darrcolburn Report post Posted January 19, 2012 Just letting everyone know that if you look in the revised hunting regulations it states that the minimum draw weight is now 30lbs for all big game with the exception of Buffalo which is 40 lbs. I know this is great news for kids like my oldest son who just turned 10 and is pulling 35lbs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted January 20, 2012 Technology has come so far with archery equipment since the original law was made so I think this is a good change. A lot of youth hunters struggle to pull the 40 lb legal limit which in turn affects their accuracy. Taking a few pounds off to improve accuracy seems like a good trade and with todays bows there will still be enough energy to make a clean ethical kill. -Tracy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesFanatic Report post Posted January 20, 2012 30 pounds? I disagree. I watched my wife stick a bull in the lungs at 50 yards last year. Her bow was set at 48 pounds. Never found the bull. I watched in my 10x El's as it hit perfectly behind the shoulder. Only 12 inches of the arrow went in. More poundage is better on the low end of things IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted January 20, 2012 Thanks for the info Darr! I had heard they were considering the change but didn't know it went into effect already. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted January 20, 2012 I see both good and bad here. Some of the newer compounds at 30 lbs pack enough punch for javi and coues, but seem way under powered for elk, maybe even muleys. Hard to pick the right minimum on a spectrum that runs from javelina to elk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted January 20, 2012 I see both good and bad here. Some of the newer compounds at 30 lbs pack enough punch for javi and coues, but seem way under powered for elk, maybe even muleys. Hard to pick the right minimum on a spectrum that runs from javelina to elk. Which raises the question....should there be different draw weights for different big game? Maybe 30 lbs for deer and javelina but 40 for elk? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
standman Report post Posted January 20, 2012 Just throwing this out there, maybe minimum kinetic energy instead of draw weight. Kind of hard to prove in the field compared to draw weight but just a thought. Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mathews Report post Posted January 20, 2012 While Im sure most of the people on here are smart enough to refrain (I hope) from putting their 10 year old son, pulling backing 30 lb's, in for an archery elk tag, I cant say the same for the rest of the state and it's slightly irritating/nauseating to think about.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ForkHorn Report post Posted January 20, 2012 The problem is the new trend toward super lightweight arrows for a flatter trajectory. When you are flinging the lightest arrow combination you can, it doesnt matter if its going 300fps. You're not going to get the same penetration as a heavy arrow going 200fps. Other keys to penetration are using a 2 bladed broadhead, and trying to get weight farther forward of the middle of the shaft. With the right setup you can get the penetration you need. Dr. Ashby has some great studies on arrow penetration. They can all be found on the web. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darrcolburn Report post Posted January 20, 2012 I agree that 30lbs is not enough for elk. I don't even know if 40lbs is enough for buffalo or elk. I hope that we bowhunters make ethical decisions when it comes to limiting our shots and the species we hunt to our equipment and its limitations. I like the fact that we are making it easier for women and children to enjoy our sport. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues 'n' Sheep Report post Posted January 20, 2012 I am very against this... a coues can drop its full body height at 20yds on a 40# draw wieght...I have video to prove it... these animals are not 3D targets... Just saying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkhunter Report post Posted January 20, 2012 I'd be happy to see a draw weight for each category of animals- I know for buff some people even take their bows up to 100lbs. One positive outcome is that now Jr hunters can actually go out and enjoy archery javelina with 30lb bow, which is plenty to harvest a pig as well as a coues deer at certain distance, all comes down to hunter's ethics Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OpticNerd Report post Posted January 20, 2012 Does this mean I can use my old PSE that was made back in the 80s set at 30# even though it will be shooting a measly 150 fps? Or is there a speed/kinetic energy requirement that I need to meet as well? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azslim Report post Posted January 20, 2012 my thoughts are the number of lost animals is going to increase - by a lot - but we will never see those numbers and the set-ups will be low draw weight bows, extremely lightweight arrows and mechanical broadheads because they are easy to tune for bad decision, but it will probably result in "more hunter opportunities" which we know is all that is important nowadays, generate that extra revenue so the wolves can be paid for 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azcouesfanatic Report post Posted January 20, 2012 In my opinion it really comes down to ethics and practice. If you are shooting an 80lb bow with a 500 grain arrow but you don't practice then you should not be hunting. If a youth hunter is shooting a 30lb bow with the right arrow and broadhead combination and he practices he will be fine. Most youth hunters I know are so excited to hunt they practice way more than the average adult. Ultimately it's up to us, the parents to prepare our kids. Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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