weight. Its pretty clear they both get the job done . Seems like weight is whats trending these days. I am not arguing one over the other , I have always just stuck with what works for me. Was just wondering what's fueling the trend. I especially like the idea of going heavy on a lighter poundage, 40 or less, seems like they could use all the help they could get.

[@a.j.taylor4401]

@@soonerfabrication4044 yea I do think with lower poundage bows the heavier the arrow the better. Obviously anything will work with the perfect shot and I agree use whatever you want and whatever works for you. I like the extra insurance of the heavy arrow with high foc but that's just me.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@soonerfabrication4044 and arrow set up will kill deer if it's flying good. But more foc and heavier weight has alot of advantages. But light works too

[@longdrawarcher4857]

Have you ever thought of showing a necropsy of the animals you take? I personally like seeing what our setups do on the inside, and seeing how bad the animals mess up our broadheads. It’s messy I know, but I think there’s a lot of benefit from studying it.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@longdrawarcher4857 I have shown deer and hogs the I bone out in the field in my patreon channel. But never took the time to show all organs and damage

[@greeneyesfromohio4103]

I’m brand new into archery, goal is to deer hunt eventually. Looking to buy my first recurve or longbow. I repeatedly was told don’t overbow yourself on your first bow but I wasn’t sure what I could pull comfortably. Tested out a 45# bear longbow and although I could fully draw it, I was shaky to hold it for even a few seconds. After that, and knowing my state minimum draw weight for deer is 40# I have pretty much concluded that will be my draw weight I choose. I’m a shorter guy only 5’9 and the bear longbow was 64” and just seemed WAY to big for my stature. I would prefer a much shorter bow 54” maybe. My draw length is around 27-28” I believe. Any recommendations? I’d like to keep it under $400

[@SamkoTradBow]

@greeneyesfromohio4103 I'm only 5'6 and shoot a 64" longbow. You will get used to the length quick. The most common longbow length is 64 and the most common recurve is 60. Before you buy a 54 I would shoot one and see what you think. I think the bear super mag is 54 or 56

[@mandyticehurst54]

Hello mate. What width a length is that bow.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@mandyticehurst54 don't know the width length is 64 inches

[@danny_the_K]

At 68 yrs old, I shoot a 45lb Longbow with 491 grain carbon arrows with 200gr single bevel VPA broadheads. These arrow fly at about 165-170fps so I limit myself to 20yds, not that I can't shoot thru a deer at 30yards, but I'm after hitting a dime size spot on the deer, so I don't have a long tracking job.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Very nice and love the shot distances discipline

[@llamawizard]

Can we talk about the riser’s cut, to center, before center, just past center, etc? How important is that? I’m looking for my first Trad bow and I think I like to get one cut past center so I can shoot the stiffest arrow possible. So I can use the same arrows for a trad bow and a compound. Am I on the right page here or totally way off base?

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@llamawizard I don't know if even a cut past center recurve will let you shoot he same arrows as your compound. But you might be able to just go to a heavier head when using the arrows with the tradbow.

[@tripplebeards3427]

I ended up with a bunch of 2219 uncut arrows that are around 32”. I have a vuch of recurves that are 42 to 52 pounds at 28”. I normally pull back 31”…or a little more. Can I get away with using these heavy arrows?

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@tripplebeards3427 probably with the right weight heads

[@tripplebeards3427]

@@SamkoTradBow i’m guessing around 200 grain heads or heavier?

[@SamkoTradBow]

@tripplebeards3427 I'm not good at guessing that stuff as I've shot the same bows and arrow combos for a decade. I'm out of touch with thst stuff.

[@johntandycrabtree392]

KE is the key. KE = m(Vsquared)/450,240 This will be your kinetic energy in foot pounds. Mass of the arrow is more relevant to the energy than is velocity, and, as well, velocity drops over distance, approximately 5 fps per 10 yards. This is one good reason to limit your distance on game especially if you are border line on energy already.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Agree close is always better.

[@SamuraiJake22]

how can I add weight to arrow besides broadhead and insert??? Im trying to put together a 800g arrow and the GPI of the arrows I shoot are 9.8. With the length I want, plus, insert and broadhead I can get it too just under 700. 100g insert. 300g broadhead. 294g arrow/. Im very new to archery. this is my first year. So any advice is appreciated. do they make heavier 200 g inserts? id like to stick with the arrows ive got if possible.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@SamuraiJake22 ethics archery makes 200 grain inserts and brass 200 grain inserts can be found on Amazon for very good prices. You can also stuff the shaft with rope too. I have a video about that I made 12 years ago on my channel when I used to stuff them.

[@SamuraiJake22]

@@SamkoTradBow Awesome, I'll definitely grab those inserts. I just hadn't found them yet. thank you

[@SamkoTradBow]

@SamuraiJake22 ethics archery. Or on Amazon search arrow inserts and tons will pop up. Goes by the inside diameter of your arrows

[@SamuraiJake22]

@@SamkoTradBow yes sir. I already got some ordered. thank you. I had looked previously and hadn't found any of that weight. appreciate it.

[@robertcarte95]

Good stuff!!!

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@robertcarte95 thanks

[@allencross3599]

I just finished a 46 pound osage recurve bow, I have to match arrows to it, just got some micro VAP in 350, 400 and 500 spine, lets see what will work. Also I am 30 and I also warm up my muscles every hour, gotta take care of yourself or you'll never hunt again!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Love the Osage self bows! And agree take care of your muscles!

[@robertmayer6361]

Great video. I shoot a 50lb Martin Mamba. At my draw length 48lbs. With you set up what distances are you comfortable at@

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@robertmayer6361 I never shoot at an animal farther than 20 yards. It's not about bow weight but animals moving and all the variables.

[@adamizokovic8468]

Do you have a preference between micro diameter and standard diameter arrows?

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@adamizokovic8468 I like the standard. 246 Id shafts just cause I have so many components for them. But I don't think it makes much difference, they all works great

[@sprk11]

running a 40 lb long bow but then I don't have the time for big game anymore, mostly because I took up falconry. But this year because she likes to chase grouse but she's a bit slow for grouse hunting. I'll looking to slow them down a bit for her with my bow and a large blunt will be doing this for some ducks as well till she gets the idea that getting wet isn't the worst thing in the world.

[@tjrhodes214]

Yes sir boys I just checked it out !! You ain’t gonna believe this but he’s right !!! It is in fact the arrow that does the killing and not the bow. Dang Yankee’s are getting smarter and smarter!!! lol just poking fun at you a little Jason Enjoyed the video👍🏻

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@tjrhodes214 😂😂love it

[@WildlifeDriven23]

Great video, I got a quick question for you I'm new to traditional bow hunting and I own a 50lb recurve and was thinking of using that with 150gr broadheads ,would that be enough for deer hunting in the Midwest my total arrow weight would probably be around 460-470gr going by my compound setup

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@WildlifeDriven23 it would work! I would prefer to see a little heavier arrow. But it would work

[@WildlifeDriven23]

@@SamkoTradBow Thank you very much for getting back to me. Would it be better to go with a 200-250gr broadhead ,I have 400 spine arrows that might be able to work with that.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@WildlifeDriven23 I would personally. Like i said that lighter set up will work. Bit I'd prefer the extra 50 to 100 grains myself

[@WildlifeDriven23]

@@SamkoTradBow Ok, thanks again for your time and advice really appreciate it, I'll definitely be getting some heavier broadheads. Good luck to you this hunting season.

[@jasonroddey221]

You’ve probably been asked a million times but what bow are you shooting? I’m looking at picking up my first traditional. Thank you.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@jasonroddey221 northernmistlongbows.com classic model. But I don't think Steve is taking anymore orders as he has a 2 year backlog. Donnie at creekwalkertrading.com makes a very nice longbow for an amazing price as does biviouc longbows and so many others

[@jasonroddey221]

@@SamkoTradBow thank you I appreciate that

[@Br4vado]

But what is recommended for a black bear

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@Br4vado same as deer

[@Br4vado]

50-55lbs? Sounds good ta me

[@laurentmeiller5171]

on youtube a german archer made a test with a 15cm (6 inch deep) pork chop he had a 45# recurve bow and his wife a 30# recurve and they were shooting from 10 meters with tophat arrow heads the result is 40 cm and 10 cm of penetration with huntig "blades" the first got through very easily and his wife 30cm through the speed of the arrow with blades under 20 yards seems to make the difference, even with a 30 or 35# longbow i was surprised how my 700 spine Legacy got through the 20cm deep foam at a distance of 15 meters !

[@swampbiologist]

In the 40's, 50's and 60's, a 45# recurve was the "Gold Standard" for Bowhunting! I used to shoot around 60#'s for years! As a Bowunter Education Instructor, I would always tell students that they should shoot the heaviest weight that they could handle well! If you could draw your bow by holding your bow arm straight out and drawing your bow straight back, you were not overbowed! If you would short-draw or have to do gyrations to get your bow to full draw, you had too much bow! More important than draw weight is ACCURACY! Like you emphasized Jason, arrow set-up means way more than bow weight! A bow is nothing more than a launching mechanism for a RAZOR Sharp Broadhead! The broadhead does the "KILLING"! There is no substitute for a razor sharp perfectually tuned arrow with a razor sharp quality cut-on-impact broadhead!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Agree 100% we were the same way when I taught bowhunters Ed. Shoot the heaviest bow you can handle. Times have changed with arrow set ups etc today.

[@billtucker7728]

Everything you said plus shot placement

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@billtucker7728 shot placement is everything

[@ThirdLawPair]

It's not so much that there's a cut off where you can't do it. There's just a range of draw weights where you can't really make many compromises on penetration. Moving up to higher draw weights doesn't really get you more penetration, it just gives you the option to make strategic compromises like bigger silencers, lighter arrows, wider broadheads, more comfortable string materials, or even a less efficient bow design that emphasizes smoothness and stability over maximum power. You can go out there with a 40# bow, you just have to have every part of your setup dialed in to optimize power and penetration.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@ThirdLawPair very very well said

[@danielstern2513]

“I just swallowed a gnat” pure protein. But kept on going!

[@SamkoTradBow]

😂😂

[@jap4027]

Ranch Fairy has a similar message

[@UncleDanBand64]

Oh, bow weight to me is not irrelevant to me. Good flight however is more important and accuracy. I shot 62 to 75 pounds for years at my draw. I am so much more accurate at 45.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@UncleDanBand64 yep accuracy and arrow flight matter most

[@drmarkosilic]

👏👏👏

[@HondoTrailside]

Bow weight means nothing is not Ashby, is it. I picked up on his stuff from back after the first Natal study. But that was all about setting draw weight limits on African game, which even for the same weight are harder to kill, admittedly. I watch the Trad shoots online and consistently see the best archers in the world, miss the kill zone from 20 yards, known distance, with the best bows, and arrows, all cheated up to dodge the rules (which allow a lot more that most hunters carry). Of course they can hit 10s a lot more, but it is remarkable how in the last targets someone always seems to get a 6 or 7, in situations that more commonly parallel a critical shot on game under far easier conditions. Sorry, but barebow trad misses a lot, and that is what the wounding data on bowhunting says across all methods. If the grouping is large enough, people are going to hit bone, which was what caused Elburg to invent the Grizzly broadhead, that so influenced Ashby. He wanted a head that could take out the scapula from his 70lbs longbow. On the other hand, high weight bows destroy accuracy, for most archers. Even with compounds that hold at 14 pounds. This was the message that the popular PSE shooter schools sought to convey: If you can't shoot the the better guys, it is almost always because you are overbowed. And what is worse, you can't tell unless we shove your face in it. Both your shooting and your lethality are all about your worst shots. And as draw weights started to decline, and front line archers aged out, the videos started to feature small animals that looked like pincushions. I don't want to mention names but I am thinking of a video that where the shots weren't even going through Javelinas. The still worked, but certainly not passthroughs.

[@UncleDanBand64]

Not very much if your arrow is tuned good and you have a sharp cut on impact 2 blade. I would say about 20 pounds if you are pulling 24 inches or more. I am only shooting 45 at 26" my arrow will blow threw and bury in the ground.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@UncleDanBand64 agree

[@caseysmith544]

Do know your state minimum, South Dakota has 40 pounds at your draw for Elk one of lowest for Elk not that we have elk in South Dakota and is at draw for Deer/Turkey 30 pounds at your draw lowest along with Pennsylvania having same for deer. The others in USA are mainly 35 pounds and 40 or45 for Elk if they have a season though NY has 40 for Deer/Turkey still and Alaska skips deer and goes for Mountain Lion, Elk, Moose, Caribou, or Bear being 60 pounds and Turkey is 30 or 35 pounds. I did see one guy in an area who was Native American Lakota or Dakota, take a deer from a Bow only area (when I was trail running) and he had a cheap bow from Amazon, a Chinese tactical black bow looked like it had an old compound design for the riser, that was 35 pounds at 28 inches and he took a deer with not much more then 31--32 pounds at his draw and limbs were all fiberglass or similar material. He used as small of a broadhead as you can legally use and was guessing was 100--125 grains more likely around 100 grains using cheaper yet higher quality Fleetwood arrows having one of the cheap stock fiberglass set up for small game on it having a glue on metal blunt head over the head. His bow quiver was a cheap one with two snap in parts for the arrow so he did not need to use the flimsy sound projecting hood. All I saw was him go into the woods and come out with the deer with an arrow in the deer.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@caseysmith544 yep its important to know your state laws. And like your friend you talked about you don't need expensive gear to hunt

[@arnsnicklefritz9634]

You guys take the fun out of breaking into a new sport. Its like talking about nos in a car for newbs

[@Lalaafastroli]

you're comment literally makes zero sense... terrible analogy lmao. nice try tho i guess. Maybe you should try going back to school and learning english instead of crying in youtube comments? could prove to be useful

[@Doggonewood]

All you need to do is practice. Knowledge can always come when you’re hands on. The fundamentals are the most important.

[@bneaclab1]

Bow weight is irrelevant? That goes a bit far.

[@MichaelThomas-ps5qg]

You only need a sharp broad head sharp sharp sharp

[@SamkoTradBow]

That is most important

[@SeanJorgenson-vy8nw]

If you craped your pants would you tell me hahahalol.

[@SamkoTradBow]

😂

[@TheEverLovingOutdoors]

300 lb bucks are in another class I guess

[@SamkoTradBow]

@IntuitiveUniversity they take a hit just like a 80 pound deer and go down actually easier I think. Big bucks have less after the shot stamina that yound deer do in my experience.

[@ericlafollette6424]

I'm thinking you moved to far south! Too hot down there. 🙂🥵

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@ericlafollette6424 yep south georgia

[@unknown-archer]

haha snic😂kers bar haha

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@unknown-archer 😂

[@tolt1776]

Arrow weight and foc are what matters

[@SamkoTradBow]

Agree