[Chiloquin]

in reply to: Enough for Elk?????? #46534

Str8arrow wrote: I’m going to take the other side of the fence in this issue. I’ve taken several elk with bows between 43 and 50 lb draw weight. I think that it is more than enough if you know how to build a lethal arrow and are willing to limit your shots to those you believe you can make. I would say shoot the bow you are more accurate and confident in vs a heavier draw that may make you miss more easily. When elk hunting I’ve been disappointed in my aim on occasion, but I’ve never wished I’d had more draw weight after the hunt.

If you follow the general guidelines of using a minimum arrow weight of 650 gr., an EFOC weighted arrow and single bevel broadheads, I think it’s a lethal set-up on elk. When I shot mine, it was before I learned about the arrow lethality studies. They were very heavy, but did not have extreme FOC or single bevel broadheads, yet I was able to still have pass-throughs. With what I know today, I would have no doubt about it’s ability to reliably take down any elk on a decent shot. I currently shoot 55-60 lb bows, but only because that is what I’m comfortable with at this time.

Good Point! there have been manypass-throughs on animals before we shot single beveled heads, and carbon. Its cool info to know but I do not think it is the end all, and we shouldn’t knock other arrow setups. a wood arrow in the right hands will kill an Elk faster than a carbon in the wrong hands!

[Chiloquin]

in reply to: elk #38324

Dave2old wrote: CO’s minimum bow weight is an embarrassment and tragedy, more “good work” from CBA, who is more interested in their weak wives and kids being able to hunt elk than trying to elimiante wounded elk running around with arrows flopping around visibly. I’ve been hunting elk in CO for 27 years and have seen and done it almost all. Some years ago I determined that if I couldn’t find a way to kill elk fast and humanely and with certainty, I couldn’t keep hunting them. Back then I was using 64# recurves with aluminum or wood shafts and Thunderhead 3-blade 125s … and never once got a satisfactorily fast kill no matter arrow placement. Average weight was 550. Thank God, then along came Doc Ed Ashby with his great wisdom, which I followed and immediately started getting pass-throughs and animals going down within sight. That said, the arrow is far more important than the bow, though I would never condone less than 50# even if it sometimes works (miss all those ribs, a 50/50 chance broadside and far less at any angle, and maybe can do). In the briefest summary, here is what Ashby says as minimum for big big game like elk, knowing that bone hits are inevitable: Minimum overall arrow weight of 650 grains. Strong, slender two-blade broadheads preferably single-bevel. As much weight as possible up front. I am 63 and my current setup is a 55# Shrew longbow with 750-grain carbon shafts (for their versatility in getting weight up front) and any of several very heavy and strong single-bevel two-blades: ABS “Ashby,” Abowyer “Brown Bear,” Grizzly “El Grande,” Tusker “Concord.” Happily, manufacturers are really getting behind the Ashby technolog and STOS, among others, will soon be coming out with very heavy single-bevel heads. Yeah, it can be done with less and regularly is. But if you don’t want the heartbreak of lousy penetration and a lost wounded animal, why take a chance. And a bonus: The more weight up front, the better the accuracy. dave

I could use the same logic and shoot wheels! shot placement is everything!

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