50lbs,enough to take down a deer?

Squirrel Hunter · Aug 16, 2011

I bought a Fred Bear Sparrowhawk II off ebay about 2 years ago,wish I had done more research.Want to do some deer hunting this year and want to know if 50lbs if enough to take one out and what is the maximum effective range?Would like a crossbow but cant afford it now.Thanks guys.

Devonian · Aug 16, 2011

Yes more then enough... Range all depends on your ability and confidence. I am only comfortable shooting at a deer out to 30 yards.

J.Brown · Aug 16, 2011

My wife killed a doe at 27 yards pulling 45 lbs. Legal limit in MD is 30lbs....I it hasn't changed anyway.

Squirrel Hunter · Aug 16, 2011

Sweet good to know,really need some practice though :innocent0

thanks guys :thumbsup:

BeltBuckle · Aug 16, 2011

50# is more than enough, if it goes where you want it to. it's all about shot placement...

Deep Creek Rock · Aug 16, 2011

Forgot where I read it years ago - it was stated that 45lbs will take down any game in North America with proper shot placement. Arrow placement is more important, that having a high amount of pull on your bow.

engineerbrian · Aug 16, 2011

Squirrel Hunter said:
I bought a Fred Bear Sparrowhawk II off ebay about 2 years ago,wish I had done more research.Want to do some deer hunting this year and want to know if 50lbs if enough to take one out and what is the maximum effective range?Would like a crossbow but cant afford it now.Thanks guys.

Is that Uncle Ted in your avatar? If so he boast about shooting his girly 48 pound bow

MikeTF · Aug 16, 2011

Don't forget to wait so that they point in the direction of your truck when you shoot them. It is labor saving when they run and then lay down right next to where you parked.

engineerbrian · Aug 16, 2011

MikeTF said:
Don't forget to wait so that they point in the direction of your truck when you shoot them. It is labor saving when they run and then lay down right next to where you parked.

The second deer i shot last year with my X bow actually died on the 4 wheeler trail!

That was the one time i wish i had a Staples "that was easy" button :rolleyes:

itsslow98 · Aug 17, 2011

The only real benefit I can see from a 70lb bow is penetration. More likely to get a through and through with a faster bow then a lower poundage one. But like others have said 45lbs is plenty, heart or lungs they will die.

Btw you may want to experiment with arrow and broadhead weights as that can really help with distance and/or penetration. I shoot 125 grain broadheads out of my crossbow. Goes through deer like butter.

K31 · Aug 17, 2011

Deep Creek Rock said:
Forgot where I read it years ago - it was stated that 45lbs will take down any game in North America with proper shot placement.

The problem is finding a grizzly bear that's read that.

Joseph · Aug 17, 2011

K31 said:
The problem is finding a grizzly bear that's read that.

Squirrel Hunter · Aug 17, 2011

itsslow98 said:
The only real benefit I can see from a 70lb bow is penetration. More likely to get a through and through with a faster bow then a lower poundage one. But like others have said 45lbs is plenty, heart or lungs they will die.

Btw you may want to experiment with arrow and broadhead weights as that can really help with distance and/or penetration. I shoot 125 grain broadheads out of my crossbow. Goes through deer like butter.

Got it. Picked up a dozen red head carbon arrows and 125 grain field points where I got the bow and lost half of them when I first started.Need to pick up some more arrows and broad heads any recommendations on inexpensive broad heads?

Squirrel Hunter · Aug 17, 2011

engineerbrian said:
Is that Uncle Ted in your avatar? If so he boast about shooting his girly 48 pound bow

Yea that's Ted,whole reason I bought the bow was because of him,like I said should have done more research.Eventuality it will be a hand me down to my gf hopefully when I get a better one hahahaha.Eager to take my first deer especially if its with a bow.Thanks for all the responses!!

Joseph · Aug 17, 2011

Squirrel Hunter said:
Eventuality it will be a hand me down to my gf hopefully when I get a better one hahahaha.

Better bow or better gf? :innocent0

rickyp · Aug 17, 2011

with a 50# bow you are best to stay with cut on contact B.H. and stay away from the mechanical ones. they take some energy to open and with a lighter weight bow it will take away from the penatration some.

itsslow98 · Aug 17, 2011

Squirrel Hunter said:
Got it. Picked up a dozen red head carbon arrows and 125 grain field points where I got the bow and lost half of them when I first started.Need to pick up some more arrows and broad heads any recommendations on inexpensive broad heads?

I have heard nothing but great things about Slick trick broadheads, they are cheap, fly like a field point and are very sharp. As someone said above stick to a cut on contact as the expandables need some decent kinetic energy to ensure they open.

Squirrel Hunter · Aug 18, 2011

This ok for turkey?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSKy3PbddZk

VNVGUNNER · Aug 18, 2011

Squirrel Hunter said:
This ok for turkey?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSKy3PbddZk

Lol, I remember seeing that one.

Sportstud4891 · Aug 26, 2011

I used a 50 lb bow for years until 3 years ago and just used plain ole 100 grain thunderheads. Took plenty of deer with that combination. I don't see the need for 125 grain tips unless you are shooting a crossbow bolt which is much shorter and thicker in comparison with an arrow. Honestly it doesn't matter if you practice enough. The more expensive tips only matter for the bad shots (which none of us every have

) Hoyt Mystic Rebel was the bow I used. Standard plastic rest with brass pin sights and a big aluminum straight stock stabilizer. I only upgraded my bow so that I could go out archery elk hunting.

50lbs,enough to take down a deer?

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