My brother in law is thinking about giving up the training wheels for a stick. I wanted to get some info on the Del Austin buck for him. I thought it was taken with a bow in the 40# range. I've searched the web for info but it was all vague. Thanks much!!

Maybe this will help ya out....


 http://www.northamericanwhitetail.com/video/bbprofiles/index.html

http://www.northamericanwhitetail.com/trophybucks/tr_1004vintage/

I'm not real sure but I think he was shot with a howatt recurve around 70lbs or so....

Arwin,,
Last deer season I hunted with a 45# Kodiak mag with a 550 grain arrow,, hits deer with a lot of power my freind. I was surprised at the penatration I got on a quartering away mature doe. The arrow was about a 1/4" from comming out the other side bro  

hey jay...whats up bud..

Thanks all!!! My bro-in-law has seen the numerous doe I have taken with stick and string but hadn't seen any "record" deer taken with one. I told him if it goes through a 4.5 yr old doe it'll pass through a buck the same age.  

OOOHHH record deer,, sorry   :rolleyes:  I thought he was having an issue is weight for hunting.
Not bad Steve, I was up late burning the midnight oil in my shop and checking trad gang every so often..Hey you see those pics of that basket quiver,

not sure bout the Del Austin buck but Mel Johnson's record typical was taken with a Howatt recurve (Martin Hunter i think) and seems i read somewhere it was 60 something pounds

DTala: I definitly agree with going with as much as you can comfortably handle.I use 55# out of my Savannah with heavy cedars and 160-190 grain heads, which will put most anything down. I know of people taking elk sized game with a bow in the 40's, like Sandi Karch of 3-Rivers downing a Kudu with a 47# Tomahawk bow. I'm trying to ease the worry of my brother on taking an average deer with a medium draw weight bow.

Here is a picture of the buck. Sorry but I have no idea on the bow!

It was shot with a Sanders bow, 45@28

Tom

Another thing to keep in mind, is the 40 & 45 pound bows of today throw an arrow much faster then lets say the old Bear and Person bows of yester year. Not that I am knocking the old bows as I have my share of them as well.  But when you take a new Super Shrew at 40lbs and stack it against and old 50lb Bear Grizzly, I will take the 40lb Shrew for performance every time.  Also arrow weight and broad head sharpnest are definately key factors as well.  

As for hunting in Michigan I personly would have no problem hunting with a 40-45lb bow!

Sweet! Thanks for the info and pics!!!! That buck looks just plain awesome in the old black and white photos. I wonder what it felt like watching that come into range with just the basics.
Hi Jeff, we'll have to chase our own "mossy horns" this fall in Atlanta. I can't wait!!

AnointedArcher makes a heck of a point. 45# bows of 30 years ago aren't the same as todays. Modern materials, better manufacturing techniques, etc.

That said, shoot the heaviest bow you can train yourself to shoot well. I used to shoot 65#, but now all of my hunting bows are 57#. I always cringe when folks start the "I killed a deer with a super light bow" threads. So many things can go wrong...use an arrow that is heavy enough, and a bow that is stout enough so when the "gremlins" attack, you don't leave a wounded animal in the woods.

I think 45lbs is plenty for deer as long as you use a heavy arrow.  I shot a deer this year with a 46lb. recurve, but was using a 650 grain arrow and got a complete pass through.  No problem.  But I would not want to use that same bow with like a 450 grain arrow.  That would have me worried.

Lighter bows DO work...but there is no margin for error.