Is 60# compound bow enough for elk?

[Opia]

Looking to bow hunt elk this next season and I'm curious if my setup is capable to taking an elk efficiently. I'm shooting a Hoyt Powermax bow at 60# and 27.5in draw length with 340 spine Easton axis arrows cut at 27.25 Inches long with a 75 grain insert. Total arrow weight is 460gn FOC is 16%

 

[MuleyFever]

Yes.

 

[Cant hit em]

Looking to bow hunt elk this next season and I'm curious if my setup is capable to taking an elk efficiently. I'm shooting a Hoyt Powermax bow at 60# and 27.5in draw length with 340 spine Easton axis arrows cut at 27.25 Inches long with a 75 grain insert. Total arrow weight is 460gn FOC is 16%

Thats exact arrow setup , weight , length everything that Ive used on two bulls , no issues


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[Castle Oak]

Yes, but I would use a quality cut on contact broadhead.

 

[Billy Goat]

It's plenty, but your most important part you didn't list. Put a good quality sharp head on the front of the shaft. Lots of good options out there now.

 

[4rcgoat]

More than enough

 

[Timberline001]

Plug your draw length and arrow weight into a arrow speed/energy calculator at 60lbs and 70. I bet you’ll be surprised how little of a difference that 10lb makes in today’s modern bows. I tell new archery elk hunters to shoot 60 just because the average guy can draw it back smoother , slower, and then can hold it at ready for long once it’s back. All of those are going to be way more important in the moment on a bull at tight quarters than those extra 10lbs.

 

[Spike elk]

Works for me.

 

[Idaho4x4Bronco]

Randy Newberg kills elk, deer and bison with 58lbs?

 

[elkguide]

I shot my first bull with a 63# recurve at 38 yards, so with a good cut on contact broadhead and if you put the arrow in the right place, you'll be fine.

 

[mtnlomo]

I shot my first elk with a bow at 13, 50 lbs draw 360 grain arrow, tipped with a g5 Montec. Elk tipped over in 10 seconds after a 30 yard sprint. I would recommend sticking to a cut on contact head, but elk don't go far with an 1"+ wide slice through their heart.

 

[manitou1]

I have a buddy who has killed bison, wild hogs, elk, bear, and many deer with a 41 lb longbow.
Put the arrow whwere it belongs and you are fine.

 

[hotsoup]

60lbs is more than enough if you use a sharp, cut on contact broadhead and hit em in the right spot. I've killed several with a 50lb longbow, POC arrows, and 2 blade magnus or zwickey broadheads. Good luck in the fall.

 

[SunDontShine]

What is a “cut on contact broadhead”?

 

[Opia]

It's plenty, but your most important part you didn't list. Put a good quality sharp head on the front of the shaft. Lots of good options out there now.

Thanks for the knowledge everyone, this forum is really helpful. What do you guys recommend for good fixed blade broadheads? I've been debating between two and three blades, but the 3 blade designs don't seem like you can get them as sharp as a 2 blade. I have some G5 Montecs and the blade angle is pretty steep which makes it hard to get a razor sharp edge imo.

 

[elkguide]

What is a “cut on contact broadhead”?

A non-mechanical head.
Not that a mechanical head won't work but it takes energy to open and penetration can be an issue especially on an animal as tough as an elk.

As to which brand...... now that is a question that can be a real pot stirrer.
There are so many very good heads out there to choose from today. We are so lucky to live at such a wonderful time and in such an amazing country that allows us to choose. I have had great luck with the original German Kinetics. Very pricey and hard to find today but man do they fly well and let the air out of animals. I've also used Slick Tricks, Solids, Tooth of the Arrow, and many, many, many others. I use Rage mechanicals for turkeys.
If your bow is tuned properly, most broadheads will fly well from your bow. Occasionally, (very rarely) even a well tuned bow will just not shoot a broadhead well, so get a broadhead that looks good to you and shoot it. If it flies well, go tip an elk over!

 

[Billy Goat]

Thanks for the knowledge everyone, this forum is really helpful. What do you guys recommend for good fixed blade broadheads? I've been debating between two and three blades, but the 3 blade designs don't seem like you can get them as sharp as a 2 blade. I have some G5 Montecs and the blade angle is pretty steep which makes it hard to get a razor sharp edge imo.

Montecs can be difficult to get sharp as they are actually a cast head.

I like Iron Will. VPA seems to make a nice head as well as RMS and solid. One I have seen problems with is the strickland helix.

I think for a more mass produced head people have a lot of success with slick trick, magnus, and wack'em.


You can get 3 blades really sharp, just need to spend some time on them, and they need to be good steel to start with.

 

[Billy Goat]

What is a “cut on contact broadhead”?

The general idea is one that has an actual blade for a point rather than a chisel tip. However that's a generalized answer. I have personally shot wack'em and the way the tip is you can put an edge on it that transfers nicely to the blades.

 

[wapitibob]

Get a decent replaceable 3 or 4 blade and go hunt.

 

[Spike elk]

Magnus Stingers have worked well for me on multiple elk and mule deer.