I would have to guess the average arrow speed of traditional bowhunters would be somewhere between 170 and 190 fps.

I don’t know what kind of bows you shoot, J., but I do know you like light arrows, thus, in my experience and talking with others, I think your speeds are higher than average. I recently chronographed a series of 23/64 wood arrows shot from a 53# d/r longbow, to wit:

583 grains = 164

638 = 158

790 = 155

We’ll need a lot more contributions to this question before we have an “average,” which, due to differences in bow weights and speeds I don’t know if exists. And without stating arrow weight speed is meaningless. But I’d say, J., that your low end of 170 is more like high end for most folks, again, depending on arrow weight.

And unless we’re trying for long-range accuracy, speed is rather a moot point in trad archery anyhow: I’ve shot through elk with speeds down to the low 140s. Assuming the same point of impact on an animal, whether heart/lungs or shoulder, it’s arrow weight and broadhead design that count most.

My hunting arrows are 500 grains, which is certainly not light (it’s more than heavy enough to blow through a bull moose with ease). My estimation may be on the high side if a person’s experience centers around excessively heavy arrows or inefficient bows, but they’re what I’ve seen based on watching thousands of traditional bowhunters at a few hundred shoots over the years. I’m refering to normal setups, 9-11 gpp, what the overwheling majority of traditional bowhunter shoot. Truth be known, my hunting bow shoots 9gpp a lot faster than 170 fps.

Now, if the question was what speed are the most accurate traditional archers I’ve seen shooting, that would be a different answer entirely.

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I don’t know how fast my bows are but I always try to get 10 gr. per # +/_ a bit. I shoot mostly 500 to 525 gr. with wood shooting 47 to 50 lb. bows. I have some carbons that are like 496 gr. but with 225 gr. up front they make a nice “thunk” when they hit. I see a lot of the target shooters nowadays shooting light weight bows and little bitty arrows. Their game, speed? Yep and they beat me no matter what I shoot :lol::lol:

Ahh, Jason, I think you’ve hit this person’s problem on the head with your objective observation that “if a person’s experience centers around excessively heavy arrows or inefficient bows.” Right on! Those inefficient bows include Shrews, a Black Widow, a Thunderhorn and several Bears. Thanks for sitting me straight, amigo. 😀

When I shot my doe this year, I released the string and had time to walk over and drag her back a little by the tail to make the perfect shot.

dwcphoto wrote: When I shot my doe this year, I released the string and had time to walk over and drag her back a little by the tail to make the perfect shot.

That’s funny, and reminds me of a selfbow of mine. I used to joke that if I didn’t like a shot I could always run down and grab it before it missed.

Dang, now I’m thinking about playing with that bow again… 🙁

Yep, we used to have an old saying “if you can reach it you can shoot it again”. Substitute “catch” for “reach”. Way good. 😀

Too many varibles in the equasion to call anything average.

Draw length, arrow weight, style of bow, ect., ect., ect….

Troy

dwcphoto wrote: When I shot my doe this year, I released the string and had time to walk over and drag her back a little by the tail to make the perfect shot.

Enjoyed that Dave 😆

As far as speed goes, I’m of the opinion that all things equal more speed would be better. Straight flight, sharp broadhead, high FOC and heavy arrow, first, then whatever speed you can gain will probably help you.

If you need to hit something to stop it, a heavy brick might be the answer, but the brick has to be delivered and speed is an aspect of that delivery.

All that said, my hunting buddy who uses a hickory stick he carved himself always gets more deer than the rest of us in the circle. He’s just a better hunter using the straight, sharp, heavy path. Less speed does not seem to hurt a bit. dwc

Troy Breeding wrote: Too many varibles in the equasion to call anything average.

Draw length, arrow weight, style of bow, ect., ect., ect….

Troy

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