Elk arrow weight and bow pound

[NMOUTDOOR]

Have a Hoyt Alpha X 30 currently at 60lbs, What poundage would you recommend for an Elk hunt? Also what would be the best arrow weight?

 

[TheTone]

You’re totally fine with a 60lb bow for elk. I’ve shot number of bulls with bows between 60 and 65 lbs and seen others shot with 60 and less. Just keep your shot placement good and you should be fine

I’d want to use an arrow between 400 and 450 grains if I was shooting 60lbs

 

[jbelz]

60 lbs is plenty for elk. There are legal requirements and they vary (where I live 50 lbs is the minimum). I aim to be between 7-8 grains per draw pound, which would be 420 to 480 grains for you. Choose an appropriately spined arrow, get a good tune and a good broadhead and you'll kill everything in North America.

 

[rclouse79]

I am shooting 70 with 530 grain arrow. Last year my arrow had enough energy left over after going through an elk to curl over a titanium tip and send a shower of sparks when it hit a rock.

 

[Jaquomo]

My hunting partner and I have killed 68 with arrow weights between 420-450, and mostly from longbows and recurves between 53-57#. Now that I've had to switch to a compound, I'm shooting the same arrow package at 54#.

I shot 3 and 4 blade Muzzy 125s with a sharpened tip for decades, now shooting Iron Will 125s. Tuning and placement are the keys to killing elk, much more important than raw KE or momentum from a wobbly arrow.

 

[Article 4]

I run FMJ's at 450 grains out of a 72 lb Hoyt Carbon bow. Run 100 grain 3 blade G5 fixed broadheads for elk...last elk I shot at 35 yards double lung and the arrow went all the way through and hung on the fletchings out the other side. Great combo of speed and kinetic energy.

 

[chukar_chaser]

I shoot 400 grain arrow at 70lbs.

 

[BKM]

What head are you shooting? Small fixed can be a much lighter arrow than a big mechanical

 

[Dennis]

60 lb. bow is plenty. I like heavy arrows (550-650 grain range) with single bevel broadheads for elk.

 

[Beendare]

@NMOUTDOOR,
Its not the bow...its the Indian.

1) Learn proper shooting form
2) Learn to tune your bow for perfect BH arrow flight
3) Develop a shot sequence you can rely on when you are nervous

 

[bz_711]

Colorado has a minimum draw weight of 35 lbs for hunting elk...if that tells you anything.

-Shot placement
-sharp broadhead

 

[06 SB]

60#s is just fine. 400-475 is the sweet spot for penetration, flat trajectory and limited “extras” screwed onto the arrow. I use Slick Trick Magnum 100s.

Practice to 80 or even 100 yards to perfect your form. Keep shooting ranges under 50 or 60 depending on you.