I find bows carry easier and are easier to shoot deer that come in from the back side of a stand since the limbs wont hit the tree like an x bow. X bow is easier to shoot more accurately with less practice and doesn't require movements to draw that can give you away.

I have never killed a deer with an x bow but I have 2 I bought for the kids before they were strong enough to deal a bow with enough weight to hunt with. I have realy been impressed with them. I have an old mission 320 and a newer model 10 point.

If I were going to bow hunt today I would probably grab one of the x bows since I have not been shooting my bow for a few hours each week like I did few decads ago. Last time I shot I shot several shots well cutting vains and smacking arrows together at 30 yards with my bow. Then I threw a shot several inches off. I went from smiling thinking yep I still have it to not acceptable ability to responsibly hunt with. Where as I can but knocked each shot with the x bow. But I have no current plans to deer hunt myself for any season opting to just hunt with one of the kids. I have no interest in being the trigger puller anymore and the kids do and keep the freezer full so I have no reason to.

Dont let the mental hang up about hunting with an x bow stop you from using the best tool for your situation or worse make you give up hunting if its something you enjoy. X bows are an incredible tool.

35 lbs recurve , easy to practice with and easy to kill with. i went full circle , back to light poundage and more fun.

I'm 68 years old
Drawing 31.5
Draw weight is 69.8 on my bowteck renegade
Last week I held on a bull elk for over 1 minute and 45 seconds.

Unfortunately, 5:00 or 6 minutes later when the shot percented itself again, I couldn't draw

I started doing stretches in June.
Then added dumbbells starting at 2 and 1/2 pounds for each arm
I know dude the stretches and lifting with 20 lb each

Anymore as I am getting older I am more interested in good form and arrow flite. At one time I used to pull a 70 pound recurve and could hold it for around 30 seconds. I shot it with the gap method so I would aim. Now I shoot the longbow and I shoot instinctively or just look at the spot. It is much quicker but I cannot shoot as far accurately. Draw weight for me now is around 40 pounds.

Your friend is incorrect. Skydrawing isn’t a good thing to do. Raise your draw elbow higher and you don’t use chest muscles. You should always be using your back muscles.

Yep. If you skydraw that means your drawweights to high. You should beable to sit down cross legged and pull your bow straight back. If not to heavy. I used to shoot 70lb, but it wore me out practicing so switched to 60. Much better for shooting 30 times in the yard.

The follow-up question for those shooting 70+ pound bows…. How long can you hold it at full draw and still make an ethical and accurate shot?

These new bows have 75 to 80 percent let off, might draw 70 but you only hold 15-18lbs.

I agree with Rob. I worked for a archery shop for years and operated one on my own for years. I always told my customers that if you need to draw your bow by bringing it over your head is to much pounds. I also told them that archery is not a macho sport it is for everyone. You need to shoot what is comfortable for you. With the bows that are built now you don't need the poundage to do the job it is designed to do.

I've caught myself using the non-string hand
to push the bow away from me.
Bad "form"?

I've done this for decades. Never caused me any problems.

I set my standard as it’s not how much weight I can pull it’s how much I can “let down” after staying at full draw for a while. Been using 52 lbs out of my Bowtech allegiance since 2008 and my setup has not changed. I have 2 bows set-up the exact same.
28.5 DL
100 gr. Standard 1” cut slick trick
5mm Easton full metal jacket
4” flexfletch 418
Total arrow weight 405gr
I don’t need to worry about speed as I use a single pin sight, and get pass thru every time as long as the arrow does not get lodged on the offside shoulder

I shoot a pretty heavy arrow by most standards. Right around 510 grains if i remember right. 100 grain brass insert, 125 grain cut on contact head. Helps with penetration. Quiets the bow down as well.

Why is that? Some folks are good hunters! I haven’t lacked venison since ditching the training wheels.

My long bow is 50 lbs @ my 29.5" draw length.

80# 27" draw

Using the bow hand (arm) to push while you draw back with your draw hand is fine. Just be sure to not skydraw and remember to keep your bow hand at about a 40 degree angle that way you don’t worry about hitting your inner arm with the string.

Push and pull is a good method as long as you are using back muscles and maintaining correct form and pushing the bow toward the target and not up or down. There are a few reasons for this. In a hunting scenario it is so there is less movement for the the animal to see.

In basic youth archery, we teach them “pre draw” which is where they already have their bow hand set and raise an extended bow arm, that way if they release early, the arrow is pointed down range towards the target. These bows are usually no more than 20 pounds of draw weight. Hunting bows and heavier competition bows allow for pushing with the bow arm.

There are Olympic and other competitive archers that say elevating the bow hand slightly and then lowering to the target is better for when getting on target as it is easier to “settle down” rather than bringing the pin up. This is vastly different than “Skydrawing”. And most people aren’t Olympic or competitive archers.

Exactly.

I shoot 70# The Boy shoots 65#. Why because I don't buy new bows we both shoot used bows bought when someone needed money fast. His is a 4 year old hoyt we picked up for less than the price of the sight, and mine os an old solo cam I got from a friend. Both are deadly on deer. No idea how fast they are or the weight of the arrows but we shoot 3" balloons for a buck each to the winner all year lol. Random distances no range finder under 40 yards whoever wins the coin toss usually ends up a dollar richer lol

What is "acceptable" +/- weight spread for arrows both practice and hunting?
On grains scale I can breath on it to change the weight lol.

Is shooting through a sheet of newspaper a good redneck bow and arrow tune diagnose?