How Much Draw Weight Do Bowhunters Need?

Draw weight, or poundage, is a measurement of the force needed to draw a bow. You might hear someone say, “I shoot a 40-pound bow.” That means their bow’s draw weight is 40 pounds.

Every bow has a draw weight. Some compound bows can be adjusted over a 50-pound range, such as 15 to 65 pounds, while others offer a smaller range of poundage adjustment such as 10 pounds.. Every person has an ideal draw weight. Some archers easily pull 30 pounds, and others can pull over 70 pounds.

Determining your optimal draw weight is very important when deciding on the right bow for you. Randy Walk, President of Hoyt Archery said, “Selecting the right draw weight is very important when choosing a bow. The proper bow weight based on a bowhunter’s experience and physical ability will help them maximize the control of the draw cycle of that bow and more effectively execute consistent and accurate shots.”

You should be able to draw the bow back smoothly without arching. Photo Credit: ATA

Bowhunters should be able to point their bow at the target and draw the bowstring straight back smoothly and with little movement. If, when drawing a bow, you need to lean forward or backward, or raise your bow skyward to get the bow to full draw, your bow’s draw weight is most likely too heavy. Shooting draw weights heavier than your natural ability increases the risk of injury.

You can also test your draw weight by drawing your bow while seated, which is more difficult than drawing it while standing. If you can smoothly draw your bow while sitting, your bow is probably set at a manageable weight.

Once you find a weight you shoot comfortably and confidently, check your state wildlife agency’s hunting regulations on bowhunting draw weights. Most states (33 of 50) have minimum-draw weight requirements. Some have a 30-pound minimum, and others have set 35- or 40-pound minimums.

If your draw weight meets your state’s requirements, and you’re able to effectively draw and accurately shoot your bow based on the guidelines above, you’re set. If not, practice with your bow to increase your draw strength. These tips and exercises will help. As you gain muscle, you can increase your bow’s draw weight.

Seventeen wildlife agencies don’t set minimum draw weights. Does that mean you can hunt with a 20-pound bow? You can, but you probably shouldn’t if hunting most big-game animals. Walk commented, “bowhunters should shoot as much poundage as they can safely pull and accurately shoot to increase the probability of making ethical and lethal shots.”

There are other factors that go into an ethical shot. Photo Credit: ATA

Draw weight alone, however, won’t ensure fatal shots because lethality includes other variables. Bows with high draw weight better ensure your arrow and broadhead penetrate vital organs, but some lower draw weights can also harvest animals if the shot placement is accurate. Consider these factors when shooting low-poundage bows:

– Shot placement: To inflict kill shots, you must place your arrow into the animal’s vital organs. Even if you shoot a 70-pound bow, a shot to a deer’s lower leg won’t be lethal. A broadhead in the animal’s heart or lungs ensures quick, humane kills.

– Shot distance: The closer your shot, the faster and more powerful your arrow will be. Close shots are also easier to make because your target appears larger.

– Arrow weight: Heavier arrows penetrate animals better than light arrows because they carry more energy.

– Broadhead design: Fixed-blade broadheads penetrate well, so they’re an excellent choice when pursuing large game and when shooting light-poundage bows.

– Draw length: Draw length measures how far you draw the bow to your anchor point. Archers with long draw lengths transfer more energy to their arrows than someone shooting the same bow model with a short draw length. Experts found in archery pro shops can help you compensate for a low draw weight by helping you choose the right equipment. After that, make careful shooting decisions based on distance, arrow placement and of course, much practice.

Walk said a 30-pound draw weight can be effective for smaller game such as hogs, deer and turkeys but suggests re-evaluating your setup and circumstances when bowhunting bigger animals like elk, bears and moose.

SCIENCE OF ARCHERY

Archery is a unique activity that has been practiced as both a sport and skill of Hunting compound bow Draw and warfare for thousands of years. Advances in technology in recent years have led to the design and creation of bows that can shoot great distances with astounding accuracy. Because of the incredible balance, technique, and precision that goes into shooting a bow, it is essential that the bow itself be tuned to meet the specific attributes of the archer wielding it. Adjusting the firing mechanisms of a modern compound bow is as simple as a few turns of a wrench and getting a feel for the exact weight you need.

BEGINNER’S CHOICE

Most of the beginners that tend to start taking interest in archery and move towards compound bow for the first time and have never given a shot by using this are seemed usually to HOW TO PICK UP THE RIGHT WEIGHT..? or maybe other questions regarding their new tool. Here, we are welcoming our readers especially the beginners to screw up their problems with us.

Mostly, it is not an easy work to get correct or authentic answers of your queries as may be the individual that you may concern for this is not well-versed and simply would increase the grade of your confusion. After you go through this article we are very sure that most of your clingy questions will be solved very well so let’s begin towards your solutions.

HOW TO PICK UP THE RIGHT WEIGHT?

That is one of the most common questions that the new bee is worried about.  there’s no hard formula that would answer this question (as everything depends on your physical capabilities), there’s a way to give you a very close and solid estimate.

That’s what the compound bow draw weight chart above is for. Simply locate your body type in the left-hand column and you’ll see what draw weight we’d recommend for you as a beginner.

Please keep the following in mind:

• The values above apply to compound bows only and should not be used to determine appropriate draw weight for re-curve or long bows.
• If uncertain, better to stay closer to the lower end of the draw weight range for your body type.

As your strength and proper drawing form improve, you’ll notice a significant increase in the amount of weight you can pull. So you might start with 40 lbs. and then, a few months later, find that pulling 60 lbs. is quite possible.

HOW MUCH DRAW WEIGHT DO YOU NEED TO HUNT?

Draw weight is not the sole factor you need to consider when deciding if a certain compound bow will be suitable for hunting. What you need to consider is the kinetic energy (KE) of your arrows, and this will depend on a few variables:

• Draw weight
• Draw length
• Brace height
• Arrow weight
• HOW CAN YOU INCREASE THE PACE OF YOUR ARROWS BY USING WEIGHT?

Most of the beginners of archery are highly thoughtful and enthusiastic to shot speedy arrows. Well, this can simply be achieved by INCREASING the weight. Also, when hunting, you owe it to the animal you are hunting to make a clean, precise, shot which will end its life as quickly and humanely as possible and, faster arrow speeds result in better accuracy over unknown distances.

• WHY SHOULD WE START WITH LOW DRAW WEIGHT? WHY NOT SHOULD JUMP AT HIGHER ONES DIRECTLY?
• You need to learn proper posture
• You should be able to shoot at least 60–90 arrows per practice

• WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING HIGHER DRAW WEIGHTS?
• better accuracy on longer distance (e.g. less sensitive to external factors as wind)
• if you are hunting, energy stored in the arrow is higher and you can shoot bigger animals.

WHAT IS THE IDEAL DRAW WEIGHT FOR BOW WHEN HUNTING HOGS?

The ideal draw weight for hogs is the same as for spruce grouse or deer, which is to say that it has nothing to do with the animal and everything to do with you.

It is said that “Shooting straight with my .38, beats all your jive with a .45”, which means that knock-down power if you can’t hit anything, is pretty useless. This goes for archery as well.

The right draw-weight is where you can comfortably draw the bow with good form. If you manage the draw but have to distort your form, then it’s too much draw-weight. You should also consider that you will probably not be drawing your bow under range conditions, but after sitting for hours in a tree stand in low temperatures. Give yourself a margin for these circumstances by choosing an easily manageable draw weight.

• HOW DOES THE DRAW WEIGHT OF A BOW STRING AFFECT THE VELOCITY AND ACCURACY OF THE ARROW?

Draw weight is related to the limb design, not the string.

The bow string is only the holding means of being able to deliver. The potential kenotic energy stored in the limbs at full draw into the arrow.

The lighter the string is the more energy is delivered into the arrow at release.

• TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST COMPOUND BOW
• Match your eye dominance
• Have a non-specific draw length or have the right Hunting compound bow Draw length setting and cams with draw length adjustability so you can grow and correct your form
• Have a light draw weight, that you can easily draw and control
• Be affordable
• Be able to grow with the archer for the first 6-12 months of shooting

So, we hope that most of your queries and troubles are resolve especially for. The new bees that have start the archery.

The most common questions that arise whenever you think of a compound bow weight adjustments are answered in a very better way. Now, it’s time to clear up your mind and start the journey of this lovable sport.