Comments on my setup for whitetail needed

[OkieGrant]

Hello - New to the forum and I'm new to trad gear. My recurve is a samick sage 50lb at my draw length. I bought it early this year and have been shooting 3 times a week. I'm feeling confident and surprisingly feel like i'm closer to hunting with the recurve than I initially anticipated as i'm shooting pretty good groups at 20 yards, and when I back it out to 30+ i'm still hitting a pie plate 4/6 shots with misses not far off. I've done some shooting sitting down and from a tree and not having issues being on target. If my shooting continues to improve i'm considering trying to take it out this fall and limiting myself to 20 yards and in.

For arrows, to start I just got some cabelas stalker xtreme arrows (7.3 GPI) on the cheap just to get started and 125gr points. Since then, i've learned it would be more ideal to have more weight up front and I found the easiest way was to switch out the 125gr points for 300gr points. Immediately could tell my arrows were flying better (300gr broadheads on the way). At this point my total arrow weight is around 580gr and 23% FOC. I've read around 10gr per pound draw weight is a decent rule of thumb for recurves. With a 1 1/4" cut broadhead and short range 20 yard or less shot, should I expect good penetration? I plan on getting my weight up to 650+ range in future years.

[Ray Lyon]

Welcome to Tradgang!!!

You've got plenty of bow and arrow for whitetails.  No need to go higher in arrow weight. You can also pick any good 2, 3 or 4 blade head to go with that setup.  Twenty yards and under is a reasonable goal. My average shot has probably been around 15 yards over the years. At this point, get used to shooting from treestands and in more 'live like' situations. Go shoot 3-d courses if you have some available and change up the distance you shoot from if you only have one.  You can get into a 'rut' with your shooting in your backyard or going to the same range all the time and think you're shooting pretty good and then you get in the woods and it's all 'new' to your mind. Get your mind conditioned to seeing new on a regular basis.  

Good luck and enjoy your traditional journey.

[OkieGrant]

Ray - thanks and appreciate the feedback. I've got 3d nearby and plan to start doing some practice from stands like you said. I may even go out and shoot some squirrels to get into some of those live-like situations.

[dbd870]

Plenty of bow and arrow. Go hunt with it this fall

[kennym]

Ray covered it! Welcome and go hunting!!

[Fattony77]

Welcome to the Trad Gang! What part of Oklahoma are you in?

Sounds like you're off to a great start! The only suggestion that I would make, would be to try shooting 1-3 of your arrows "bare shaft" with your fletched arrows. In case you don't already know, "bare shaft" just means that you don't have any feathers glued to arrow (Safety Point: Only use field/target points on bare shafts! NO BROADHEADS!). If your bare shafts group well with your fletched arrows, then you're good to go. If not, then some more adjustment might need to be made with your point weight. This is just to maximize your arrow's efficiency.

Otherwise, if they are hitting where you want them to consistently, in whatever realistic hunting situation you try, then go have fun hunting and enjoy the venison! If there's anything that I can do to help (FYI, I'm far from being an expert) I surely will.
- Tony

[old_goat2]

Arrows flying perfect and you are good to whatever range you can hit accurately the first shot every time, but don't forget when practicing a 3yd straight down shot is just about as common as a 20yd shot so practice that too! Shoot your broadheads some to confirm they hit with field tips and you're set!

[kennym]

I would practice passing on a 3 yard shot from a stand. One lung hit is a heartbreaker, that's just my $.02  

[OkieGrant]

Tony - I'm in OKC. Thanks for the tip on bare shaft tuning. Glad to meet another okie.    

Goat - No doubt. I've only been up in a 12ft stand w/ the bow so far and do plan to practice from some higher stands where I can simulate some steeper shots. Also, got to practice out of a saddle as I spend about half my time hunting in a saddle.

[Shadowhnter]

Originally posted by kennym:
I would practice passing on a 3 yard shot from a stand. One lung hit is a heartbreaker, that's just my $.02      

Agree

[Michael Arnette]

You should have excellent penetration with that set up! Just make sure to tune your arrows and shoot your broadheads before you hunt with them to make sure they impact well.

...sticking a big broadhead on an arrow can make it do strange things

[FoCoBlackWidow]

50# is plenty for whitetails and, assuming it flies correctly, you don't need 580 grains or more in arrow weight. You'll get flatter shooting and plenty of penetration in the 500-550 range. Focus on the arrow flight and good form above all else and the rest will take care of itself. Good luck and welcome.

[old_goat2]

Originally posted by kennym:
I would practice passing on a 3 yard shot from a stand. One lung hit is a heartbreaker, that's just my $.02      

Yeah, and I have experience to prove your point! Unfortunately!

[fnshtr]

Enjoy!!!

[hitman]

If you bought this Samick Sage new I highly suggest to change strings if you haven't already. Historically the strings are terrible on these bows. There are several string makers on this site that can fix you up with a great string which helps a bunch.

[kennym]

Originally posted by hitman:
If you bought this Samick Sage new I highly suggest to change strings if you haven't already. Historically the strings are terrible on these bows. There are several string makers on this site that can fix you up with a great string which helps a bunch.

YES !! The barn rope that came with mine needed changed!   :D

Originally posted by Ray Lyon:
Welcome to Tradgang!!!

You've got plenty of bow and arrow for whitetails.  No need to go higher in arrow weight. You can also pick any good 2, 3 or 4 blade head to go with that setup.  Twenty yards and under is a reasonable goal. My average shot has probably been around 15 yards over the years. At this point, get used to shooting from treestands and in more 'live like' situations. Go shoot 3-d courses if you have some available and change up the distance you shoot from if you only have one.  You can get into a 'rut' with your shooting in your backyard or going to the same range all the time and think you're shooting pretty good and then you get in the woods and it's all 'new' to your mind. Get your mind conditioned to seeing new on a regular basis.  

Good luck and enjoy your traditional journey.

Having bowhunted Whitetails in Michigan since the late 60"s, I cannot add anything to this post that would make any significant difference..  Pay attention to it ALL for it all works together...

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Don't get caught up in all that over thinking tuning stuff, you can tell how your arrows are flying with some common sense and it already sounds like your there. Just shoot that bow and keep having fun, you'll be fine with your setup and good luck.

I've been at this game for a long, long time and have never bare shaft shot an arrow yet of any kind. If you can't see it move with your eyes then neither will the deer lol! If your groups are good don't go chasing, unless there's a problem. IMHO    :D  

Welcome to the gang!

Tracy

[Sam McMichael]

Welcome to traditional archery and to Trad Gang. You will learn much here. I agree with the advice Ray Lyon gave you. Practice hard and go hunt.

[J-dog]

Best advice has already been said. I can tell by you post though that you are yet another soul lost to trad Gear! Welcome to the insane asylum. lol

J